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Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2011 with funding from

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada

http://www.archive.org/details/buddsfloraofcanaOOotta

BUDD'S FLORA

OF THE

CANADIAN PRAIRIE
PROVINCES

Revised and enlarged by

J. Looman

Research Station

Swift Current, Saskatchewan

and

K.F. Best

Research Station

Regina, Saskatchewan

Research Branch
Agriculture Canada
Publication 1662 1987

© Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1987

Available in Canada through

Authorized bookstore agents
and other bookstores

or by mail from

Canadian Government Publishing Centre

Supply and Services Canada

Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A 0S9

Catalogue No. A53-1662/1979 Canada: $38.50

ISBN 0-660-10233-1 Other Countries: $46.20

Price subject to change without notice

First printed 1979

Reprinted 1981

Revised 1987

A tribute to A. C. Budd

Archibald Charles Budd was born in London, England, on 28 April 1889.
He attended Bellenden Road Higher Grade School, where as top boy he
earned a merit certificate. He took commercial training at Camberwell Gram-
mar School, and attended Choumert Road Evening School and Kings College.
From 1905 until 1909 he clerked in the Civil Service at the Customs House and
the General Post Office.

A prize of 250 pounds for winning a limerick contest made it possible for
Mr. Budd to emigrate to Canada in 1910 as a land seeker. He first worked as a
farmhand at Waldeck, Saskatchewan, and later homesteaded and farmed at
Burnham until 1922.

A lifelong interest in nature study helped him when he began working at
the Dominion Experimental Station at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in 1926.
As an assistant to the late Dr. Sidney Barnes of the Soils Research Laboratory,
Mr. Budd assisted in studies on the taxonomy of weeds and the physiology of
weed seeds until 1944. Although he had no formal training in botany, Mr.
Budd was a keen student of taxonomy. An avid reader of botanical works and
an astute observer, he soon became an authority on the prairie flora.

From 1944 until his retirement in 1957, Mr. Budd was Range Botanist
and he made an extensive study of plant life in the prairie region. As curator of
the herbarium, he built up one of the finest plant collections in Western Cana-
da. Mr. Budd also helped train many professional agrologists, who are manag-
ing and appraising rangeland and are carrying out ecological studies requiring
a knowledge of applied botany.

For many years Mr. Budd was a member and director of the Saskat-
chewan Natural History Society. He often contributed articles to The Blue Jay,
the magazine published by the Society. He assisted in the establishment of a
herbarium in the Museum of Natural History in Regina, Saskatchewan, and
he built up a large personal collection of plants, which he later donated to the
Swift Current Museum.

In 1949 he prepared a preliminary draft of a key to prairie plants, which
he called Flora of the Farming and Ranching Areas of the Canadian Prairies.
Mimeographed copies were enthusiastically received by amateurs and profes-
sional botanists throughout Western Canada. In 1952 a revised and expanded
version entitled Plants of the Farming and Ranching Areas of the Canadian
Prairies was published by the Experimental Farms Service of the Canada
Department of Agriculture. After many revisions and the addition of more
drawings, Wild Plants of the Canadian Prairies was published in 1957, the year
of Mr. Budd's retirement. Until his death on 30 December 1960, he cooperated
on revisions that were incorporated in the editions printed in 1964 and 1969.

As a tribute to Archie and his faithful and devoted work, which was the
basis for this edition, the title of this first major revision in which he did not
have a direct input has been changed to:

Budd's Flora of the Canadian Prairie Provinces

J. Looman and K. F. Best

Contents

A tribute to A. C. Budd 3

Preface 7

Zones of vegetation 9

How to use the plant key 12

Keys to main groups 20

Genera and species 32

Tabular classification 790

Glossary 793

The spelling of common names 803

Additions and corrections to the 1979 edition 804

Index to common names 805

Index to scientific names 831

Preface

This publication, like its predecessor, Wild Plants of the Canadian Prairies, is
intended for amateur botanists, agricultural representatives, farmers, and ranchers.
For this reason, emphasis has been placed on keys for identification of species.
However, the book will also be useful to professional botanists.

This publication is not just a revised edition of Wild Plants of the Canadian
Prairies; it has also been very much expanded. The scope of the work has been
greatly increased to include the areas of the Boreal forests and the Rocky Moun-
tains. These additions were considered necessary because, since the last revision of
Wild Plants, many parts of the Prairie Provinces have become accessible to trav-
elers. The sections on grasses, sedges, and willows have been completely rewritten
and expanded.

An attempt has been made to include all native species presently known to
occur in the Prairie Provinces, as well as species, native or introduced, which are
likely to be found along roads, railroads, rivers, and lakeshores; but undoubtedly
some species have been missed. Introduced species, which occur occasionally as
escapes from cultivation but do not persist outside the garden environment, are
mentioned but not described.

Further changes include measurements given in metric units (SI, International
System of Units) and photographs for illustrative purposes. In addition, rare plants
have been identified as such.

The basis for rarity is the number of occurrences in the Prairie Provinces, as
well as the number of plants per occurrence. Thus, a plant indicated as rare is
known either from only a few locations in an area, or from several locations, but
each with few plants. Very rare plants are known from very few places — perhaps
only one or two — and are not abundant even there.

Please do not collect very rare and rare species. If identification of a species is
uncertain, send a set of good photographs to a professional botanist for positive
identification.

The 1987 revision was undertaken by Dr. J. Waddington of the Swift Current
Research Station. It includes changes to the key for the chloripetalous dicotyledons
(p. 26), the sympetalous dicotyledons (p. 29), the Leguminosae (p. 463), and group
3 of the Compositae (p. 704). A list of additions and corrections to the 1979 edition
is provided on p. 804, including cross-references to the increasingly common Euro-
pean-Russian classification of perennial Triticeae. Finally, the index has been mod-
ified to reflect these changes.

Metric conversion:
0.9 m = 1 yard
15 cm =6 inches
2.5 cm = 1 inch
25 mm = 1 inch

C

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N

G

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4—1

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Zones of vegetation

Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta occupy an area of almost
2 000 000 km2. As a result of differences in climate and soil type, several vege-
tation types can be distinguished, each with some species occurring mainly
there. Therefore, these vegetation types can be used to designate species distri-
bution. The major types outlined in Fig. 1 follow.

The Prairies

The Prairies include the almost treeless grasslands in the southern parts of
Saskatchewan and Alberta. Rainfall in this area is low, summers are warm,
and the vegetation is composed mainly of drought-tolerant species. Most of
the grassland is short-grass prairie, with spear grass, blue grama, June grass,
and other low-growing plants predominating. On eroded areas several uncom-
mon, specially adapted cushion plants can be found, and the three native cacti
belong to this vegetation type. Transitions to the midgrass prairie occur at the
boundaries of the Prairies and on slopes with north to east exposures. Shrubs
and trees occur almost entirely in deep coulees and ravines.

The Parklands

The Parklands form a broad belt around the Prairies. They consist of
open grassland alternating with tree groves. This belt can be divided into three
sections: eastern, central, and western Parklands. In the eastern Parklands, the
grassland is tall-grass prairie, and big bluestem, porcupine grass, prairie cord
grass, and switch grass predominate. Tree groves contain bur oak, ash, Mani-
toba maple, and balsam poplar. The central Parklands have midgrasses in the
grassland openings, which consist of rough fescue, western porcupine grass,
and Hooker's oat grass, and on the light high-lime soils, little bluestem. Tree
groves consist predominantly of aspen poplar and often include some willows.
In the western Parklands, grassland is midgrass prairie, containing fescues,
spear grass, and poverty oat grass. Tree groves are predominantly aspen pop-
lar, often interspersed with willows and balsam poplar. Drought is not as prev-
alent in the Parklands as in the Prairies; soils are Dark Brown in the southern
parts and Black in the more northern parts.

The Boreal forest

The Boreal forest is the vast area covered with mostly coniferous forest
situated north of the Parklands. Its southern margin intergrades with the Park-
lands, but farther north the Boreal forest is dominated by white spruce on

uplands, black spruce on lowlands, and jack pine on light sandy soils. Areas
that have been logged in recent years are covered with deciduous forest, in
which aspen poplar, balsam poplar, and birch are the main species. Wetlands
are sedge-reed swamps, grading into muskeg, where large tussocks of peat
moss, Labrador tea, willows, swamp birch, larch, and black spruce occur. An
area in southeastern Manitoba varies from the general area in that it supports
white pine, white cedar, ground hemlock, and other eastern or southeastern
species. In Manitoba and northeastern Saskatchewan the Boreal forest
includes outcrops of Precambrian rock, on which several ferns and saxifrages
with numerous species of lichens can be found.

Rocky Mountains

The western boundary of the Parklands and part of the Boreal forest
grade into the Rocky Mountains. In the mountains the climate varies sharply
with differences in elevation. In the lower montane zone to about 1500 m, fes-
cue prairie occupies exposed slopes. Coniferous forest of spruce, lodgepole
pine, Douglas-fir, and western red cedar, aspen poplar woods, or mixed forest
are found on less exposed slopes and in ravines. At higher altitudes the open
grasslands gradually disappear, to make place for vegetation dominated by
shrubs, mainly willows and ground birch, and for the coniferous forest. At alti-
tudes of about 2200-2400 m, the upper tree limit is reached, and alpine mead-
ows, with many low sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens predominating.
The Rocky Mountains can be divided into the southern section, reaching
north to approximately the Calgary-Banff line, and the northern section above
this line. Several plant species, such as common camas, bear-grass, Pursh's
silky lupine, and balsamroot, occur only in the southern section.

Exceptional areas

Besides the major vegetation types, there are several types that occur in
areas where the climate or soil differs from that prevailing in the area domi-
nated by a major vegetation type. The most important ones follow.

Cypress Hills- Wood Mountains

This ridge of hills rises above the surrounding Prairies with elevations
ranging from about 870 m to 1350 m. The ridge is interrupted repeatedly by
gaps of lowland, but in the lower elevations the vegetation is similar through-
out. Midgrass prairie intergrades with fescue prairie and aspen poplar groves
in coulees and ravines. At elevations above 1200 m the grasslands become
pure fescue prairie, and above 1300 m, coniferous forest, similar to that of the
southern Rocky Mountains, occurs.

10

Riding Mountain — Duck Mountain

These areas of hills and plateaus rise 200-300 m above the surrounding
plains in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. The vegetation is
mainly coniferous forest, similar to that of the Boreal zone to the north. How-
ever, exposed areas and slopes support Parkland vegetation interspersed with
small areas of fescue prairie vegetation.

Peace River district

With a climate warmer and drier than what is customary for this latitude,
the Peace River district offers a Parkland landscape, with southern exposed
slopes and other exposed areas covered with midgrass prairie, dominated by
spear grass. Somewhat eroded areas contain brittle prickly-pear, as well as sev-
eral other species characteristic of the southern prairies. Tree groves are domi-
nated by aspen poplar, with willows, chokecherries, pin cherries, and particu-
larly Saskatoon berries often plentiful.

Sand dune areas

Several areas of sandy soils and mobile sand dunes are characterized by a
vegetation type that is quite different from that of the heavier soils surrounding
them. The vegetation of sand dune areas depends on the zone in which they
occur. The Middle, Great, and Little Sandhills in southeastern Alberta and
southwestern Saskatchewan are in the Prairies, and are characterized by short-
grass prairie on stabilized dry sand; sand grass, sand dropseed, Indian rice
grass, and sand dock in open sand; little bluestem on moist calcareous sand;
and large areas of western snowberry, silverberry, choke cherries, and aspen
poplar in moist dune valleys. Several other species of shrubs occur in small
groups.

In the Parklands, sand areas are mostly in midgrass prairie, with rough
fescue and western porcupine grass dominating the dry locations and little
bluestem the moister locations. Aspen poplar mixed with some balsam poplar
and willows occupy the sites that have good moisture conditions. In the east-
ern Parklands, tall grasses dominate the grasslands in the sand dunes. These
include big bluestem, porcupine grass, and switch grass. Willows, aspen pop-
lar, and bur oak form the tree groves, with white spruce gradually taking over
if the tree cover remains undisturbed.

Saline areas

Many large and small areas with poor drainage and areas around lakes
and sloughs have a high to very high salt content, often visible by a white salt

11

incrustation when they are dry. The vegetation on these areas is made up of
species with special adaptations for the extreme saline conditions. Most of the
species may also be found along the seacoasts, or they have affinities with
species found there: sea-blite, red samphire, seaside arrow-grass, and various
salt grasses, which are indigenous in these areas.

How to use the plant key

Plants are classified into various groups according to their structure and
method of reproduction. The first of these are divisions, which are separated
into subdivisions. The subdivisions are divided into classes, and the classes
into families. Families are split into genera, and each genus contains one or
more species. The species is sometimes further divided into forms, subspecies,
and varieties.

The keys that follow contain paired contrasting statements of particular
characteristics, and a plant must agree with one of them. Find out which of the
pair it agrees with and then continue to the name or number following that
statement until you find the family name. Go through the key to the family,
then the genus, and finally the species. Continue to follow the statements until
you find the species.

Imagine that the plant in the sketch (Fig. 2) is actually in front of you and
that you have no idea what it is and you want to identify it.

Turn to p. 20. Begin at the first key, and do not worry about the scientific
names. If there are any terms or expressions that you do not understand, turn
to the Glossary and the diagrams.
Clause 1. Because it obviously has flowers and will undoubtedly have seeds,

it is in the SPERMATOPHYTA division. Go to the next entry,

numbered 2.
Clause 2. It is certainly not an evergreen tree bearing cones, therefore it must

be an ANGIOSPERM. Go to Clause 3.
Clause 3. Because the leaves are not parallel-veined, the plant must belong to

the DICOTYLEDONEAE.

Now look through the section "KEY TO THE FAMILIES" and find the
portion headed "Class: DICOTYLEDONEAE" (p. 23). If you look carefully
at the flower, you will find that the petals are not entirely separate but are
joined near the base, therefore the plant is a SYMPETALOUS dicotyledon,
section C. Turn to the heading of that section on p. 29.
Clause 1. It is obviously a herb and not a shrub or tree; go to Clause 8.
Clause 8. It is a green plant; turn to Clause 1 1.

Clause 11. The flowers are neither in heads nor in spikes; go on to Clause 19.
Clause 19. The ovary is superior, as you will find by referring to the Glossary

and the diagram of flower parts; go to Clause 25.
Clause 25. The petal portion (corolla) is regular (see Glossary); go to Clause

28.

12

Fig. 2. A specimen (Lysimachia ciliata L.) illustrating the use of the key.

13

Clause 28. It does not have a milky juice; go to Clause 30.

Clause 30. It is certainly not a twining plant; go to Clause 31.

Clause 31. The stamens are directly in front of the petals, therefore it should

belong to the PRIMULACEAE, or primrose family, which is

described on p. 580.

Turning to p. 580, under PRIMULACEAE, start again at Clause 1. Note
that the leaves are not all basal, thus go to Clause 5.
Clause 5. The leaves are opposite; go to Clause 6.
Clause 6. Petals are present; go to Clause 7.
Clause 7. The stem leaves are normal; go to Clause 8.

Clause 8. The flowers are yellow, therefore it appears to belong to the genus
Lysimachia, or loosestrife.

The genera are in alphabetical order; you will find Lysimachia on p. 583.

Again begin with Clause 1 of the key to the species, and note that the plant is

flowering, and does not have bulblets in the upper axils of the leaves, so go to

Clause 2.

Clause 2. The flowers are borne on separate stalks in the leaf axils; go to
Clause 3.

Clause 3. The leaves are lanceolate (see diagram of leaf shapes, p. 15) and
rounded at the base; go to Clause 4.

Clause 4. The petioles of the lower leaves are about 1 cm long and ciliate,
therefore it is apparently a specimen of Lysimachia ciliata L., or
fringed loosestrife. Now read the description of that species and
you will find that it agrees in every way with the specimen. Appar-
ently the keying has been correct.

The L. after the scientific name means that the Swedish botanist Linnaeus
gave that name to this plant. The other name is a synonym, or another name,
given to it by another botanist. In this case, because Rafinesque thought that
the plant should be in a separate genus, Steironema, he took the specific name
from Linnaeus and placed it after Steironema, but divided the credit for the
name with Linnaeus, and therefore the authority is (L.) Raf. Because later
botanists agreed with Linnaeus, Rafinesque's name for this plant became a
synonym.

