|
Pursh has noted: "Rocky mountain [mark, beginning of a "J"?] June
16, 1806."
According to their journals, on July 7 Captain Lewis was along the
Blackfoot River in Lewis and Clark Co., Montana and Clark was in Big Hole
Valley in Beaverhead Co. On June 16 the expedition was still in Idaho
along the Lolo Trail. And on September 2, 1805, they were also in Idaho,
this time along the North Fork of the Salmon River about the mouth of Hull
Creek or where Hull joins Hammerean Creek in Lemhi County. The plant could
have been found by either Lewis or Clark as it grew abundantly in each of
those areas. Unfortunately, neither one mentions it in their journals.
Herbarium authorities believe the September date is more likely for the
specimen as it is in proper development state for that time.
We'll celebrate this lovely shrub now and remember the intrigue
surrounding collection dates as evidence of time blurring the boundaries
of history.
Twinberry has delightful yellow bell-shaped flowers which are followed
by almost black fruits. It's such a sweet plant in form and behavior we
are quite thankful the explorers identified it, even though they kept the
facts about it's discovery a secret.
|
