description Cassiope tetragona Overview
Cassiope tetragona, known as Arctic white heather or Arctic bell-heather, is an evergreen dwarf shrub in the heath family Ericaceae. It forms low mats from prostrate, branching stems, with tightly overlapping leaves arranged in four ranks and small white bell-shaped flowers. The species has a circumpolar Arctic distribution, and preserved stems and growth rings are used in studies reconstructing past Arctic climate.
help Cassiope tetragona FAQ
What is Cassiope tetragona called in English?
Cassiope tetragona is commonly called Arctic white heather, Arctic bell-heather, or white Arctic mountain heather. It is an evergreen dwarf shrub in the heath family Ericaceae.
Why is Cassiope tetragona called tetragona?
Its small evergreen leaves are arranged in four ranks along the stems, giving the shoots a four-angled appearance. The name tetragona refers to that four-sided pattern.
Where does Cassiope tetragona grow?
It is native to high Arctic and subarctic regions, including the Canadian Arctic and northern Norway. It forms low mats from branching, often prostrate stems rather than growing as a tall garden shrub.
What do the flowers of Arctic white heather look like?
The plant produces small, solitary, bell-shaped flowers that are usually white and may have pink or red markings. The flowers hang above the evergreen, scale-like foliage during the short Arctic growing season.
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