14

Cuneate Deltoid

Wedge-shaped) (Triangular)

Cordate
(Heart-shaped)

Reniform
(K idney-shaped)

Orbicular
(circular)

Peltate

(Shield-shaped)

A.C. fcudd

Fig. 3. Shapes of simple leaves.

Pinnately
Lobed

Pinnately
Divided

Palmately
Lobed

Palmately
Divided

0 v

■^

Odd pinnate Even pinnate Interruptedly
pinnate

Compound
pinnate

Trifol i o I at e

Palmately much
Divided

Digitate

A.C. fcudd

Fig. 4. Types of divided leaves.

15

Apex

Blad

ate-perfol iate leaf

Net-veined
opposite leaf

Alternate leaves

Auricles or ears

e or hairy-margined leaf

Rosette or rosulate leaves

Radical leaves

AC. Budd

Fig. 5. Leaf variations.

16

Flowers not stalked

SPIKE

Flowers with stalks v4 A compound raceme

RACEME PANICLE

Flower stalks from a common center T Terminal flowers open last Terminal flowers open first

UMBEL

CORYMB

CYME

/l.C. fcudd

Fig. 6. Types of inflorescences.

Petals of corol la

Bract u

Petal s of corol la

Sepals of calyx Stamen

Parts of flower of One-flowered wintergreen

Stamens

Superior ovary

nferior ovar\

Section of flower of a legume

Section of flower of Buttercup

AC. fcudd

Fig. 7. Flower parts.

17

THREE-PETALED
(Arrowhead)

URN-SHAPED
(Bearberry)

SALVER-FORM
(Col lomia)

PAPILIONACEOUS
(Vetchling)

FOUR-PETALED

(Mustard)

FIVE-PETALED
(Chickweed)

MANY-PETALED
(Purple coctus)

(Violet)

CYLINDRICAL
(Gentian)

CAMPANULA"!":
(Harebell)

FUNNELFORM
(Morning-glory)

ROTATE
(Wild tomato) (Bittersweet)

REFLEXED PETALS

(Shoot ingstar)

BILABIATE
(Marsh hedge-nettle) (Monkeyf lower)

SPURRED
(Toadflax)

RREGULAR
(Low larkspur) (Leafy spurge)

(Lady's-slipper)

AC. fcudd

Fig. 8. Types of flowers.

18

SILICLES ? ' ' SILIQUES

(Bladderpod) (Shepherd's-purse) (Stinkweed) (Hare's-ear mustard) (Wild radish)

Pi A

/f<>

\w\

im

ft'' ■*

Hi

v33

LEGUMES
(Milk-vetch) (Ground-plum) (Golden-bean) (Sweet-broom) (Wild licorice) (Vetch)

Violet

CAPSULES
(Geranium) (Fireweed) (Shootingstar) (Black henbane) (Flax)

(Mi Ikweed)

FOLLICLES

(Low larkspur) ACCESSORY FRUIT AGGREGATE FRUIT PYXIS

(Strawberry) (Raspberry

SCHIZOCARPS BERRIES

(cow parsnip) (Sweet cicely) (Gooseberry)

BUR ACHENES

(Cocklebur) (Various)

fl.C. Budd

Fig. 9. Types of fruits.

19

Keys to main groups
Key to Divisions, Subdivisions, and Classes

1. Plants without true flowers, reproducing

by spores

Plants with flowers, reproducing by seeds.

2. Plants bearing flowers having neither

styles nor stigmas, the naked ovules
(seeds) on the upper side of a scale.
Mostly evergreen trees and shrubs
bearing cones or cone-like fruit

Plants bearing flowers with the ovules
enclosed in an ovary with styles or
stigmas, and bearing seeds in a closed
ovary

3. Stems, when present, without central pith

or annular layers; leaves usually paral-
lel-veined; flower parts generally in
threes or multiples of three; seeds with
only one cotyledon or seed leaf.

Stems with a central pith, or if woody, the
wood generally arranged in annular
layers; leaves net-veined; seeds with
two cotyledons or seed leaves

Division:
PTERIDOPHYTA, p. 32

Division:

SPERM ATOPHYTA, p. 56 2

Subdivision:
GYMNOSPERMAE, p. 56

Subdivision:
ANGIOSPERMAE, p. 61 3

Class:
MONOCOTYLEDONEAE, p. 61

Class:
DICOTYLEDONEAE, p. 279

Key to the Families
Division: PTERIDOPHYTA — ferns and fern allies

1. Leaves reduced to scales, whorled at the

internodes of strongly jointed stems,

forming a sheath EQUISETACEAE, p. 47

Leaves reduced to green scales, awl-
shaped, or larger, not forming a sheath;
stems not strongly jointed 2

2. Leaves linear, grass-like, sheathing at

base ISOETACEAE , p. 50

Leaves not linear or grass-like 3

3. Leaves scale-like or awl-shaped 4

Leaves larger and broader 5

4. Sporangia borne in the upper axils of

ordinary leaves, or in terminal terete

strobiles; spores uniform in size LYCOPODIACEAE, p. 51

Sporangia borne in terminal four-sided

strobiles; spores of two different sizes SELAGINELLACEAE, p. 55

20

5. Fronds (leaves) long-petioled, palmately

divided into 4 leaflets MARSILEACEAE, p. 47

Fronds not divided into 4 leaflets 6

6. Plants with a single stalk, bearing a sterile

frond below, a fertile one above; spo-
rangia arranged in two rows OPHIOGLOSSACEAE, p. 32

Plants not as above 7

7. Sporangia naked, borne on much

modified divisions at the tip or middle

of fronds OSMUNDACEAE, p. 35

Sporangia covered, borne on fertile
fronds similar to the sterile ones or on
modified fronds POLYPODIACEAE, p. 35

Division: SPERMATOPHYTA — seed-bearing plants
Subdivision: GYM NOS PER MAE — plants with naked seeds

1. Cones reduced to a single ovule, fruit a

one-seeded berry TAXACEAE, p. 56

Cones many-seeded, fleshy or woody 2

2. Leaves scale-like or awl-shaped, often

overlapping; opposite or whorled CUPRESSACEAE, p. 60

Leaves linear or needle-shaped, not over-
lapping; alternate or clustered PINACEAE, p. 56

Subdivision: ANGIOSPERMAE — plants with covered seeds
Class: MONOCOTYLEDONEAE — monocotyledons

Stems, when present, without central pith or annual layers; leaves usually
parallel-veined; flower parts mostly in threes or multiples of three; seeds with
only one cotyledon (seed leaf)-

1. Plants aquatic, floating or submerged, with

floating leaves or emersed inflorescence 2

Plants not aquatic, or if growing in water,

most of the plant emersed 4

2. Plants small, floating, leaf-like; without

differentiation between stems and

leaves LEMNACEAE, p. 245

Plants larger, generally rooting; clear

differentiation between stem and leaves 3

3. Perianth absent or single and inconspicu-

ous; plants monoecious ZOSTERACEAE, p. 65

21

Perianth present, in two whorls; plants

dioecious HYDROCHARITACEAE, p. 73

4. Perianth absent or inconspicuous 5

Perianth present, conspicuous, in two series

of 3 segments, often brightly colored 1 1

5. Inflorescence a dense, single, cylindrical

spike 8-15 cm long, 1-2.5 cm thick 6

Inflorescence not as above; if a single

spike, less than 1 cm thick 7

6. Spike fleshy, subtended by a large bract

or spathe ARACEAE, p. 246

Spike not fleshy, bractless TYPHACEAE, p. 61

7. Flowers in globular heads, the upper ones

staminate, the lower ones pistillate SPARGANIACEAE, p. 63

Flowers not in globular heads 8

8. Perianth in two whorls, each of three

segments 9

Perianth not in two whorls 10

9. Flowers in spike-like racemes; perianth of

greenish sepals and petals JUNCAGINACEAE, p. 68

Flowers in branched inflorescences; peri-
anth segments scale-like JUNCACEAE, p. 246

10. Flowers enclosed in two-ranked bracts

with the lowest (glumes) empty; peri-
anth reduced to minute lodicules or
lacking; culms usually hollow; leaves

two-ranked GRAMINEAE, p. 73

Flowers solitary in the axil of a single
bract (scale); perianth reduced to bris-
tles, or scales, or lacking; culms usually
solid; leaves three-ranked CYPERACEAE, p. 181

1 1. Perianth small, consisting of 3 green sep-

als and 3 deciduous whitish petals ALISMACEAE, p. 69

Perianth usually large, consisting of sepals
and petals usually alike, but petals not
deciduous, variously colored 12

12. Flowers irregular, stamens 1 or 2 ORCHIDACEAE, p. 270

Flowers regular, stamens 3 or 6 13

13. Stamens 3, flowers borne in a spathe IRIDACEAE, p. 268

Stamens 6, flowers not borne in a spathe 14

14. Ovary inferior AMARYLLIDACEAE, p. 268

Ovary superior 15

15. Leaves sheathing the stem; inflorescence

a cyme, subtended by strongly sheath-
ing bracts COMMELINACEAE, p. 246

Leaves not sheathing the stem;
inflorescence not subtended by
strongly sheathing bracts LILIACEAE, p. 256

22

Class: DICOTYLEDONEAE — dicotyledons

Stems with a central pith, or, if woody, the wood generally arranged in
annual layers; leaves net-veined; seeds with two cotyledons (seed leaves).

A. APETALOUS Flowers with only one floral ring, with

sepals but not petals (p. 23).

B. CHORIPETALOUS Flowers with two floral rings, and with

each petal distinct from the others (p. 25).

C. SYMPETALOUS Flowers with two floral rings, but with

the petals wholly or partly united
forming a tube or bell (p. 29).

A. Apetalous dicotyledons

(flowers with only one floral ring, with sepals but not petals)

1. Herbs 2

Shrubs or trees 23

2. Plants parasitic on branches of trees;

leaves reduced to scales LORANTHACEAE, p. 308

Plants not parasitic on trees; rooted in

soil or water 3

3. Water plants 4

Land plants 7

4. Leaves all simple 5

Some or all leaves divided into filiform

segments , 6

5. Leaves opposite CALLITRICHACEAE, p. 514

Leaves whorled HALORAGACEAE, p. 543

(Hippuris)

6. Plants free-floating, rootless CERATOPHYLLACEAE, p. 361

Plants rooted at the bottom HALORAGACEAE, p. 544

{Myriophyllum)

7. Stamens or pistils in separate flowers on

the same plant 8

Stamens and pistils in each flower 1 1

8. Plants with milky sap; fruit 3-seeded,

splitting open at maturity EUPHORBIACEAE, p. 511

Plants without milky sap 9

9. Plants twining, climbing; female flowers

and fruit in catkin-like spikes CANNABINACEAE, p. 304

Plants not climbing; fruit not catkin-like 10

10. Stigmas 2; flowers without calyx; fruit

enclosed in 2 bracts CHENOPODIACEAE, p. 326

(A triplex)

23

Stigmas 1; flowers with calyx; fruit
enclosed by 2-4 perianth segments;
leaves often bearing stinging hairs URTICACEAE, p. 304

1 1. Plants stemless with a single pair of large

reniform leaves; calyx 3-lobed ARISTOLOCHIACEAE, p. 308

Plants with stems or stemless, but with

more than one pair of leaves 12

12. Leaves with stipules free or sheathing the

stem 13

Leaves without stipules 14

13. Leaves opposite; stipules membranous;

plant cushion-like CARYOPHYLLACEAE, p. 354

(Paronychia)

Leaves alternate; stipules forming a

sheath above nodes POLYGONACEAE, p. 308

14. Leaves opposite 15

Leaves alternate; lower ones sometimes

opposite 18

15. Leaves scale-like; stem fleshy; flowers

imbedded in stem; plants of saline

areas CHENOPODIACEAE, p. 338

(Salicomia)

Leaves not scale-like; calyx colored 16

16. Plants climbing RANUNCULACEAE, p. 369

(Clematis)
Plants not climbing 17

17. Erect herbs; inflorescence in panicles or

clusters NYCTAGINACEAE, p. 344

Low plants; flowers solitary in leaf axils PRIMULACEAE, p. 583

(Glaux)

18. Fruit fleshy when ripe SANTALACEAE, p. 305

Fruit dry when ripe 19

19. Leaves orbicular or reniform; sepals 4 SAXIFRAGACEAE, p. 421

(Chrysoplenium)

Leaves not orbicular or reniform 20

20. Leaves compound or simple, but very

deeply divided RANUNCULACEAE, p. 364

(A nemone)

Leaves not compound and not very

deeply divided 21

21. Perianth segments 6, in two series; flowers

colored POLYGONACEAE, p. 309

(Eriogonum)
Perianth segments 2-5; flowers small,

numerous, greenish 22

22. Bracts and perianth segments dry and

membranous AMARANTHACEAE, p. 342

24

Membranous bracts absent; perianth seg-
ments greenish CHENOPODIACEAE, p. 324

23. Male flowers, at least, in catkins or

aments 24

Flowers not in catkins or aments 27

24. Seeds each with a tuft of hairs SALICACEAE, p. 279

Seeds without a tuft of hairs 25

25. Styles 3 or more; fruit an acorn FAGACEAE, p. 303

Styles 2; fruit not an acorn 26

26. Three flowers in axil of each bract of male

catkin BETULACEAE, p. 299

One flower in axil of each bract of male

catkin; fruit a nut BETULACEAE, p. 301

(Corylus)

27. Climbing plants; flowers with colored

sepals; fruit with a persistent feathery

style RANUNCULACEAE, p. 369

(Clematis)
Plants not climbing; fruit without a feath-
ery style 28

28. Leaves pinnately compound 29

Leaves simple 30

29. Fruit a double samara; leaflets mostly

3-5 ACERACEAE, p. 515

Fruit a single samara; leaflets mostly

5-11 OLEACEAE, p. 587

30. Leaves linear, evergreen, 2.5-7 mm long;

plants with decumbent stems EMPETRACEAE, p. 514

Leaves wider, deciduous; plants with

erect stems 31

31. Fruit fleshy when ripe 32

Fruit dry when ripe 33

32. Leaves silvery or brownish scurfy ELAEAGNACEAE, p. 533

Leaves aromatic, not silvery or brownish

scurfy MYRICACEAE, p. 299

33. Shrubs without stipules; branches spiny CHENOPODIACEAE, p. 339

(Sarcobatus)
Trees with stipules; flowers appearing

before leaves ULMACEAE, p. 303

B. Choripetalous dicotyledons

(flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others)

