This plant has a fairly wide distribution across the circumboreal region. This teaches me something interesting and new. Josias Braun-Blanquet and Armen Takhtajan these geobotanists (thats a thing??) divided up this region based on plant compositions. I'm really gonna have to dig into this, it's fascinating. As it were, the circumboreal region is the largest floristic region in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumboreal
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: In phytogeography (yes, also a thing), a phytochorion is a geographic area with a fairly uniform distribution of plant species.
But I digress,
Blue heath is the UK common name, where it occurs in northern parts of Scotland. Personally I prefer the name a bit better despite the fact that the flowers are MOST decidedly not blue but purple. Points for accuracy there America.
Quick morphological notes: 5 fused petals, 5 sepals, 8-10 stamens, superior ovary, which produces nectar at the base. Base nectar.
So, what IS it though, let me tell ya. It's a low growing plant (as pretty much all alpines are) and it is considered a dwarf shrub. A member of the Ericaceae family or the heath family, so there you are. It makes some fascinating nodding flowers in small clusters. The word adorable comes to mind. The leaves and stem almost remind of a prostrate Taxus (yew) or something. Flowers emerge in June-August but I would imagine this is VERY variable depending on climate. A note on hardiness here. Hardy to USDA zone 2. 2!! That's -40 to -50F. That's chilly.
The plant self pollinates readily and produces tiny little seeds that travel with the wind. Said seed can be sowed at about 20C and should germinate in 3 months. Have some patience.
USDA lists the plant as occurring in the states only in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Maine is beautiful, you should visit.
Fun part: The pictures
As the flowers mature they get pinker, the start purple though
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