LOW WHORTLEBERRY 



Vaccinium caespitosum Michaux 



The low whortleberry, hidden among the grass, on gentle slopes 

 or in alpine meadows, is unlike most other members of its group, for 

 it grows only from three to seven inches tall. It has woody stems, 

 much branched, and in spring bears a heavy load of lovely white or 

 pink bells. These later develop into blue berries which are covered 

 with an attractive bloom. The leaves turn a deep red color in autumn. 



The low whortleberry may be found from New Hampshire to 

 Labrador, and in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to British 

 Columbia and Alaska and westward to California. 



We found the specimen sketched at Bow Lake, twenty-five miles 

 north of Lake Louise Station, British Columbia, at an altitude of 6,000 

 feet. 



PLATE 179 