1. Succulent, spiny plants with leaves absent

or scale-like, inconspicuous CACTACEAE, p. 531

Plants with leaves

25

2. Leaves all basal, and tubular or with ten-

tacles for catching insects 3

Leaves normal 4

3. Plants with solitary flowers; leaves tubu-

lar with lid-like lobe on top SARRACENIACEAE, p. 418

Plants with flowers in racemes; leaves flat

with glandular tentacles DROSERACEAE, p. 418

4. Herbs 5

Shrubs or trees 41

5. Plants aquatic; leaves submerged or

floating 6

Plants terrestrial or semiaquatic 8

6. Leaves mostly floating, large, suborbicu-

lar or reniform NYMPHAEACEAE, p. 361

Leaves mostly submerged, small, coarsely
to finely dissected 7

7. Flowers pedicellate, mostly white or yel-

low, perfect RANUNCULACEAE, p. 362

Flowers sessile, axillary, monoecious HALORAGACEAE, p. 543

8. Plants with a single ternately compound

stem leaf, appearing as 3 long-petioled

leaves BERBERIDACEAE, p. 384

(Caulophyllum)
Plants with more than one leaf. 9

9. Plants with colored milky juice PAPAVERACEAE, p. 384

Plants not with colored milky juice 10

10. Leaves opposite, whorled, or basal 11

Some or all leaves alternate 18

1 1 . Low plants with an involucre of 4 petal-

like bracts; fruit a red drupe CORNACEAE, p. 563

Plants without large petal-like bracts 12

12. Mud plants with small axillary flowers ELATINACEAE, p. 525

Terrestrial plants 13

13. Styles single 14

Styles 2 or more 16

14. Ovary inferior, flowers 2- or 4-merous

(parts) ONAGRACEAE, p. 534

Ovary superior. 15

15. Petals 5, stamens 10 PYROLACEAE, p. 567

Petals 4 or 6, stamens 12 LYTHRACEAE, p. 534

16. Sepals 2 PORTULACACEAE, p. 345

Sepals more than 2 17

17. Leaves glandular-dotted, stamens

united at base into 3-5 bundles HYPERICACEAE, p. 522

Leaves not glandular-dotted,

stamens not united at base CARYOPH YLLACEAE, p. 347

26

18. Calyx irregular, some sepals

smaller than others 19

Calyx regular. 20

19. Leaves lobed or divided RANUNCULACEAE, p. 362

Leaves entire CISTACEAE, p. 525

20. Leaves with stipules 21

Leaves without stipules, or having glands 26

21. Stamens numerous, united into a column;

leaves palmately veined. MALVACEAE, p. 520

Stamens usually separate or partly so, not

in a column 22

22. Flowers irregular in shape 23

Flowers regular in shape 24

23 . Corolla pea-like; fruit a legume LEGUMINOSAE, p. 462

Corolla with one petal spurred or sac-like;

fruit a 3-valved capsule VIOLACEAE, p. 526

24. Stamens usually numerous; ovary of one

or more carpels, either separate or

enclosed by a fleshy receptacle ROSACEAE, p. 436

Stamens 5 or 10; ovary of 5 united

carpels 25

25. Leaves palmately divided; fruit with a

long beak GERANIACEAE, p. 504

Leaves of 3 leaflets; fruit not beaked OXALIDACEAE, p. 505

26. Stamens usually more than 10 27

Stamens 10 or fewer 30

27. Carpels separate RANUNCULACEAE, p. 362

Carpels united 28

28. Sepals 4; fruit a pod; annuals CAPPARIDACEAE, p. 386

Sepals 4-8; fruit a capsule opening at top 29

29. Flowers few, large, solitary, and terminal;

petals over 2.5 cm long LOASACEAE, p. 531

Flowers many, small, in terminal spikes RESEDACEAE, p. 417

30. Ovary inferior. 31

Ovary superior. 33

31. Parts of flowers in twos or fours ONAGRACEAE, p. 534

Flowers in umbels; parts of flowers

mostly in fives 32

32. Styles 5; fruit fleshy. ARALIACEAE, p. 544

Styles 2; stems hollow UMBELLIFERAE, p. 545

33 . Carpels 3-5 34

Carpels 1 or 2 37

34. Sepals 3; one petal-like and spurred; fruit

an explosive capsule B ALSAMINACEAE, p. 508

None of petals or sepals spurred; fruit not

explosive 35

27

35. Sepals 2 PORTULACACEAE, p. 345

Sepals 3-5 36

36. Stamens 5, united at base; fruit a capsule LINACEAE, p. 507

Stamens 8-10; fleshy- leaved plants CRASSULACEAE, p. 418

37. Corolla irregular in shape 38

Corolla regular in shape 39

38. Petals 3; sepals 5, two large, colored, and

petal-like POLYGALACEAE, p. 510

Petals 4; sepals 2 FUMARIACEAE, p. 385

39. Petals 5; receptacle cup-shaped SAXIFRAGACEAE, p. 420

Petals 4; sepals 4 40

40. Stamens 6, of equal length; leaves of 3

leaflets CAPPARIDACEAE, p. 386

Stamens usually 6, four long and two

short CRUCIFERAE, p. 389

4 1 . Plants climbing 42

Plants not climbing 45

42. Leaves opposite; styles plumose in fruit RANUNCULACEAE, p. 369

(Clematis)
Leaves alternate; styles not plumose in

fruit 43

43. Plants with tendrils; leaves simple or digi-

tately compound VITACEAE, p. 519

Plants with twining stems; leaves simple 44

44. Leaves orbicular-cordate, peltate near the

margin, 3- to 7-lobed MENISPERMACEAE, p. 384

Leaves ovate-oblong, finely serrate CELASTRACEAE, p. 517

45 . Leaves opposite 46

Leaves alternate 49

46. Plants low shrubs 47

Trees 48

47. Leaves 15-35 mm long; flowers pink to

red ERICACEAE, p. 575

{Kalmia)
Leaves about 3 mm long; flowers yellow CISTACEAE, p. 525

48. Trees with palmately lobed leaves; fruit a

2-seeded samara ACERACEAE, p. 515

Shrubs or low trees; petals 4; fruit fleshy. CORNACEAE, p. 563

49. Leaves compound 50

Leaves simple 53

50. Leaflets leathery, spinose-tipped BERBERIDACEAE, p. 382

Leaflets not leathery or spinose-tipped 51

51. Petal (standard) solitary; fruit a legume LEGUMINOSAE, p. 463

(Amorpha)
Petals 5; fruit not a legume 52

52 . Flowers perfect; stamens numerous ROS ACEAE, p. 436

Flowers dioecious or perfect; stamens 5 ANACARDIACEAE, p. 514

28

53. Stems armed with prickles; leaves several

at the nodes BERBERIDACEAE, p. 382

Stems not armed with prickles,

or if prickled, only one leaf per node 54

54. Stamens numerous 55

Stamens less than 10 56

55. Fruit with a tongue-shaped bract adher-

ing to the peduncle TILIACEAE, p. 520

Fruit without a tongue-shaped bract ROSACEAE, p. 436

56. Inflorescence terminating the branches,

half-round or ovoid; fruit a 3-lobed

drupe RHAMNACEAE, p. 518

(Ceanothus)
Inflorescence not as above; fruit not a 3-

lobed drupe 57

57. Fruit a berry; stamens 3 SAXIFRAGACEAE, p. 427

(Ribes)
Fruit a dry capsule 58

58. Plants with leathery green leaves; mostly

prostrate PYROLACEAE, p. 567

(Chimaphila)
Plants not with leathery green leaves;

mostly upright ERICACEAE, p. 571

C. Sympetalous dicotyledons

(flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a

tube or bell)

1 . Shrubs or trees 2

Herbs 8

2. Leaves opposite or whorled 3

Leaves alternate 6

3. Trees with pinnately compound leaves;

stamens 2; fruit winged OLEACEAE, p. 587

Shrubs; stamens 5-10 4

4. Stems bearing a solitary flower; dwarf

shrubs DIAPENSIACEAE, p. 580

Stems bearing few to several flowers;

large shrubs 5

5. Stamens 5; ovary inferior; fruit fleshy. CAPRIFOLIACEAE, p. 670

Stamens 5-10; ovary superior; fruit a

capsule ERICACEAE, p. 571

6. Flowers in heads; fruit 1-seeded COMPOSITAE, p. 683

Flowers not in heads; fruit many-seeded 7

7. Ovary inferior; fruit fleshy. VACCINIACEAE, p. 577

Ovary superior; fruit usually a capsule,

sometimes a mealy-fleshy drupe ERICACEAE, p. 571

8. Plants parasitic or saprophytic, without

chlorophyll (green coloring matter) 9

Plants green or with some chlorophyll 11

29

9. Plants twining and attached to stems of

other plants CONVOLVULACEAE, p. 599

(Cuscuta)
Plants growing out of soil or attached to

roots of other plants 10

10. Corolla regular; stamens 6-10 MONOTROPACEAE, p. 570

Corolla 2-lipped; stamens 4 OROBANCHACEAE, p. 661

1 1 . Flowers in heads or in form resembling a

head 12

Flowers in long or short spikes 17

Flowers not in heads or spikes 20

12. Flowers in true heads with an involucre

(bracts) 13

Flowers in form resembling a head, open-
ing in irregular order. 15

13. Male and female flowers in separate

heads COMPOSITAE, p. 683

(Group 1)
Flowers perfect, or male and female

flowers in same head 14

14. Stamens united by their anthers COMPOSITAE, p. 683

(Groups 2 and 3)
Stamens separate DIPSACACEAE, p. 681

15. Leaves mostly basal, 1-3 times divided

into 3 leaflets; flowers very small,

greenish ADOXACEAE, p. 677

Leaves not with 3 leaflets; flowers usually

colored 16

16. Corolla 2-lipped; leaves opposite, stems

square LABIATAE, p. 620

Corolla regular; stems round POLEMONIACEAE, p. 600

17. Flowers inconspicuous, on long spikes;

leaves all basal PLANTAGINACEAE, p. 663

Flowers brightly colored, irregular. 18

18. Fruit a many-seeded capsule SCROPHULARIACEAE, p. 638

Fruit not a many-seeded capsule 19

19. Flowers alternate or very crowded; fruit

of 4 nutlets VERBENACEAE, p. 619

Flowers opposite, not crowded; fruit an

achene, sharply reflexed PHRYMACEAE, p. 663

20. Ovary inferior. 21

Ovary superior. 26

2 1 . Climbing plants with tendrils CUCURBITACEAE, p. 677

Not climbing plants 22

22. Leaves basal or alternate; plants often

with milky juice 23

Leaves opposite; plants without milky
juice 24

30

23. Corolla regular, bell-shaped; anthers free CAMPANULACEAE, p. 677

Corolla irregular, split down one side;

anthers united into a tube LOBELIACEAE, p. 680

24. Stamens 3 VALERIANACEAE, p. 681

Stamens 4 or 5 25

25. Leaves with stipules, appearing whorled RUBIACEAE, p. 667

Leaves without stipules CAPRIFOLIACEAE, p. 670

26. Corolla irregular. 27

Corolla regular. 29

27. Plants aquatic; leaves bearing bladders;

corolla spurred LENTIBULARIACEAE, p. 659

Plants not aquatic; leaves not bearing

bladders 28

28. Stems square; leaves opposite; fruit with 4

nutlets LABIATAE, p. 620

Stems not square; fruit a many-seeded

capsule SCROPHULARIACEAE, p. 638

29 . Plants with milky juice 30

Plants without milky juice 31

30. Stamens united; styles distinct; pollen

grains united into a mass ASCLEPIADACEAE, p. 593

Stamens distinct; styles united; pollen

grains separate APOCYNACEAE, p. 592

31. Twining plants; corolla large, funnel-

form CONVOLVULACEAE, p. 597

Plants not twining 32

32. Stamens directly in front of corolla lobes PRIMULACEAE, p. 580

Stamens alternating with corolla lobes, or

twice their number 33

33. Stamens 8 or 10 PYROLACEAE, p. 567

Stamens 4 or 5 34

34. Fruit with 4 nutlets; style from center of

lobes of ovary; inflorescence usually

scorpioid BORAGINACEAE, p. 609

Fruit a berry or capsule; style terminal 35

35. Ovary 1 -celled with seeds borne on wall

of cell 36

Ovary 2- or 3-celled with seeds borne on

axis in center of cell 37

36. Flowers in cymose clusters,

leaves opposite GENTIANACEAE, p. 589

Flowers scorpioid or solitary in leaf axils,

leaves alternate or basal HYDROPHYLLACEAE, p. 605

37. Ovary 3-celled; fruit a capsule POLEMONIACEAE, p. 600

Ovary 2-celled; fruit a berry or a capsule SOLANACEAE, p. 631

31

Genera and species
Division: PTERIDOPHYTA — ferns and fern allies
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE — adders-tongue family

Botrychium grape fern

Plants from fleshy roots with sheath at base of frond (leaf) stalk, contain-
ing the following year's bud. Fertile frond bearing the spore-bearing bodies
spike-like or raceme-like. Sterile frond leaf-like and lobed.

1. Sterile frond oblong, ovate, or somewhat

triangular-ovate, longer than wide, usu-
ally glabrous 2

Sterile frond triangular, wider than long,

pubescent, at least when young 6

2. Sterile fronds simple, trilobed, or pinnate;

pinnae without midrib 3

Sterile fronds bipinnate; pinnae with con-
spicuous midrib 4

3. Sterile frond petiolate, simple, trilobed, or

pinnate with 2 or 3 pairs of pinnae B. simplex

Sterile frond sessile, pinnate with 3-9

pairs of pinnae B. lunaria

4. Pinnae triangular to rhomboid-ovate,

about as long as wide B. boreale

Pinnae lanceolate to oblong, longer than

wide 5

5. Pinnae lanceolate to linear-lanceolate,

acute at apex; midrib pronounced B. lanceolatum

Pinnae ovate to oblong, obtuse at apex;

midrib not pronounced B. matricariifolium

6. Sterile frond petiolate, 2- or 3-pinnate,

fleshy; pinnae obtuse at apex B. multifidum

Sterile frond sessile, 3- or 4-pinnate, not

fleshy; pinnae acute at apex B. virginianum

Botrychium boreale Milde var. obtusilobum (Rupr.) Brown

Plants to 30 cm high. Leaf inserted near middle of stem, 10-20 cm long,
subsessile, triangular-ovate, bipinnate; pinnae ovate, acute, pinnatifid. Rare;
in grassland and open slopes near tree line; southern Rocky Mountains.

Botrychium lanceolatum (Gmel.) Angst.

Plants to 30 cm high. Leaf inserted at base of fertile frond, to 25 cm long,
subsessile, triangular-ovate, bipinnate; pinnae lanceolate to linear-lanceolate,
serrate or pinnatifid, with midrib pronounced. Rare; in moist grassland; south-
ern Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

32

Botrychium lunaria (L.) Swartz. moon fern

Plants to 30 cm high. Leaf inserted near middle of stem, 5-20 cm long,
sessile, oblong, pinnate, with 3-9 pairs of fan-shaped pinnae without midrib.
Rare; in grassland and open areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Botrychium matricariifolium Braun. chamomile-leaved grape fern

Plants to 30 cm high. Leaf inserted above middle of stem, 5-20 cm long,
subsessile, oblong to ovate, bipinnate; pinnae oblong to ovate, with midrib.
Rare; in moist grassland, muskeg, wooded shores; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Botrychium multifidum (Gmel.) Rupr. thick-leaved grape fern

Plants to 30 cm high. Leaf inserted near base of stipe, 5-20 cm long, trian-
gular, wider than long, bi- or tri-pinnate; pinnae lanceolate, with midrib pro-
nounced. Rare; in moist meadows, margins of woods; Boreal forest.

Botrychium simplex E. Hitchc. GRAPE FERN

Plants 10-15 cm high. Leaf inserted near middle of stem, 5-8 cm long;
stipe 2-A cm long; pinnae subovate, cuneate at base. Rare; in meadows, mar-
gins of woods; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Swartz. (Fig. 10) Virginia grape fern

Plants to 80 cm high. Leaf inserted near middle of stem, 20-50 cm long,
triangular, wider than long, sessile, 3- or 4-pinnate; pinnae and segments
oblong to ovate, dentate, with midrib pronounced. Rare; in moist woods;
Boreal forest, Cypress Hills, Riding Mountain.

(Fig. 10 overleaf)

33

*»

\t

HEHBAHIUH OF THK RE3KAJ

JWIFT G8RSEHT , 3A.JK .

;TK„>: 3otrf<shiaa '•

r]p^Tl.HOVW I

w

Fig. 10. Virginia grape fern, Botrychium virginianum (L.) Swartz.

34

OSMUNDACEAE — royal fern family

Osmunda royal fern

Osmunda claytoniana L. interrupted fern

Plants with stout rhizomes. Fronds 50-100 cm high; stipes shorter than
blade, 2-5 mm thick, tomentose when young; blades pinnate-pinnatifid; pin-
nae in 15-20 pairs, alternate or subopposite. Fertile pinnae 1-5 pairs, 3-6 cm
long, 2 cm wide, in middle of blade, bipinnate, with segments oblong, soon
withering; sterile pinnae oblong-lanceolate, to 12 cm long, 3 cm wide, acute,
deeply pinnatifid, with segments in 10-15 pairs. Sporangia about 0.5 mm wide,
dark brown. Southeastern boreal forest.

POLYPODIACEAE — fern family

Ferns with fronds spirally coiled in the bud, and usually bearing green
leaf-like fronds. Spores usually borne in little clusters (sori) and usually under
a membranous cover (indusium).

