shinyleaf spiraea

Appearance

General:
Deciduous, nearly glabrous shrubs from strong rhizomes, the stems 2.5-6 dm. tall.
Leaves:
Leaves alternate, ovate-oblong to obovate, 2-7 cm. long, coarsely and usually doubly serrate, dark green on the upper surface, paler on the lower.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a flat-topped raceme 3-8 cm. broad; calyx glabrous, the tubular portion hemispheric, 1-1.5 mm. wide, the 5 lobes triangular; petals 5, dull white, often with a pinkish tinge, 2 mm. long; stamens 25-50; pistils 5, distinct, 1.5-2 mm. long.
Fruit:
Follicles 3 mm. long, somewhat leathery, mostly glabrous.

Naming

Spiraea betulifolia Pall. ssp. lucida
Spiraea betulifolia Pall. var. lucida

Distribution

Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon, east to Saskatchewan and Wyoming.

Habitat

Stream banks and open to wooded areas, sea level to high elevations in the mountains.