Copperbush

Cladothamnus pyroliflorus Bongard, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6., Sci. Math. 2: 155, plate 1. 1832 (as pyrolaeflorus); Leiophyllumpyroliflorum (Bongard) Dippel

Shrubs, 0.5-3 m, ± spreading; older twigs with copper-colored, shreddy bark, twigs of current season green, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Leaves alternate or seemingly whorled at ends of twigs; petiole 1-4 mm; blade elliptic to oblanceolate, (1.5-)2-5 × 0.6-1.4 cm, base cuneate, margins flat, apex mucronate, surfaces glaucous. Inflorescences terminal, solitary flowers or 2-3-flowered cymes, 2-4 cm; bracts leaflike, lanceolate, 10-15 mm, margins entire. Pedicels 5-10 mm, with 1-2, persistent bracteoles distally. Flowers: calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, 7-10 × 2-4 mm, apex acute, ciliate along margins especially basally; corolla 5-lobed, petals pinkish or copper colored, narrowly elliptic, 10-15 mm; stamens 8(-10); filaments glabrous; anthers 1.7-2 mm; style (persisting in fruit), curved or recurved, 10-12 mm. Capsules 5-6-parted, spheroidal, 5-8 mm, finely pitted, glabrous. Seeds 0.5-0.8 mm, testa with conspicuous cells. 2n = 22.

Flowering Jun-Jul. Moist, coniferous forests and associated habitats in mountainous regions with cool temperatures and high rainfall, especially stream banks; bog edges, tree clumps, and forest edges in subalpine parkland; 0-2500 m; B.C.; Alaska, Oreg., Wash.

Elliottia pyroliflora has a wider geographic and elevational range than E. racemosa; it is considered difficult to grow.