1. Sori enclosed in modified globular seg-

ments of fertile fronds; fronds becom-
ing blackish in age 2

Sori exposed or covered by the reflexed

margin of the fertile fronds 3

2. Fronds scattered along rhizome; sterile

fronds once pinnatifid; fertile fronds

bipinnate Onoclea

Fronds tufted on a caudex; sterile fronds

surrounding fertile ones Matteuccia

3. Sori marginal or appearing marginal, cov-

ered by margin or marginal lobes 4

Sori not marginal 8

4. Sterile and fertile fronds dissimilar; fertile

ones longer than sterile ones Cryptogramma

Sterile and fertile fronds not dissimilar 5

5. Sori appearing marginal, but borne on

veins of reflexed marginal lobes Adiantum

Sori marginal or submarginal, but not

borne on reflexed lobes 6

6. Rhizome without scales, hairy only;

fronds and stipes (stalks) to 60 cm high Pteridium

Rhizomes scaly; fronds and stipes to 25

cm high 7

7. Stipes wiry, purplish brown; scales of rhi-

zome rusty brown; blades with 6-12

pairs of pinnae Pellaea

35

Stipes soft and hairy or glabrate; scales of

rhizome orange; blades 3-pinnate Cheilanthes

8. Indusium absent; blades pinnatisect, with

segments linear-oblong, denticulate Polypodium

Indusium present or absent; blades bipin-

natifid to tripinnate 9

9. Indusium attached by its base under spo-

rangia; veins of fronds not reaching

margins Woodsia

Indusium laterally attached or absent;

veins reaching margins 10

10. Indusium linearly attached 1 1

Indusium attached at a point or absent 12

11. Indusia not crossing veins; scales of rhi-

zomes with short, broad cells; plants

small, up to 20 cm high Asplenium

Indusia usually crossing veins; scales of
rhizomes with long, narrow cells;
plants large, up to 100 cm high Athyhum

12. Indusium ovate or oblong; fronds deli-

cate, light green Cystopteris

Indusium orbicular, reniform, or absent 13

13. Indusium attached at its center; fronds

leathery, with pinnae spinulose-

toothed Polystichum

Indusium attached laterally by a deep

notch or absent; fronds not leathery Dryoptehs

Adiantum maidenhair

Adiantum pedatum L. maidenhair fern

Plants with rhizomes 2-5 mm thick. Stipes reddish brown, forked above
into two branches, each bearing 3-5 pinnae on upper side. Pinnae 15-25 cm
long, 3-4 cm wide; pinnules 15-20 pairs, thin, glaucous, oblong, with outer
margins incised. Sori oblong-lunate, covered by the reflexed margin of pinnule
lobe. Rare; southern Rocky Mountains.

Asplenium spleenwort

Asplenium viride Huds. green spleenwort

Plants with a short, thin rhizome 1 mm thick. Stipes short, brownish at
base. Fronds delicate, 5-15 cm long; pinnae 9-16 pairs, opposite to suboppo-
site at base, alternate above, 3-8 mm long, 2-A mm wide, with apex obtuse,
base cuneate, and margins toothed. Sori elongate; indusia hyaline, attached at
one side. Rare; on limestone cliffs; southern Rocky Mountains.

Athyrium spleenwort

Indusium absent; blades tripinnate-pinnatifid A. alpestre

36

Indusium present; blades mostly subbipin-
nate A. filix-femina

Athyrium alpestre (Hoppe) Rylands alpine spleenwort

Plants with a stout short-creeping rhizome, covered with old stipe bases.
Fronds 30-50 cm long, tufted, with stipe erect, shorter than blade; blade lan-
ceolate, bi- or tri-pinnate; pinnae 20-25 pairs, ascending, oblong-lanceolate;
pinnules in 15 or more pairs, deeply toothed or lobed. Sori round; indusium
lacking. Rare; in alpine meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth LADY fern

Plants with thick creeping to suberect rhizomes, covered with scales.
Fronds 40-100 cm long, tufted, with stipe stout, scaly at base, shorter than, to
as long as, blade; blade lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate in outline, sparingly
scaly, glabrous or somewhat glandular, bipinnate or tripinnate; pinnae 20-30
pairs, ascending, linear-lanceolate; pinnules 1-2 cm long, serrate to deeply
pinnate-lobed. Sori elongate; indusia ciliate. Two varieties distinguished: var.
filix-femina, with stipe about as long as blade; basal scales to 6 mm long,
blackish; indusium hooked at apex, short ciliate; southeastern Boreal forest;
and var. cyclosorum (Ledeb.) Moore, with stipe about one-third as long as
blade; basal scales 10-12 mm long, pale brown; indusium often horseshoe-
shaped, long ciliate; Rocky Mountains.

Cheilanthes lip fern

Cheilanthes feei Moore lip fern

Plants from short branching rhizomes with abundant scales. Fronds 4—15
cm long; stipe as long as, or shorter than, blade, purplish, long pilose above;
blade linear-oblong, 1-3 cm wide, tripinnate; pinnae 7-15 pairs, subopposite,
distant below, ascending, ovate to oblong; pinnules 3-6 pairs, diminishing in
size toward tip, opposite to subopposite; segments 2 or 3 pairs, ovate to subor-
bicular, sessile, lobate or incised, sparsely pubescent above, densely brownish
pubescent below. Sori marginal, covered by the unmodified margin. Rare; on
limestone rocks and cliffs; southern Rocky Mountains.

Cryptogramma rock brake

Rhizome short; fronds densely tufted C. crispa

Rhizome slender, long-creeping; fronds soli-
tary or few together, distant C. stelleri

Cryptogramma crispa (L.) R. Br. parsley fern

Plants with short rhizomes and numerous fibrous roots and scales. Fronds
densely tufted, glabrous. Sterile fronds erect to spreading; stipe straw-colored,
to 7 cm long; blade 5-7 cm long, ovate; pinnae 4-6 pairs, alternate or the low-
est ones subopposite; pinnules 2-4 pairs; segments elliptic, with bases cuneate
and margins dentate. Fertile frond erect, to 20 cm high; stipe 1.5-2.0 times as
long as blade; pinnation similar to that of sterile fronds, but segments linear,
with margins revolute. Sori on vein tips. On outcrops of Precambrian rocks in

37

Boreal forest; Rocky Mountains. In Canada these plants are usually distin-
guishable from the Eurasian var. crispa as var. acrostichoides (R. Br.) Clarke
(Fig. 1 1) with thicker fronds and paler scales.

Cryptogramma stelleri (Gmel.) Prantl rock brake

Plants with scaly, pilose, creeping rhizomes. Glabrous fronds scattered
along the rhizome. Sterile fronds erect; stipe brownish at base, 6-9 cm long;
blade ovate, 3-6 cm long; pinnae thin, 5-6 pairs, alternate or sometimes oppo-
site, with 1-3 segments. Fertile fronds to 20 cm high; stipes 12-15 cm; blades
bipinnate or sometimes tripinnate; segments linear-lanceolate, entire, margins
revolute. Sori on vein tips. Rare; on shaded, usually limestone rock; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Cystopteris bladder fern

Stipes much shorter than blade; blades much
narrower at base than long C.fragilis

Stipes often more than twice as long as blade;
blades as wide at base as long C montana

Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. (Fig. 12) fragile fern

Plants with creeping unbranched rhizomes. Fronds solitary or in small
tufts, 10-30 cm long; stipes 3-12 cm long; blade 7-18 cm long, light green,
ovate or ovate-lanceolate, bipinnate to tripinnate, glabrous, or with a few hairs
at base of pinnae; pinnae in 9-15 pairs, ascending, subopposite to alternate;
segments ovate, margins dentate. Sori on veins; indusium hood-like. Fairly
common; in deep, shaded, wooded ravines, on moist slopes, and rock ledges;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Cystopteris montana (Lam.) Bernh. mountain bladder fern

Plants with slender, black, creeping and branching rhizomes; scales con-
spicuous, pale brown. Fronds scattered, few, 20-35 cm high; stipes 12-20 cm;
blades 8-15 cm long, tripinnate; pinnae in 7-13 pairs, the lower ones large,
opposite or subopposite, bi- or tri-pinnatifid, the higher ones alternate, pin-
nules 12-15 mm long; segments dentate. Sori on veins; indusium inconspicu-
ous. Rare; on wet calcareous rock or slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Dryopteris shield fern

1. Blades short-pubescent above; segments

ciliate; stipe bundles 2, united at base

of blade 2

Blades glabrous above; segments not cili-
ate; stipe bundles free above base of
blade 3

2. Blades triangular in outline; stipes scaly

and pilose D. phegopteris

Blades lanceolate in outline; stipes

glabrous D. thelypteris

3. Rhizomes thin, blackish; stipe bundles 2;

indusium absent D. disjuncta

38

Fig. 11. Parsley fern, Cryptogramma crispa (L.) R. Br. var. acrostichoides
(R. Br.) Clarke.

39

i i

I

Fig. 12. Fragile fern, Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.

40

Rhizomes thick; stipe bundles more than

2 4

4. Blades bipinnate-pinnatifid to tripinnate;

segments spinulose toothed D. austriaca

Blades pinnate-pinnatifid to subbipin-
nate; segments not clearly spinulose
toothed 5

5. Blades glandular on rachis and veins D.fragrans

Blades not glandular 6

6. Rhizomes short, erect; indusia large, kid-

ney-shaped; basal segments lobed D.filix-mas

Rhizomes thick, short-creeping; indusia

small; basal segments deeply cleft D. cristata

Dryopteris austriaca (Jacq.) Woynar spinulose shield fern

Plants with thick rhizomes. Fronds tufted, to 1 m high; stipes shorter than
blades; blades 40-60 cm long, 20-30 cm wide at base, bipinnate-pinnatifid or
tripinnate-pinnatifid; pinnae in 10-15 pairs; pinnules in 12-20 pairs; segments
oblong, spinulose-toothed. Sori on veins; indusium kidney-shaped. A rather
variable species, of which many varieties have been described, or treated as
distinct species. In Canada the plant is usually named var. spinulosa (Muell.)
Fiori (D. spinulosa (Muell.) Watt.). In moist woods and on slopes; throughout
Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains. Rare in Parklands.

Dryopteris cristata (L.) Gray crested shield fern

Plants with short-creeping thick rhizomes. Fronds 35-80 cm high; stipes
shorter than blades, 15-30 cm; sterile fronds spreading, shorter and wider than
erect fertile fronds; blades lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid; pinnae in 10-20
pairs, to 8 cm long, with the lower ones spaced; segments ovate oblong, serrate
or biserrate, with teeth acute. Sori on the veins; indusia smaller than sori. In
damp woods and marshes; Boreal forests, Rocky Mountains.

Dryopteris disjuncta (Rupr.) Morton oakfern

Plants with dark brown to blackish, scaly, slender rhizomes. Fronds to 50
cm high; stipes slender, longer than blades, shiny; blades deltoid, bipinnate-
pinnatifid to tripinnate-pinnatifid, delicate; pinnae in 4—7 pairs, with basal
ones up to half as long as blades; pinnules oblong, obtuse. Sori on the veins;
indusium lacking. Rather rare; moist woods, talus slopes, damp; Precambrian
rock outcrop, Boreal forests.

Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott male fern

Plants with thick, erect rhizomes. Fronds 40-100 cm high, tufted; stipes
shorter than blades, with brown, denticulate scales; blades 30-90 cm long, lan-
ceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid to subbipinnate; pinnae in 20-25 pairs, to 15 cm
long, 4 cm wide, lanceolate, acuminate; segments in 15-20 pairs, to 2.5 cm
long, 1 cm wide, serrate. Sori on veins near midrib; indusia large, horseshoe-
shaped. On slopes and cliffs; southern Rocky Mountains.

41

Dryopteris fragrans (L.) Schott FRAGRANT SHIELD FERN

Plants with short, erect rhizomes. Fronds 25^0 cm high; stipes 6-10 cm
long, densely scaly, glandular; blades to 35 cm long, linear-lanceolate, pin-
nate-pinnatifid; pinnae in 20-25 pairs, to 2.5-3.0 cm long, 1 cm wide, linear
oblong; segments in 6-10 pairs, oblong, crenate; veins scaly and glandular.
Sori on veins; indusia large, rounded. Rare; on dry cliffs and slopes; Boreal
forest.

Dryopteris phegopteris (L.) Christ BEECH-FERN

Plants with slender, creeping, densely hairy and scaly rhizomes. Fronds
40-50 cm long, solitary; stipes longer than blades, pilose and scaly through-
out; blades to 25 cm long, almost as wide at base, pinnate-pinnatifid; pinnae
in 8-12 pairs, with the lower ones subopposite, often reflexed; segments
oblong, obtuse, with the margins entire or somewhat crenate, pubescent. Sori
on veins, submarginal; indusia lacking. Rare; on moist slopes; Boreal forest.

Dryopteris thelypteris (L.) Gray marsh fern

Plants with extensively creeping black, somewhat scaly rhizomes. Fronds
solitary; sterile fronds to 40 cm long, with stipes about as long as blades; fertile
fronds to 75 cm long, with stipes longer than blades. Stipes black below, glab-
rous; blades lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid; pinnae in 10-15 pairs; sterile pin-
nae to 10 cm long, 2 cm wide, with segments oval, and margin entire; fertile
pinnae with the segments oblong, to 4 mm wide, and margins revolute. Sori on
veins; indusia small, ciliate. Rare; in the margins of marshes and wet woods;
Manitoba.

Matteuccia ostrich fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod. ostrich fern, fiddle heads

Plants large, with fronds typically densely tufted around crown of erect,
scaly rhizome. Fronds of two kinds. Stipe of sterile fronds shorter than blade,
to 40 cm long; blade up to 100 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid;
pinnae in 20-30 pairs; lower pinnae short, reflexed; middle pinnae long,
ascending, with segments oblong and margins revolute. Fertile fronds 40-60
cm long; stipe thick, rigid, dark brown; pinnae to 5 cm long, linear, with mar-
gins strongly revolute. Sori on the veins, covered by margin. In Canada the
plants are distinguishable as var. pensylvanica (Willd.) Mort. (Fig. 13) by hav-
ing light brown scales on rhizome and lower stipe; in the Eurasian type these
scales have a black central band. Syn.: Onoclea struthiopteris (L.) Hoffm.,
Pteretis nodulosa (Michx.) Nieuwl., P. pensylvanica (Willd.) Fern. Often plenti-
ful; moist woods; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains. Rare in Parklands.

Onoclea sensitive fern

Onoclea sensibilis L. sensitive fern

Plants with thick, scaly rhizomes 5-7 mm in diam. Fronds to 100 cm long,
solitary or few together; stipes longer than blades, glabrous. Sterile fronds pin-
na tifid; blades 20^40 cm long and as wide at base; rachis winged above; lower
segments opposite, lobate to somewhat pinnatifid. Fertile fronds shorter than

42

Fig. 13. Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod. var. pensylvanica
(Willd.) Mort.

43

sterile ones; blade 12-15 cm long, bipinnate; pinnae in bead-like segments
with revolute margins. Sori globose; indusium hood-like and covering sori.
Southeastern Boreal forest.

Pellaea cliff brake

Pellaea glabella Mett. purple cliff brake

Plants with short, erect rhizomes with yellow brown scales. Fronds to 25
cm long; stipes shorter than blades, subdimorphic; blades pinnate or bipinnate
at base; pinnae in 5-10 pairs, usually ascending; sterile segments ovate to
ovate-oblong, to 10 mm wide at base; fertile segments linear-oblong, to 5 mm
wide at base, with margins revolute. Sori submarginal, at tip of veins; indusia
absent. Two varieties are recognized; var. simplex Butters, having cells of
scales long-linear, 10-15 times as long as wide, occurring in southern Rocky
Mountains; var. nana (Rich.) Cody, having plants usually smaller than in var.
simplex, with cells of scales oblong-lanceolate, 3-5 times as long as wide. Both
varieties occur on rock cliffs, usually limestone; Boreal forests.

Polypodium rock tripe

Polypodium vulgare L. common rock tripe

Plants with stout rhizomes, 1.5-3 mm thick, covered with fibrous scales.
Fronds mostly distant, 10-30 cm long; stipes shorter than blades, scaly at
base. Blades pinnatisect, with segments in 12-20 pairs, alternate to suboppo-
site, spreading. Sori round, submarginal; indusia absent. In Canada plants are
distinguishable from the European var. vulgare by having paraphyses (thin ste-
rile filaments) mixed in the sporangia, and smaller rhizome scales, and have
been named var. virginianum (L.) D.C. Eaton (Fig. 14); occur in Precambrian
rock outcrops in Boreal forest, northern Rocky Mountains. A var.
columbianum Gilbert, usually smaller, with fewer segments in fronds, occurs in
southern Rocky Mountains.

