WESTERN BLUEBELLS 
Mertensia paniculata (Aiton) Don 
We have seen bluebells but rarely in our Western travels. Unlike 
its cousin, the Virginia bluebells, this plant is hairy, and the smaller, 
less numerous flowers ate much deeper in color. The plant inhabits 
moist woodlands, where it often forms large clumps. Western blue- 
bells belongs to the Borage Family, and is a relative of forget-me-not 
and heliotrope. | 
This species of bluebells ranges from Iowa to Washington and 
Alaska, and extends eastward to Lake Superior and Hudson Bay. 
The specimen sketched was collected near Lake Minnewonka, 
eleven miles from Banff, Alberta, Canada, at an altitude of 4,000 feet. 
PLATE 173 
