Mountain harebell
Campanula lasiocarpa
Common Names:
Mountain Harebell
Alaska harebell
Alpine harebell
Synonyms:
Campanula lasiocarpa ssp. latisepala
Campanula latisepala
Genus: Campanula
Family: Campanulaceae (Bellflower)
Order: Campanulaceae
full classification
Duration:
Perennial
Uses
I found no direct sources of edibility or medicinal use. Wikipedia mentions that the flower has the taste of dandelion stems, but no source. The Native American Ethnobotany database lists no uses for mountain harebell. There is some documented use of the similar common harebell and alpine harebell for medicinal and ceremonial use. Given the often toxic nature of many purple flowers in Alaska, I would not advise using the plant for food.
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Identification
Mountain harebell is a small, flowering alpine plant typically 5-15 cm (2-6 in) tall. It has a few oblanceolate or oblong toothed leaves at the base with smaller, narrower leaves higher along the stem. The flower is a solitary violet upright bell about 2.5-4 cm (1-1.5 inches) long. It has very narrow and toothed sepals, sometimes wooly.
Alaska Stickers on Amazon
Distribution and Habitat
Mountain harebell (Campanula lasiocarpa) is native to Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territory, British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington State. It is also found in Japan and eastern Russian islands. A few sources like pfaf.org (likely others referencing it) list its range extending to the Rocky Mountains, but I have seen no primary source information verifying that.
Campanula lasiocarpa grows mostly in rocky or sandy soils. Often found in rocky alpine meadows in full sun.
Classification
| Rank | Scientific Name (Common Name) |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae (Plants) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta (Vascular plants) |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta (Seed plants) |
| Division | Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons) |
| Subclass | Asteridae |
| Order | Asterales/Campanulales |
| Family | Campanulaceae (Bellflower family) |
| Genus | Campanula L. (bellflower) |
| Species | Campanula lasiocarpa Cham. (mountain harebell) |
References and Further Reading
Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers, Pratt, Verna E. pg 6
Campanula lasiocarpa Cham. Taxonomic Serial No.: 34486, ITIS Database
Campanula lasiocarpa Cham. mountain harebell, USDA database
Campanula lasiocarpa – Cham., Plants For A Future
Campanula lasiocarpa, www.campanula-campanulaceae.nl