Polystichum rock tripe

Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth holly fern

Plants with erect or ascending, thick rhizomes, to 1 cm in diam. Fronds
25-50 cm long; stipes short or almost none, persistently scaly; blades linear-
lanceolate in outline, pinnate; pinnae in 25^45 pairs, spreading at right angles,
with margin spinulose-toothed, scaly below. Sori round; indusia arising from
center of sori, lacerate. Southern Rocky Mountains.

Pteridium brake fern

Ptehdium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn bracken fern

Plants with pubescent, creeping rhizomes. Fronds large; stipes about as
long as blades; vascular bundles in cross section resembling "an eagle with
spreading wings." Blades bipinnate- or tripinnate-pinnatifid; pinnae in 6-9
pairs, opposite or nearly so. Pinnulae alternate, with segments oblong or lin-
ear-oblong, and margins revolute. Sori linear, marginal, continuous, covered

44

Fig. 14. Common rock tripe, Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.)
D. C. Eaton.

45

by the revolute margin; indusium, if present, delicate, continuous along the
margin. A variable cosmopolite, in which several species have been recogniz-
ed, but now generally considered a single species with two subspecies and sev-
eral more or less well-defined varieties. In Canada these plants are usually
described as ssp. aquilinum var. pubescens Underw., with the fronds commonly
pubescent below, especially along the midribs and margins. Boreal forest,
Rocky Mountains.

Woodsia

1. Blades stipitate glandular; stipes not

articulate 2

Blades not glandular; stipes articulate

below middle 3

2. Fronds with long hairs on veins and

midribs of pinnulae and segments W. scopulina

Fronds lacking hairs W. oregana

3. Stipe brown, scaly, and pubescent 4

Stipe straw-colored, glabrous W. glabella

4. Stipe slender, less than 1 mm thick;

midribs of pinnae not or scarcely scaly W. alpina

Stipe stout; midribs of pinnae scaly W. ilvensis

Woodsia alpina (Bolton) S. F. Gray

Plants with scaly rhizomes; scales 4-6 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, brown,
toothed. Fronds 6-15 cm long; stipes shorter than blades, brown, somewhat
pilose and scaly, articulate below middle; blades 1-2 cm wide, linear, pinnate-
pinnatifid; rachis somewhat hairy and scaly; pinnae in 8-15 pairs, deeply pin-
natifid, hairy below, usually without scales; segments in 2 or 3 pairs, oblong to
suborbicular. Sori at the apex of secondary veins; indusium with few long sep-
tate hair-like lobes. Shaded cliffs; southeastern Boreal forest.

Woodsia glabella R. Br.

Plants with slender scaly rhizomes; scales 3-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide,
brown, toothed. Fronds 5-15 cm long; stipes shorter than blades, straw-col-
ored, glabrous, scaly at base only, articulate below middle; blades 7-15 mm
wide, linear, glabrous, without scales, pinnate; pinnae in 8-15 pairs, deltoid or
rounded in outline, trilobate or pinnatifid, with 2 or 3 pairs of segments. Sori at
apex of veins; indusia with numerous septate hairs. Shaded moist cliffs of cal-
careous or dolomitic rock; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Woodsia ilvensis (L.) R. Br.

Plants with stout scaly rhizomes; scales 4-6 mm long, to 1 mm wide,
brown and toothed. Fronds to 20 cm long; stipes shorter than blades, shiny
brown, stout, to 1 mm thick, scaly and pubescent, articulate below middle;
blades 2-3.5 cm wide, pinnate-pinnatifid; rachis scaly and hirsute; pinnae in
10-15 pairs, the lower ones subopposite, the higher ones alternate, deeply pin-
natifid; segments in 2-7 pairs, oblong, with the apex rounded, scaly, and hairy

46

below. Sori submarginal, confluent; indusia with a fringe of long hairs. Crev-
ices in Precambrian rock outcrops; Boreal forest.

Woodsia oregana D. C. Eaton

Plants with stout scaly rhizomes; scales 3-5 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide,
subentire. Fronds to 25 cm long; stipes shorter than blades, dark brown, stout
to 1.5 mm thick, scaly at base, not articulate; blades lanceolate, to 5 cm wide,
pinnate-pinnatifid to pinnate-bipinnatifid, glabrous or glandular pubescent;
pinnae in 10-15 pairs, subopposite, deltoid to lanceolate, mostly bipinnatifid;
segments in 5-7 pairs, with margins often revolute. Sori marginal, in part
confluent; indusia divided into few narrow segments. Occur in rock crevices.
The typical var. oregana has blades sparingly glandular to glabrous; rare in
southern Rocky Mountains, Lake Athabasca. The var. cathcartiana (Robins.)
Morton has blades copiously, finely glandular; rare in Cypress Hills.

Woodsia scopulina D. C. Eaton

Plants with stout scaly rhizomes; scales 4-5 mm long, 1.0-1.5 mm wide.
Fronds 15-35 cm long; stipes shorter than blades, stout, brown, pubescent,
scaly at base, not articulate; blades linear lanceolate, 3-7 cm wide, bipinnate;
rachis somewhat pubescent, not scaly; pinnae in 9-17 pairs, subopposite, lan-
ceolate, ovate or deltoid-ovate; pinnulae in 7-10 pairs, oblong, blunt, crenate
to subpinnatifid, pubescent and somewhat glandular below. Sori submarginal
at tips of veins; indusia with 3-6 filamentous scales. Occur in rock crevices;
Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

MARSILEACEAE — marsilea family

Marsilea pepperwort

Marsilea mucronata A. Br. hairy pepperwort

Low growing from slender creeping rootstocks. Leaves borne singly on
thin stalks 5-15 cm long, divided into 4 triangular leaflets, each 3-10 mm long.
Spores borne in ovoid bean-like containers (sporocarps) on short stalks near
base of plant and covered with hair-like scales. Not common; in slough bot-
toms at several locations in the south central prairies. Syn.: Marsilea vestita
Hook & Grev.

EQUISETACEAE — horsetail family

Equisetum horsetail

Perennial rush-like plants, with stems fluted or grooved, and joints or
nodes solid but surrounded by a toothed sheath. Fertile stems with a terminal
cone in which spores are borne.

1. Branches compound; sheaths bright red-
dish brown E. sylvaticum

41

Branches not compound, sometimes
absent; sheaths not bright reddish
brown 2

2. Stems usually much-branched with

whorls of branches 3

Stems usually not branched above the

ground 6

3. Plants with hollow branches 4

Plants with solid branches 5

4. Center cavity of stem very small E. palusire

Center cavity of stem large E.fluviatile

5. Fertile stems not branched, soon

withering E. arvense

Fertile stems branching toward top, only

the tip withering E. pratense

6. Stems low, slender, tufted, 5- to

10-grooved 7

Stems tall, stouter, many-grooved 8

7. Stems solid; sheaths 3-toothed E. scirpoides

Stems with small central cavity; sheaths

5- to 10-toothed E. variegatum

8. Sheaths almost as broad as high, cylindri-

cal, turning black or gray with black

bands above and below E. hyemale

Sheaths higher than broad, somewhat
funnel-shaped, usually with a narrow
black band E. laevigatum

Equisetum arvense L. (Fig. 15) common horsetail

A plant with annual stems withering at the end of the season; stems of
two kinds; fertile, unbranched stems bearing the spore-containing cone at the
summit; and sterile, much-branched stems. Plants 8-25 cm high; sheaths hav-
ing 8-12 brownish teeth. Sterile stems with whorls of branches. Common; in
wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces, especially on sandy soils.

Equisetum fluviatile L. swamp horsetail

An annual-stemmed species 10-100 cm high with whorls of hollow
branches. Sheaths flaring and bearing about 18 dark brown teeth. Common; in
marshes and shallow water; Boreal forest. Syn.; E. limosum L.

Equisetum hyemale L. var. affine (Engelm.) A. A. Eaton

COMMON SCOURING-RUSH

A perennial-stemmed, unbranched species 30-100 cm high, with broad,
conspicuous sheaths, usually grayish with black bands above and below. Com-
mon; where subsoil is moist, in sandhill areas, creek flats, and lake margins;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.; E. prealtum Raf.

48

Fig. 15. Common horsetail, Equisetum arvense L.

49

Equisetum laevigatum A. Br. smooth scouring-rush

A species 30-100 cm high, usually with annual stems, but with some stems
perennial. Sheaths green and flaring at the summit, often with a black band, or
a gray or black band at the base of the sheath. Cone rounded or with a tip. On
light soils, and in moist areas; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Includes E.
kansanum Schaffn.

Equisetum palustre L. MARSH HORSETAIL

An annual-stemmed plant 15-50 cm high, with a very small cavity in the
center of stem. Usually whorls of hollow branches. Sheaths usually somewhat
flaring at the top and bearing 8 brownish but white-margined teeth. Fairly
common; in wet soil; throughout Parklands and Boreal forest.

Equisetum pratense Ehrh. meadow horsetail

An annual-stemmed species 15-50 cm high, with fertile stems appearing
before sterile ones. Sterile stems much-branched, but fertile ones only
branched when old. Fairly common; in moist, sandy soils; Parklands, Boreal
forest. Cypress Hills, and other favorable locations.

Equisetum scirpoides Michx. dwarf scouring-rush

A tufted species with thread-like, unbranched, solid stems 8-15 cm high.
Sheaths 3-toothed; cones very small. In swamps, wet spruce woods; Boreal
forest, Cypress Hills, Riding Mountain - Duck Mountain.

Equisetum sylvaticum L. woodland horsetail

A pretty species with conspicuous sheaths bearing large, loose, reddish
brown teeth. Both fertile and sterile stems, annual, and branched with solid,
compound (divided) branches. Fairly common; in moist woodlands; Boreal
forest, Cypress Hills, Riding Mountain - Duck Mountain.

Equisetum variegatum Schleich. variegated horsetail

A low, tufted perennial-stemmed species 15-50 cm high, with 5-10 teeth
on each sheath; teeth black with a white border and a bristle-like tip. Occur
occasionally; in wet places; Boreal forest.

ISOETACEAE — quillwort family

Isoetes quillwort

Submersed aquatic plants with a 2-lobed corm. All leaves with a basal
sporangium, and a triangular ligule above the sporangium. Spores of two
kinds: megaspores, 0.25 mm in diam or larger; and microspores, visible only
through a microscope.

Megaspores 0.3-0.5 mm in diam, white or
bluish; surface with small tubercles or
wrinkled /. bolandeh

50

Megaspores 0.4-0.6 mm in diam; surface dis-
tinctly spinulose /. echinospora

Isoetes bolandeh Engelm.

Plants submersed. Leaves 6-25, bright green, soft, 6-15 or 20 cm long;
stomata few. Sporangia 3-4 mm long, covered for one-quarter to one-third of
their length by the ligule. Megaspores 0.3-0.5 mm, microspores 25-30 /mi.
Rare; in lakes and ponds; southern Rocky Mountains.

Isoetes echinospora Dur. var. braunii (Dur.) Engelm.

Plants submersed or emersed. Leaves 10^45, coarse, pale green, 6-15 cm
long; stomata few toward the leaf tip. Sporangia 4—5 mm long, covered for
one-half to three-quarters of their length by the ligule. Megaspores 0.4-0.6
mm, microspores 25-30 /im. Rare; in lakes and ponds; Boreal forests.

LYCOPODIACEAE — club-moss family

Lycopodium club-moss

Perennial, low, usually trailing plants with short, stiff, single-nerved, over-
lapping leaves. Spores sulfur-colored, borne in spore cases (sporangia) on the
upper surfaces or on the axils of the leaves, on ascending or aerial branches,
often aggregated in strobili. Spores containing much oil, inflammable.

1. Sporangia borne in zones along stem, not

in strobili L. selago

Sporangia borne in strobili 2

2. Strobili green, not much different from

stems; plants without rhizomes L. inundatum

Strobili yellow, much different from

stems; plants with rhizomes 3

3. Strobili borne on a long peduncle 4

Strobili sessile on stem 5

4. Leaves to 7 mm long, awl-shaped, with a

hair-like tip; branches not flattened L. clavatum

Leaves to 3 mm long, scale-like, with apex
acuminate; branches strongly flat-
tened L. complanatum

5. Erect stems much-branched, resembling a

small shrub L. obscurum

Erect stems not much-branched 6

6. Leaves in 6-10 ranks; plants coarse, stems

often very long, prickly L. annotinum

Leaves in 4-5 ranks; plants not coarse 7

7. Branchlets much-flattened; leaves strong-

ly appressed; trailing stems about 2

mm thick L. alpinum

51

Branchlets not much-flattened; leaves
spreading; trailing stems about 1 2 mm
thick L. sabinifolium

Lycopodium alpinum L.

The horizontal stems 30-60 cm long, rooting throughout, 2-2.5 mm thick,
with few bract-like yellow leaves. Erect stems repeatedly forked, 4-10 cm long,
with branchlets flattened. Strobili sessile, solitary at the end of a leafy pedun-
cle, 1-2 cm long. Rocky Mountains.

Lycopodium annotinum L. STIFF CLUB-MOSS

A trailing, prostrate plant often 100-200 cm long, with stiff, linear-lanceo-
late, sharp-tipped leaves about 3-7 mm long, crowded along stems and
branches. Aerial or upright branches 10-20 cm high, tipped with yellowish
fruiting spike 15-25 mm long. Often found in moist woodlands; Boreal forest,
Riding Mountain - Duck Mountain, Cypress Hills.

Lycopodium clavatum L. running-pine

A prostrate, trailing plant, with the main stem up to 100-200 cm long.
Leaves very similar to the previous species but tipped with a fine bristle. Fruit-
ing spikes borne on a bract-covered stalk 3.5-12 cm long. Not common;
Boreal forest.

Lycopodium complanatum L. (Fig. 16) trailing club-moss

A plant with the main stem trailing on or slightly under the ground sur-
face. Leaves small and tightly clasping the stem, giving the stem a very narrow
smooth appearance, quite different from other club-mosses. Fruiting spikes
15-25 mm long, cylindrical, and borne on a chaffy stalk 5-15 cm high. Fairly
common in pine woods and damp forests; Boreal forest.

Lycopodium inundatum L.

A prostrate plant with arching stems frequently rooting. Strobili few,
1.5-4 cm long, to 1 cm thick, at the tip of a leafy erect stem. Rare; in bogs;
Boreal forest. Known only from Saskatchewan.

Lycopodium obscurum L. (Fig. 17) GROUND-PINE

A species with the main stem creeping horizontally below the surface of
the ground. Aerial upright branches appearing like miniature evergreen trees
growing to 10-25 cm high, with tightly packed, spreading leaves about 3-4 mm
long, linear-lanceolate, and sharp-tipped. Fruiting spikes almost stalkless,
1.5-3 cm long. Occasionally found in moist woods; Boreal forest, Cypress
Hills.

Lycopodium sabinifolium Willd. ground-fir

A species with the creeping stem bearing few scaly leaves. Erect stems
forking repeatedly; branchlets somewhat flattened at the tips, 5-20 cm long.
Strobili sessile, solitary or in pairs on leafy stems, 1.5-2.5 cm long. Rare in
open woods; Boreal forest. In Canada the plants are distinguishable as var.

52

>*'

w**»

#>

W: ;U>

Fig. 16. Trailing club-moss, Lycopodium complanatum L.

53

HERBARIOH or THE RESEARCH STATION
r CURRENT. SA3K .

Fig. 17. Ground-pine, Lycopodium obscurum L.

54

sitchense (Rupr.) Fern., having the fertile branches much longer than the sterile
ones; in the typical form, fertile and sterile branches are about equal in length,
with only the strobili elevated.

Lycopodium selago L.

