Campanula piperi (Olympic bellflower,[1][2][3] Olympic harebell,[4] Piper's bellflower[5]) is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. It is native to the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington.[4] It has also been noted on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.[3]

Campanula piperi

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Campanula
Species:
C. piperi
Binomial name
Campanula piperi
Howell

Description edit

This species is a perennial herb with stems up to 10 centimeters tall. It is hairless or with fine, rough hairs. The basal leaves are sharply toothed, widely lance-shaped blades up to 3 centimeters long. Leaves higher on the stem are similar and are alternately arranged. Flowers occur in July and August at the stem tips. Each has five toothed sepals and a saucer-shaped blue corolla with 5 lobes about 1.2 to 1.6 centimeters long.[3] White flowers are known to occur at times.[5]

Habitat edit

This plant grows in rocky, high-elevation habitat.[3][4] It faced the potential threat of trampling by mountain goats, an introduced species in the range, but now extirpated.[4]

Cultivation edit

This species is cultivated in alpine plant gardens.[4] A number of cultivars have been bred.[5]

History edit

The species name commemorates the botanist Charles Piper.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Campanula piperi". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ Campanula piperi. USDA PLANTS.
  3. ^ a b c d Campanula piperi. Burke Museum. University of Washington.
  4. ^ a b c d e Campanula piperi. NatureServe. 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Campanula piperi. Botany Photo of the Day. UBC Botanical Garden.

External links edit