Plants with short horizontal stems and tufted erect stems, forking repeat-
edly, to 30 cm high. Leaves 8-ranked, about 5 mm long, erect, and appressed.
Sporangia borne in axils of leaves in alternating zones; each season's growth
having a sterile basal zone, with a fertile zone at the summit. Peat bogs, mus-
keg; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

SELAGINELLACEAE — spike-moss family

Selaginella little club-moss

1. Leaves acute, not bristle-tipped, rootlets

few S. selaginoides

Leaves bristle-tipped, rootlets many 2

2. Plants blue green, glaucous, loosely

tufted S. wallacei

Plants green, densely tufted 3

3. Bristle 1.0-2.0 mm, conspicuous S. densa

Bristle 0.3-0.5 mm, inconspicuous S. rupestris

Selaginella densa Rydb. prairie selaginella

A low, densely matted plant, with stems rooting almost their whole length
and densely branched. Plants covered thickly with tiny leaves up to 3 mm
long, each tipped by a minute bristle, and varying from green to yellowish
according to age and condition. Strobili 10-25 mm long, covered with some-
what triangular, green, much overlapping bracts; spore containers occurring
singly in the axils of these bracts. Although not usually noticed, this incon-
spicuous plant is probably one of the commonest and most dominant plants of
the drier and more open prairies. It helps stop erosion and perhaps builds up
soil by decaying organic matter, but it has no forage value and it increases
with overgrazing and abuse of prairie pastures. Very plentiful on drier light
soils, and eroded spots in grassland; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Selaginella rupestris (L.) Spring

Very similar to the preceding species, but with bristles short and plants
less conspicuously bristly. On rock outcrops, and in open pine forests; Boreal
forest.

Selaginella selaginoides (L.) Link

Small, mostly inconspicuous plants. Prostrate stems 2-5 cm long, with few
rootlets. Fertile stems erect, 6-10 cm high, or rarely to 20 cm; strobili 1.5-3 cm
long, almost cylindric, open. Not common; in boggy areas, wet meadows;
Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

55

Selaginella wallacei Hieron.

Very similar to S. densa and S. rupestris, but much more loosely spread-
ing, and glaucous blue green. Apical leaves usually with a short bristle; stem
leaves often not bristle-tipped. Over rocks and on dry slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Division: SPERMATOPHYTA — seed-bearing plants
Subdivision: GYMNOSPERMAE — naked-seeded plants

TAXACEAE — yew family

Taxus yew

Shrub, usually straggling, with ascending or
rarely erect stems up to 2 m high T. canadensis

Shrub or small tree with straight trunk, up to
10 m high T. brevifolia

Taxus brevifolia Nutt. western yew

A tree 10-15 m high, erect, with a straight trunk. Leaves 2-ranked along
branches, giving branches a flat appearance. Tip of leaves reflexed. Rare;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Taxus canadensis Marsh. ground hemlock

A shrub, usually with straggling to ascending branches, rarely with erect
stems. Branches appearing flat. Tip of leaves not reflexed. Rare; in moist
woods and muskeg; southeastern Boreal forest.

PINACEAE — pine family

1. Leaves borne in clusters of 2 to many 2

Leaves borne singly 3

2. Leaves in clusters of 2-5, evergreen; base

of clusters enclosed in a chaffy sheath Pinus

Leaves in clusters of 10-40, deciduous;

base of clusters without sheath Larix

3. Leaves 4-sided, not appearing 2-ranked;

leaf scars prominent on twigs Picea

Leaves flat, appearing 2-ranked; leaf scars

not prominent on twigs 4

4. Cones drooping, with scales persistent;

bracts longer than scales, 3-lobed; leaf

scars oval Pseudotsuga

Cones erect, with scales deciduous; bracts
shorter than scales, rounded; leaf scars
round Abies

56

Abies fir

Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. balsam fir

A tall tree, with gray fairly smooth bark having numerous resinous blis-
ters. Leaves needle-like, 2-3 cm long, flat and stalkless, shiny dark green above
and whitish below, with 8-10 lines of stomata. Male and female flowers borne
on the same tree, with males yellowish to red and females purple. Cones dark
purple, somewhat oblong, 5-10 cm long. Common; in Boreal forest, Rocky
Mountains.

The var. fallax (Eng.) Boiv. (= A. lasiocarpa (Hook.) Endl.) has needles
more glaucous, narrower, and with 10-12 lines of stomata below. Southern
Rocky Mountains.

Larix larch

1. Twigs tomentose pubescent, even when

old L. lyallii

Twigs glabrous, or pubescent only when

young 2

2. Needles 1-2 cm long; scales of cones

glabrous L. laricina

Needles 3 cm long or more; scales of

cones puberulent L. occidentalis

Larix laricina (DuRoi) K. Koch tamarack

A rather slender tree 6-15 m high; bark reddish brown, with small, flaky
scales. Leaves needle-like, 1-2 cm long, very pale green, in clusters of 10-20
along the twigs, turning yellow in autumn and dropping off. Fruits small
cones, developing the first year and soon shed. Common; in swamps and mar-
shy woods; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains, Riding Mountain - Duck Moun-
tain.

Larix lyallii Pari. alpine larch

A tree, rarely over 10 m high; bark thin, furrowed, with reddish brown
loose scales. Leaves 30-40 in a cluster, bluish green, 4-sided. Seed cones ellip-
soid-oblong, with scales hairy below, fringed. At high altitudes, at timberline
in Rocky Mountains.

Larix occidentalis Nutt. western tamarack

A large tree reaching to 50 m high; bark reddish brown, deeply furrowed
at base, forming large flutes. Leaves 15-30 in a cluster, triangular. Seed cones
oblong, with scales tomentose below when young. Rare; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Picea spruce

Shapely evergreen trees with 4-sided needle-like leaves scattered around
the twigs. Cones pendulous, maturing the first year.

57

Branchlets not hairy; cones falling the first

winter; cones oblong-cylindric, often over 3

cm long P. glauca

Branchlets somewhat hairy; cones remaining

on tree for several years; cones oval or

ovoid, not over 3 cm long P. mariana

Picea glauca (Moench) Voss white spruce

A shapely tree 7-20 m high, with scaly, brown bark. Leaves bluish green
1-2.5 cm long. Female inflorescence crimson; cones cylindric 2.5-5 cm long,
with smooth-margined scales. Very plentiful throughout the Prairie Provinces,
except Prairies and Parklands. A variety, the western white spruce, Picea
glauca (Moench) Voss var. albertiana (S. Brown) Sarg., in which the cone
scales are erose or somewhat toothed at the margins, is the common variety of
southern Rocky Mountains.

Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP. black spruce

A less shapely tree than the previous species 7-15 m high. Bark grayish to
reddish brown, scaly. Needles 1-2 cm long, bluish green. Male inflorescence
dark red, and female purplish; cones 1^4 cm long, ovoid, remaining on trees
for several seasons. Fairly common; in wet or swampy woodlands; throughout
Boreal forest.

Pinus pine

Tall evergreen trees with leaves borne in clusters; cones maturing in sec-
ond season.

1. Leaves 2 in a cluster 2

Leaves 3-5 in a cluster 4

2. Leaves 7-17 cm long; cones ovoid-coni-

cal, terminal or almost so P. resinosa

Leaves less than 7 cm long; cones conical,

lateral at maturity 3

3. Leaves 2-4 cm long, thick and rigid,

twisted and spreading; cones curved
toward tips of branches; scales without
prickles P. banksiana

Leaves 3-6 cm long, not usually twisted
and spreading; cones spreading at right
angles to branches; scales with a
prickle P. contorta

4. Leaves 3 in a cluster, 8-20 cm long; cones

to 18 cm long, scales with a recurved

prickle P. ponderosa

Leaves 5 in a cluster 5

5. Cones ovoid, with thick scales 6

Cones cylindric or subcylindric, with thin

scales 7

58

6. Cones to 7 cm long P. albicaulis

Cones to 20 cm long P.flexilis

7. Leaves 8-13 cm long, pale green and

glaucous; cones to 15 cm long; eastern

species P. strobus

Leaves 5-10 cm long, bluish green and
glaucous; white bands of stomata;
cones 10-20 cm long; western species P. monticola

Pinus albicaulis Engelm. whitebark pine

Small alpine tree, with crooked and twisted trunk, or reduced to a shrub.
Bark smooth, whitish; twigs yellowish, hairy. Leaves 4-8 cm long, dark green,
stiff. Cones oval to subglobose, 3-7 cm long, purplish, with scales forming a
stout protuberance, not prickly. Rare; at timberline; Rocky Mountains.

Pinus banksiana Lamb. jack pine

A tree up to 20 m high, with thin, reddish brown bark. Needle-like leaves
generally somewhat twisted, 2-5 cm long, borne in twos, yellowish green. Male
inflorescence yellow, female dark purple; cones 2-5 cm long, curved, generally
in pairs, with unarmed scales and usually pointing toward apex of branches.
Abundant; on sandy soils; Boreal forest.

Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm. lodgepole pine

A tree similar to P. banksiana. Difficult to distinguish between the two
species, but lodgepole pine usually having darker and less twisted needles,
darker and thinner bark, and less curved cones often bending backward and
pointing downward. Cone scales bearing a small, recurved prickle at tip. Very
common; in southern Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills, but apparently
intergrading with jack pine in northwestern Boreal forest. Syn.: P. murrayana
Balf. The species P. contorta and P. banksiana are sometimes considered as
varieties of a single species: P. divaricata (Ait.) Dumont, var. divaricata (= P.
banksiana) and var. latifolia (Engelm.) Boiv. ( = P. contorta var. latifolia).

Pinus flexilis James limber pine

A small tree with a short, stout trunk, and thick branches; bark light gray
becoming dark in age. Leaves 3-7 cm long, rigid with \-A rows of stomata on
all sides. Seed cones 8-20 cm long, light brown to purplish, scales thickened
and curved inward at apex. Open rocky slopes and hilltops; at altitudes
between 1300 and 2000 m in southern Rocky Mountains.

Pinus monticola Dougl. western white pine

Trees to 50 m high, with a short-branched symmetrical crown. Leaves
5-10 cm long, in 5-leaved clusters, bluish green. Cones cylindric, 10-20 cm
long, thin-scaled. Only found as young trees in southern Rocky Mountains.

Pinus ponder osa Dougl. western yellow pine

Trees to 75 m high, with a spire-like crown, or flat-topped in poor sites.
Branchlets orange when young. Leaves in clusters of 3, to 25 cm long. Cones

59

7-15 cm long, with thin scales, thickened at apex, and armed with a slender
prickle. Only found as young trees in southern Rocky Mountains.

Pinus resinosa Ait. Norway pine

Trees to 40 m high, with thick, brown, furrowed bark. Leaves in pairs,
10-15 cm long, dark green. Cones ovoid, 4-8 cm long, spreading, with apex
thickened and a smooth protuberance. Southeastern Boreal forest.

Pinus strobus L. eastern white pine

Trees to 50 m high, with thick, furrowed bark. Leaves slender, in clusters
of five, 8-13 cm long, pale green, glaucous. Cones cylindric, 10-15 cm long,
with scales having a protuberance at tip. Rare; southeastern Boreal forest.

Pseudotsuga Douglas-fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco douglas-fir

Trees to 50 m high, with dark brown, thick, furrowed bark. Lower
branches often drooping. Leaves 2-3 cm long, flat, narrowed to a short stalk.
Cones pendent, 5-10 cm long; bracts with 3 teeth, projecting beyond scales.
Not common; Rocky Mountains.

CUPRESSACEAE — cypress family

Seeds in a small dry cone; branchlets
flattened; medium-sized trees Thuja

Seeds in a small, bluish, berry-like cone;
branchlets not flattened; low or trailing
shrubs Juniperus

Juniperus juniper

Low shrub with short, awl-shaped or scale-like leaves, opposite or in
whorls. Fruit composed of 3-6 fleshy scales, each containing a seed and joined
to form a fleshy berry-like cone.

1. Leaves in whorls of 3, linear, awl-shaped,

sharp-pointed J. communis

Leaves opposite, scale-like 2

2. Shrubs, prostrate or ascending J. hohzontalis

Shrubs or small trees, mostly with a well-
developed trunk J. scopulorum

Juniperus communis L. low juniper

A shrub about 1-1.5 m high in some places but usually very low. Leaves
5-12 mm long, narrowly awl-shaped, pointed and dark green below, whitish
and grooved above. Cones berry-like in leaf axils, bluish with a bloom, 6-10
mm in diam. The var. depressa Pursh is fairly common on light, rocky soil
throughout most of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: J. sibirica Burgsd.

60

Juniperus horizontalis Moench (Fig. 18) creeping juniper

A prostrate shrub, with long, gnarled, woody stems often 3-5 m long.
Leaves scale-like, overlapping, each about 1.5 mm long and forming narrow
branchlets up to 12 mm long. Cones bluish and berry-like about 6 mm long, at
the ends of branchlets. Very common throughout drier parts of area, forming
large mats on dry banks and sandy hillsides. Syn.: Sabina horizontalis
(Moench) Rydb.

Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. rocky mountain juniper

Usually a small tree 2-3 m high, or a large upright shrub with several
stems; otherwise hardly distinguishable from J. horizontalis. Southern Rocky
Mountains.

Thuja arbor-vitae

Leaves of branchlets and twigs with a conspic-
uous resin gland T. occidentalis

Leaves of branchlets and twigs not with a con-
spicuous resin gland T. plicata

Thuja occidentalis L. white cedar

A tree to 20 m high, with widely spreading branches. Branchlets forming a
flattened spray, with soft twigs. Leaves strongly appressed, keeled, with a light
green or yellow resin gland below apex. Cones about 10 mm long, oblong-
ovoid. Moist woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Thuja plicata D. Don western red cedar

Similar to the preceding species, but with leaves not distinctly keeled, and
the resin gland inconspicuous. Moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Subdivision: ANGIOSPERMAE
Class: MONOCOTYLEDONEAE

TYPHACEAE — cattail family

Typha cattail

Staminate part of spike contiguous with pistil-
late part T. latifolia

Staminate part of spike separated from pistil-
late part by 3-5 cm T. angustifolia

Typha angustifolia L. narrow-leaved cattail

Marsh or aquatic plants to 3 m high, with extensive creeping roots. Leaves
4-10 mm wide, to 30 cm long. Spikes 25^40 cm long, with staminate and pistil-
late parts about equal, separated by 3-5 cm of bare stem. Rare; southeastern
Boreal forest.

61

Fig. 18. Creeping juniper, Juniperus horizontalis Moench.

62

Typha latifolia L. (Fig. 19) common cattail

Similar to the preceding species, but with leaves to 30 mm wide. Spikes
with staminate and pistillate parts contiguous. Very common; in slough mar-
gins, marshes, lakeshores, and riverbanks; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

SPARGANIACEAE — bur-reed family

Sparganium bur-reed

1. Stigmas 2; achenes broadly obpyramidal,

truncate at summit S. eurycarpum

Stigma 1; achenes tapering at both ends,

often stipitate 2

2. Beak of achene less than 1.5 mm long or

lacking; stipe of achene less than 1 mm
long or lacking; staminate head
solitary 3

Beak of achene 1.5-6 mm long; stipe of
achene 1-5 mm long; staminate heads
2 or more 4

3. Achenes short-beaked; pistillate heads all

borne in leaf axils; staminate head sep-
arated from the uppermost pistillate
one S. minimum

Achenes beakless; some pistillate heads
borne above leaf axils; staminate head
contiguous with the uppermost pistil-
late one S. hyperboreum

4. Beak of achene flattened, strongly curved;

leaves all floating, not keeled S. fluctuans

Beak of achene not flattened or strongly

curved; leaves erect or floating, keeled 5

5. Beak of achene about as long as body S. chlorocarpum

Beak of achene about half as long as

body 6

6. Leaves 2-5 mm wide, rounded on back;

fruiting heads 1-2 cm in diam S. angustifolium

Leaves 5-10 mm wide, flat on back; fruit-
ing heads 2-2.5 cm in diam S. multipedunculatum

Sparganium angustifolium Michx. narrow-leaved bur-reed

Stems floating and elongated, or erect to 30-50 cm high; leaves 4-10 mm
wide, flat. Inflorescence with staminate heads 2-4, distant; pistillate heads 2 or
3; fruiting heads 7-10 mm in diam. Not common; in slow running water.

Sparganium chlorocarpum Rydb. var acaule (Beeby) Fern, stemless bur-reed

Stems slender, erect, to 75 cm high; leaves 2-10 mm wide, overtopping
inflorescence. Staminate heads 4-9, mostly distant; pistillate heads 1^; fruit-
ing heads 1.5-2.5 cm in diam.

63

Fig. 19. Common cattail, Typha latifolia L.

64

Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm. broad-fruited bur-reed

Stems stout, 50-150 cm high; leaves 7-10 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence
branched; staminate heads 2-20; pistillate heads 1-3; fruiting heads 20-25
mm in diam.

Sparganium fluctuans (Morong) Robins.

Stems floating, to 1.5 m long; leaves flat, 3-8 mm wide, thin. Inflorescence
branched; staminate heads 4-6; pistillate heads 3-6, mostly on the branches;
fruiting heads 10-20 mm in diam.

Sparganium hyperboreum Laest. northern bur-reed

Stems slender, 10-30 cm long; leaves 1-5 mm wide, thick. Staminate head
one; pistillate heads 1-3, with at least 1 head above the axils; fruiting heads
5-12 mm in diam. Rare; in shallow water; Boreal forests.

Sparganium minimum (Hartm.) Fries small bur-reed

Stems slender, floating, to 50 cm long; leaves 3-7 mm wide. Staminate
head one; pistillate heads 1-3, all axillary; fruiting heads 5-7 mm in diam.
Rare; in shallow water; Boreal forest.

Sparganium multipedunculatum (Morong) Rydb. many stalked bur-reed

Stems stout, to 80 cm high; leaves 5-12 mm wide, flat. Staminate heads
1-4, crowded; pistillate heads 1-5, above the axils, with lower ones often on
peduncles; fruiting heads 20-25 mm in diam. Not common; in shallow water;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

ZOSTERACEAE — pondweed family

Annual or perennial aquatic or marsh plants growing entirely in water.
Roots usually fibrous, often growing from the lower nodes of the stem. Leaves
varying in shape from thread-like to broad, and all either floating or sub-
mersed. Flowers inconspicuous, with neither sepals nor petals.

1. Flowers bisexual, appearing above the

surface of the water; stamens 2-4;

leaves alternate 2

Flowers unisexual, usually developed
below the surface of the water; stamens
1 ; leaves opposite or all basal from the
crown of the root 3

2. Stamens 4; flowers in spikes; fruit without

stem Potamogeton

Stamens 2; flowers not in spikes; fruit

long-stemmed Ruppia

3. Annual plants; stemless; inflorescence

either solitary in leaf axils or in spikes

on summit of scape Lilaea

Plants with stems; leaves opposite 4

65

4. Inflorescence of solitary flowers in axils of

leaves Najas

Inflorescence clusters of flowers in axils of

leaves Zannichellia

Lilaea flowering quillwort

Lilaea scillioides (Poir.) Hauman flowering quillwort

An annual marsh or mud plant with narrow leaves, circular in cross sec-
tion, and clustered. Plants 8-15 cm high, bearing spikes up to 1 cm long of
mixed male and female flowers and also solitary female flowers enclosed in a
sheath at the base of the leaves. Fruits small achenes, with those of the flowers
of spikes winged and ridged, and those of the basal flowers larger and not
winged. A plant of the Pacific Coast, with very few records known from the
Canadian Prairie Provinces, these being reported in saline sloughs in the vicin-
ity of Cypress Hills and the southeastern part of Alberta. Some authorities
place this species in a separate family, the Lilaeaceae, or quillwort, family.
Syn.: L. subulata Humb. & Bonpl.

Najas naiad

Najas flexilis (Willd.) Rostk. & Schmidt slender naiad

An annual aquatic plant. Leaves opposite, 1.0-2.5 cm long, with widened
bases and conspicuous sheaths. Flowers inconspicuous and borne in leaf axils,
with male and female inflorescence borne on the same plant. Rare; in shallow
lakes and slow-moving water; near Edmonton and north of Winnipeg.

Potamogeton pondweed

Perennial aquatic plants with fibrous roots from the lower nodes of the
stems. Leaves generally submersed but in one species some floating; varying
from thread-like to broad. Flowers with neither sepals nor petals, sometimes
borne on spikes projecting from water and sometimes in axils of leaves.

1. Plants with all leaves similar and

submersed 2

Plants with broader leaves floating and

narrower leaves submersed P. gramineus

2. Leaves broad, their bases clasping stem P. richardsonii

Leaves linear and thread-like 3

3. Stipules free from base of leaf. P.foliosus

Stipules fused with base of leaf, forming a

sheath at least 1 cm long 4

4. Stigmas raised on evident style; nutlets

with 2 keels P. pectinatus

Stigmas inconspicuous; nutlets not

keeled 5

5. Plant slender; sheaths close around stem P. interior

Plant coarse; sheaths 2-5 times diameter

of stem P. vaginatus

66

Potamogeton foliosus Raf. leafy pondweed

More likely to be found toward the eastern part of the Prairie Provinces,
but not common.

Potamogeton gramineus L. various-leaved pondweed

Easily distinguishable by broad floating leaves and narrower submersed
ones. Not common; but may be expected in lakes; Boreal forest.

Potamogeton interior Rydb. inland pondweed

Fairly common in alkaline ponds in eastern portion of the Prairie Prov-
inces.

Potamogeton pectinatus L. sago pondweed, fennel-leaved pondweed

Our commonest thread-leaved pondweed; found in ponds, lakes, and
streams; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Potamogeton richardsonii (Benn.) Rydb. RICHARDSON'S PONDWEED

Easily recognizable by broad clasping leaves. One of the commonest spe-
cies; found in ponds and streams; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Potamogeton vaginatus Turcz. sheathed pondweed

Distinguishable from sago pondweed by the broadened stipular sheath at
the base of the narrow leaves. Fairly common; in larger sloughs and lakes;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Ruppia ditch-grass

Submersed perennial plants having hair-like stems and thread-like single-
nerved leaves with a membranous sheath at base. Flowers perfect and clus-
tered on a slender stem, the stem elongating into a spiral coil and curling up
after fertilization of the flowers. Not common; in brackish and saline sloughs;
throughout the entire Prairie Provinces.

Leaf sheaths 6-15 mm long; fruit 2 mm long
or less R. maritima

Leaf sheaths 18-30 mm long; fruit 3 mm or
longer R. occidentalis

Ruppia maritima L. DITCH-GRASS

Widespread, but uncommon in the Prairie Provinces.

Ruppia occidentalis S. Wats. western ditch-grass

Commoner than R. maritima; in sloughs over the entire Prairie Provinces.

Zannichellia horned-pondweed

Zannichellia palustris L. horned-pondweed

A submersed, branching aquatic plant having thread-like, opposite, sin-
gle-nerved leaves with membranous sheaths at the base. Flowers of both sexes

67

borne in axils of leaves; fruits curved, nut-like, 3-5 mm long, with a short beak
from which this plant derives its common name. Very common; in brackish
ponds; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

JUNCAGINACEAE — arrow-grass family

Flowers in a bracted, few-flowered raceme;
stems leafy Scheuchzeria

Flowers in a bractless, many-flowered spike-
like raceme; stems leafless Triglochin

Scheuchzeria

Scheuchzeria palustris L.

A rush-like bog plant with stems 1CM10 cm high. Leaves 10-40 cm long,
with the upper ones reduced to bracts; sheaths of basal leaves often 10 cm
long, with ligule to 12 mm long. Inflorescence a few-flowered raceme; flowers
white; perianth segments 3 mm long, 1-nerved, membranous. Follicles 4-8 mm
long, with lower ones on pedicels to 25 mm long. Rare; in peat bogs and lake-
shores; Boreal forest.

Triglochin arrow-grass

Perennial marsh or semiaquatic herbs with short rootstocks. Leaves linear
or rush-like, semicylindric, all basal and clustered, and bearing membranous
sheaths. Flowers perfect, borne in tall, slender, spike-like racemes. Fruit cap-
sules splitting open at maturity. Poisonous to cattle and sheep.

Plant stout; carpels 6; fruit oblong or ovoid,
obtuse at base T. maritima

Plant slender; carpels 3; fruit linear or club-
shaped, tapering at base T. palustris

Triglochin maritima L. (Fig. 20) seaside arrow-grass

A stout plant, with rootstock but no stolons. Leaves long, narrow, and
half cylindric, up to 30 cm long and 3 mm wide, with bases usually covered
with old leaf sheaths. Flowering stem 40-80 cm high, with flowers in a raceme
at summit; raceme up to 50 cm long. Fruit about twice as long as thick, 6 mm
long and 2-3 mm in diam, on short stalks. Common; found over the whole
area in marshy and wet places. Poisonous to cattle and sheep.

Triglochin palustris L. marsh arrow-grass

A slender plant, with rootstock and slender stolons. Leaves similar to the
preceding species, but usually about 10-20 cm long. Flowers on slender stalks.
Fruit about 3-5 times as long as thick, usually 6-8 mm long and 1 mm in
diam, on fine stems paralleling the stalk. Found in marshy places throughout
the Prairie Provinces, but not nearly so common as T maritima. Poisonous to
cattle and sheep.

68

Fig. 20. Seaside arrow-grass,
Trigloehin maritima L.

ALISMACEAE — water-plantain family

Flowers all perfect; fruit a single ring of
carpels Alisma

Flowers of one sex, with lower ones female
and upper ones male; fruit in dense globular
heads Sagittaria

Alisma

water-plantain

Perennial aquatic or marsh plants growing from stout corm-like root-
stocks producing offshoots. Leaves generally ovate or oblong, with several par-
allel veins; borne on long stems from the crown of the root. Flowers perfect,
with 3 green sepals and 3 white petals. Fruits flat-sided short-beaked achenes.

69

Flowering stems usually not extending above
the leaves, its branches generally curved
downward; achenes as wide as long; leaves
generally ovate-lanceolate A. gramineum

Flowering stems extending above the leaves,
its branches ascending; achenes longer than
wide; leaves usually ovate A. plantago-aquatica

Alisma gramineum K. C. Gmel. narrow-leaved water-plantain

Leaves usually long and narrow or ovate-lanceolate, 30-80 mm long.
Flowering stems usually shorter than the leafage. Common in Prairies. Syn.:
A. geyeri Torr.

Alisma plantago -aquatic a L. (Fig. 21) common water-plantain

Leaves oblong to ovate, 5-18 cm long. Inflorescence diffuse, to 30 cm or
higher, much overtopping the leafage. Common throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces.

Sagittaria arrowhead

Perennial water or marsh plants from fleshy rootstocks. Leaves all basal,
usually broadly arrow-shaped, borne on long stems; occasionally reduced to
mere thickened stems (called phyllodia) replacing blades. Flowers having 3
sepals and 3 waxy white petals; female flowers, borne lowest on the stem,
developing before male flowers. Fruits achenes, crowded into globular heads.

Beak of achenes erect and very minute S. cuneata

Beak of achene horizontal and long S. latifolia

Sagittaria cuneata Sheld. (Fig. 22) arum-leaved arrowhead

Readily identified by its broad arrow-shaped leaves and waxy white
flowers, borne in whorls of 3 on the long stem. Leaves up to 10-15 cm long,
but submersed stems often lacking blade, the thickened stem (phyllodia)
replacing the blade. Flowers 6-12 mm in diam, later forming globular seed
heads up to 15 mm in diam, green at first turning black later. Very common; in
water and marshy habitats; in all parts of the Prairie Provinces.

Sagittaria latifolia Willd. broad-leaved arrowhead

Resembling S. cuneata, but differing in having the beak of achene hori-
zontal and fairly long. Leaves very variable, being either broadly or quite nar-
rowly arrow-shaped. Not common over most of the Prairie Provinces, but
found in central and eastern Parklands.

70

Fig. 21 . Common water-plantain, Alisma plantago-aquatica L.

71

Fig. 22. Arum-leaved arrowhead, Sagittaria cuneata Sheld.

72

HYDROCHARITACEAE — frog's-bit family

Elodea waterweed

Elodea canadensis Michx. Canada waterweed

Submersed perennial aquatic plants with fibrous roots springing from the
nodes of the stems. Leaves not stalked, borne in whorls of 2-A, oblong-ovate,
to 5 mm long. Flowers rarely found, but borne on the end of an apparent stalk,
with male flowers on one plant and female on another. Not common but prob-
ably widespread; in still or slow-moving water; throughout the Prairies and
Parklands.

GRAMINEAE — grass family

Annual or perennial herbs (Fig. 23), with stems usually hollow except at
the nodes. Leaves borne on two sides of stem, one growing from each node,
and consisting of a sheath, usually split, enveloping the main stem and a blade,
which is a continuation of the sheath, growing at an angle to the stem. Blades
flat or rolled, narrow, and without stalks. Inflorescence (Fig. 24) in spikes,
racemes, or panicles, each composed of spikelets borne on a rachis. Each
spikelet consisting of a series of bracts alternating on either side of a rachilla.
The spikelet breaking off below or above the empty glumes; this point of artic-
ulation is important in identifying grasses. These bracts are called glumes. The
lowermost glumes empty or sometimes one or both missing or replaced by
bristles; other glumes containing the floret, each having an enveloping palea
and lemma; flowering glumes often having bristles called awns. Flower usually
perfect, but sometimes unisexual. In the perfect flower, feather-like stigmas
arising from the style, usually having three stamens, and the ovary developing
into a caryopsis (or grain). A magnifying glass may be needed for identifying
the various parts of a grass plant.

Gramineae is such a large family that subdivisions have been made. The
family has been divided into two subfamilies, Panicoideae and Festucoideae.
These subfamilies are further divided into tribes. Species in 10 of these, Pani-
ceae, Andropogoneae, Phalarideae, Hordeae, Chlorideae, Agrostideae, Aven-
eae, Festuceae, Zizanieae, and Oryzeae (Fig. 25) may be found in the Prairie
Provinces.

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76

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77

Keys to the Grasses

1. Spikelets one- to many-flowered; sterile

florets, if present, above the fertile ones
(except in Phalarideae, having two ster-
ile florets below the fertile one); articu-
lation usually above the glumes;
spikelets usually laterally compressed Subfamily 1. FESTUCOIDEAE 2

Spikelets with one fertile floret, and a ste-
rile floret, if present, below the fertile
one; articulation below the glumes;
spikelets compressed dorsally Subfamily 2. PANICOIDEAE9

2. Spikelets with one fertile floret above and

two (or rarely one) sterile florets below;
no sterile florets above the fertile
florets Tribe 6. PHALARIDEAE

Spikelets with one to many fertile florets;

sterile florets above the fertile florets 3

3. Spikelets unisexual, one-flowered; the

rachis disarticulating below the glumes Tribe 8. ZIZANIEAE

Spikelets perfect or if unisexual not as
above; the rachis disarticulating above
the glumes 4

4. Spikelets disarticulating below the

glumes, one-flowered; strongly com-
pressed laterally; glumes small or
absent Tribe 7. ORYZEAE

Spikelets disarticulating above or below
the glumes, at least one of these
well-developed 5

5. Spikelets sessile on the rachis in spikes 6

Spikelets pedicellate in open or contract-
ed, sometimes spike-like, panicles 7

6. Spikes terminal, solitary; spikelets

arranged singly or in twos or threes on
opposite sides of the rachis; the rachis

disarticulating in some species Tribe 2. HORDEAE

Spikes usually digitate or racemose;
spikelets arranged on one side of the
rachis in two rows Tribe 5. CHLORIDEAE

7. Spikelets one-flowered, with only occa-

sionally two florets, in some spikelets in

Muhlenbergia Tribe 4. AGROSTIDEAE

Spikelets two- to many-flowered 8

8. Glumes shorter than the first floret; lem-

mas awnless or awned from the tip or a

bifid apex Tribe 1. FESTUCEAE

Glumes as long as the lowest floret, some-
times enclosing the whole spikelet;
lemmas awnless or awned from the
back Tribe 3. AVENEAE

78

Glumes membranous; fertile lemma and
palea indurate, sterile lemma like the
glumes Tribe 9. PANICEAE

Glumes indurate; fertile and sterile lem-
mas equal in texture Tribe 10. ANDROPOGONEAE

FESTUCOIDEAE subfamily

Tribe 1. FESTUCEAE

1. Rachilla with long silky hairs;

inflorescence a large, plume-like pani-
cle; tall reeds Phragmites

Rachilla without silky hairs; inflorescence

not plume-like; not tall reeds 2

2. Glumes exceeding the uppermost floret in

the spikelet, these shiny Dupontia

Glumes shorter than the lowest floret 3

3. Plants dioecious with long rhizomes or

stolons; lemmas without a tuft of hairs

at the base Distichlis

Plants monoecious, or if dioecious lem-
mas with a tuft of hairs at the base, or
plants annual 4

4. Lemmas prominently 3-nerved 5

Lemmas 5- to many-nerved, often

obscurely so 7

5. Inflorescence hidden among sharp-

pointed leaves; plants annual

(Chlorideae) Munroa

Inflorescence not as above 6

6. Spikelets many-flowered; glumes and

lemmas keeled; plants annual Eragrostis

Spikelets 2-flowered; perennial Catabrosa

7. Callus of florets bearded 8

Callus of florets not bearded 9

8. Plants with rhizomes; lemmas erose at tip,

awnless Seolochloa

Plants with fibrous roots; lemmas bifid at

tip, awned Schizachne

9. Spikelets strongly compressed, arranged

in one-sided clusters on stiff panicle

branches Dactylis

Spikelets and inflorescence not as above 10

10. Lemmas obscurely nerved; panicle loose,

with drooping branches; plants large Arctophila

Lemmas distinctly nerved, or if not,

plants not as above 1 1

79

1 1. Lemmas keeled on back 12

Lemmas rounded on back, or keeled only

slightly toward tip 13

12. Spikelets large; lemmas 2-lobed at tip,

awned Bromus

Spikelets small; lemmas not 2-lobed,

awnless Poa

13. Glumes papery; lemmas firm, strongly

nerved; sterile florets at tip often

reduced to rudiments Melica

Glumes not papery; sterile florets not

differing from the others 14

14. Lemmas parallel-nerved, with nerves not

converging at the tip of the lemma 15

Lemmas narrowing at the tip, with nerves

converging 16

15. Plants of freshwater habitats; lemmas

prominently nerved; leaf sheaths

closed, flattened Glyceria

Plants of saline habitats; lemmas not
prominently nerved; leaf sheaths open,
terete Puccinellia

16. Lemmas 2-lobed at the tip, awned or

awn-tipped from between the lobes Bromus

Lemmas not 2-lobed, awned from the tip

or awnless 17

17. Lemmas awnless; leaves with boat-

shaped tip Poa

Lemmas awned; leaves not with boat-
shaped tip Festuca

Tribe 2. HORDEAE

1. Spikelets one at each node of the rachis,

or at least never more than one at all

nodes 2

Spikelets 2 or 3 at each node, or at least at

most of the nodes 5

2. Spikelets placed with the narrow side

toward the rachis; the glume on that
side absent, the terminal spikelet with
both glumes developed Lolium

Spikelets placed with the broad side
toward the rachis; both glumes devel-
oped in all spikelets 3

3. Plants perennial or weedy annuals Agropyron

Plants annual, cultivated 4

4. Glumes 3-nerved, ovate Triticum

Glumes 1-nerved, subulate Secale

80

5. Spikelets 1 -flowered, 3 at each node; the

lateral pair pedicellate, usually reduced

to awns Hordeum

Spikelets 2- to 6-flowered, usually 2 at

each node; florets all alike 6

6. Rachis continuous Elymus

Rachis disarticulating 7

7. Glumes short-awned, or awnless; lemmas

with awns to 2 cm long Agrohordeum

Glumes and lemmas both with long diver-
gent awns Sitanion

Tribe 3. AVENEAE

1. Lemmas awnless or rarely very short-

awned 2

Lemmas distinctly awned 3

2. Articulation of rachis above the glumes;

glumes about equal in length and

width Koeleria

Articulation of rachis below the glumes;
the first glume linear, the second one
much wider Sphenopholis

3. Articulation of rachis below the glumes;

lemmas bearing a bent awn; panicle

spike-like TriseWm

Articulation of rachis above the glumes 4

4. Awn flattened, twisted, borne from a

notch between apical teeth of lemma;

collar with tuft of hairs Danthonia

Awn not flattened, borne well below the

apex of the lemma; collar glabrous 5

5. Glumes 20-35 mm long, 7- to 9-nerved;

plants annual; spikelets pendulous Avena

Glumes less than 20 mm long, 1- to 5-

nerved; spikelets not pendulous 6

6. Spikelets 3- to 7-flowered, 10-15 mm

long; blades flat or folded, obscurely

nerved, glaucous Helictotrichon

Spikelets 2-flowered, usually less than 10

mm long 7

7. Lemmas keeled, awned from above the

middle Trisetum

Lemmas rounded on the back, awned

from below the middle Deschampsia

Tribe 4. AGROSTIDEAE

1. Lemmas thicker and much harder than

the glumes 2

81

Lemmas not thicker and harder than the

glumes 5

2. Spikelets dorsally compressed; glumes

shiny; lemmas awnless; rachis disarti-
culating below the glumes Milium

Spikelets not dorsally compressed;
glumes dull; lemmas awned; rachis
disarticulating above the glumes 3

3. Awn weak, short, and deciduous; fruit

plump Oryzopsis

Awn firm, persistent; fruit slender 4

4. Awn of lemma simple Stipa

Awn of lemma trifid Aristida

5. Rachis disarticulating below the glumes 6

Rachis disarticulating above the glumes 8

6. Glumes long-awned; panicle dense, spike-

like, appearing silky Polypogon

Glumes awnless 7

7. Panicle open, with spreading branches;

florets stipitate; glumes not united Cinna

Panicle dense, spike-like; florets not stipi-
tate; glumes united at base Alopecurus

8. Lemmas awned at the apex or

short-pointed Muhlenbergia

Lemmas awnless, or the awn inserted

below the apex 9

9. Inflorescence dense and spike-like Phleum

Inflorescence an open, branched, panicle 10

10. Florets bearing a tuft of hairs at the base 1 1

Florets without hairs at the base 12

11. Lemmas awned from the middle or near

the base; 3- to 5-nerved; the glumes

longer than the lemma Calamagrostis

Lemmas awnless, 1-nerved; the first

glume shorter than the lemma Calamovilfa

12. Glumes longer than the lemma; palea

small or obsolete; callus often some-
what hairy Agrostis

Glumes shorter than the lemma; palea

well-developed; callus smooth 13

13. Lemma 1-nerved; mature grain plump,

free from the lemma and palea Sporobolus

Lemma 3- to 5-nerved; mature grain not
plump, not readily freed from the
lemma and palea Arctagrostis

82

Tribe 5. CHLORIDEAE

1. Plants with imperfect flowers; monoe-

cious or dioecious Buchloe

Plants with perfect flowers 2

2. Spikelets with more than one perfect

floret; inflorescence a few-flowered
head hidden among sharp-pointed

leaves Munroa

Spikelets with only one perfect floret;

inflorescence not as above 3

3. Spikelets with one or more sterile florets

above the fertile ones Bouteloua

Spikelets without sterile florets 4

4. Spikes very slender; leaves short and

narrow Schedonnardus

Spikes not very slender; leaves long and

wide 5

5. Glumes unequal, narrow; spikelets 6-15

mm long; plants with scaly rhizomes Spartina

Glumes equal, boat-shaped; spikelets 3
mm long; plants with fibrous roots,
annual Beckmannia

Tribe 6. PHALARIDEAE

Lower florets staminate; spikelets brownish,

shiny; glumes rounded on the back Hierochloe

Lower florets neutral; spikelets greenish, not

shiny; glumes boat-shaped, keeled Phalaris

Tribe 7. ORYZEAE

One genus; glumes lacking; lemmas awnless Leersia

Tribe 8. ZIZANIEAE

One genus; spikelets unisexual Zizania

PANICOIDEAE subfamily

Tribe 9. PANICEAE

1. Spikelets with one to many bristles form-

ing an involucre Setaria

Spikelets without bristles 2

2. Glumes or sterile lemmas awned Echinochloa

Glumes and sterile lemmas awnless 3

13

3. Spikelets in digitate slender racemes at tip

of culms Digitaria

Spikelets in open panicles with slender

branches Panicum

Tribe 10. ANDROPOGONEAE

Racemes reduced to one or a few joints; these

racemes numerous in large open panicles Sorghastrum

Racemes several- to many-jointed; these

racemes solitary or digitately clustered Andropogon

Agrohordeum wild rye

Agrohordeum macounii (Vasey) Lepage macoun'S wild rye

Plants densely tufted, erect, 50-100 cm high. Sheath glabrous or some-
times pubescent; blades to 5 mm wide, scabrous. Spike slender, erect to some-
what nodding, 4-12 cm long; rachis disarticulating at maturity; spikelets over-
lapping, 8-10 mm long, mostly 2-flowered; glumes 5-8 mm long, very narrow;
lemmas 7-10 mm long; awns 1-2 cm long. Moist, often alkali flats; Prairies
and Parklands.

Agropyron wheatgrass

1. Plants with rhizomes 2

Plants with fibrous roots 7

2. Stomata forming fine white lines on

underside of blades; rhizomes long,

yellow white A. repens

Stomata not forming white lines 3

3. Glumes rigid, 10-12 mm long; plants

glaucous, bluish green; auricles often

purplish A. smithii

Glumes not rigid, mostly 6-9 mm long;
plants green or gray green; auricles yel-
lowish green 4

4. Awns of lemmas recurved or divergent 5

Awns of lemmas straight 6

5. Lemmas pubescent A. albicans

Lemmas glabrous or scabrous A. albicans

6. Lemmas pubescent A. dasystachyum

Lemmas glabrous or scabrous A. hparium

7. Plants annual, introduced A. thticeum

Plants perennial 8

8. Spikes short, with spikelets very closely

spaced on the rachis; introduced

species A. cristatum

Spikes elongated, with spikelets not
closely spaced on the rachis; native
species 9

84

9. Spikelets awnless or awn-tipped 10

Spikelets long-awned, with awns 1-4 cm

long 12

10. Glumes narrow; rachilla scaberulous;

blades involute A. spicatum

Glumes wide, 2-2.5 mm; rachilla villous;

blades flat or nearly so 1 1

11. Glumes with thin margins, awn-tipped;

lemmas usually pubescent; spike 3-8

cm long A. latiglume

Glumes not with thin margins, awnless;

lemmas glabrous; spike 10-25 cm long A. trachycaulum

12. Awn straight or nearly so; blades glab-

rous, lax; spikes 5-20 cm long A. subsecundum

Awns divergent or bent 13

13. Spikelets not closely spaced on the rachis,

barely overlapping A. spicatum

Spikelets closely spaced on the rachis,

overlapping 14

14. Culms tufted, decumbent to ascending,

often flexuous; spikes often nodding A. scribneri

Culms erect; spikes erect A. bakeri

Agropyron albicans Scribn. & Smith awned northern wheatgrass

Plants with tufted culms 40-70 cm high arising from slender rhizomes.
Blades flat to involute, 1-3 mm wide, glabrous. Spike 6-15 cm long; spikelets
loosely overlapping, 4- to 8-flowered, 1-1.5 cm long; glumes 6-9 mm long,
sparsely pubescent; lemmas 7-10 mm long, densely or sparsely pubescent;
awn 1-1.5 cm long, divergent at maturity. Prairies.

A variety with glabrous lemmas has been named var. griffithsii (Scribn. &
Smith) Beetle.

Agropyron bakeri E. Nels. baker's wheatgrass

Plants loosely tufted, with erect culms 50-100 cm high. Sheaths and
blades glabrous, scabrous, or sparsely pubescent. Blades flat, to 8 mm wide.
Spikes 5-10 cm long; spikelets 10-15 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, loosely imbri-
cate; glumes 8-10 mm long, awn-tipped; lemmas 10-12 mm long, with the
awn to 4 cm long, divergent and recurved when dry. Prairies, southern Rocky
Mountains.

Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Fig. 26) crested wheatgrass

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-50 cm high. Sheaths scabrous or the
lowest ones pubescent; blades to 8 mm wide, scabrous to pubescent above.
Spikes 2-7 cm long, flat; spikelets 8-15 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, densely
crowded, spreading to ascending; glumes 4-6 mm long, awn-tipped; lemmas
6-8 mm long, awnless or awn-tipped. Introduced forage grass; widely sown for
pasture and hay, and escaped from cultivation in many areas. Usually, crested
wheatgrass includes several taxa besides A. cristatum: A. desertorum (Fisch.)

85

Fig. 26. Crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.

86

Schult., with more rounded spikes and smaller, less spreading spikelets; A.
cristatiforme Sarkar, with the spikelets very densely crowded and the culm vil-
lose below the spike; and A. pectiniforme R. & S., with the spikelets spaced in
the spike.

Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn. northern wheatgrass

Plants with tufted culms 40-70 cm high arising from slender creeping rhi-
zomes. Sheath glabrous to slightly scabrous; blades to 6 mm wide, often invo-
lute, strongly veined and scabrous above. Spike 6-15 cm long, often involute,
strongly veined, and scabrous above; spikelets 10-15 mm long, 4- to 8-
flowered, loosely to closely imbricate; glumes 6-9 mm long, acute or awn-tip-
ped; lemmas 8-10 mm long, more or less densely pubescent, awnless or with a
short awn. Grasslands; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Agropyron latiglume (Scribn. & Sm.) Rydb. broad-glumed wheatgrass

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 20-50 cm high, ascending to geniculate.
Blades 3-5 mm wide, flat, short-pubescent on both sides. Spikes 3-7 cm long;
spikelets 10-15 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, closely imbricated; glumes 7-10
mm long, very broad, thin-margined, awn-tipped; lemmas 10-12 mm long,
pubescent, awn-tipped or awnless. Alpine meadows; Rocky Mountains, south-
west Alberta.

Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. (Fig. 27) quack grass, couch grass

Plants with culms 50-100 cm high, arising in tufts from long, creeping,
thick yellowish white rhizomes. Sheaths at first often soft pubescent, later glab-
rous; blades 6-10 mm wide, flat, usually sparsely pubescent above, and the
underside glabrous, with stomata visible as fine white lines. Spikes 5-15 cm
long; spikelets 10-15 mm long, 4- to 7-flowered; glumes 6-8 mm long, awn-
tipped; lemmas 8-10 mm long, with the awn 2-8 mm long. An introduced spe-
cies, often becoming weedy in waste places and gardens, rarely in cultivated
fields.

Agropyron riparium Scribn. & Sm. streambank wheatgrass

Plants with culms 30-80 cm high, arising in tufts from creeping slender
rhizomes. Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, often involute. Spikes 5-10
cm long; spikelets 10-15 mm long, 5- to 7-flowered, closely imbricated.
Glumes 6-10 mm long, awnless; lemmas 8-10 mm long, glabrous or sparsely
pubescent along margins, awnless. Ravines; Prairies.

Agropyron scribneri Vasey

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-30 cm high, ascending-spreading.
Sheaths usually more or less pubescent; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat, more or less
pubescent, mostly basal; culm leaves very short. Spikes 3-7 cm long, often
nodding or flexuous; spikelets 8-12 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, densely crowd-
ed; glumes 6-8 mm long, tapering into an awn; lemmas 8-10 mm long, taper-
ing into an awn; awn 15-20 mm long, strongly divergent. Alpine slopes;
Rocky Mountains, southwest Alberta.

87

Fig. 27. Quack grass, Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.

88

Agropyron smithii Rydb. western wheatgrass

Plants with culms 30-60 cm high, arising singly or in small tufts from long
creeping rhizomes. Sheaths glabrous, with auricles often purplish; blades 3-6
mm wide, stiff, prominently veined, usually very glaucous. Spikes 7-15 mm
long, erect; spikelets 10-20 mm long, 6- to 10-flowered; glumes 10-12 mm
long, rigid, tapering to a short sharp awn; lemmas 10-12 mm long, glabrous to
somewhat pubescent. Moist areas, moderately alkaline river flats; Prairies and
Parklands. A form with both glumes and lemmas pubescent has been
described as var. molle (Scribn. & Sm.) Jones, and has the same distribution as
the species.

Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. & Smith bluebunch wheatgrass

Plants densely tufted, often forming large bunches, with erect culms
60-100 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; blades 3-5 mm wide, flat to loosely invo-
lute, glabrous to minutely pubescent below, finely pubescent above, usually
glaucous. Spikes 7-17 cm long, sometimes longer; spikelets 10-15 mm long, 6-
to 8-flowered, mostly shorter than the internodes; glumes 6-8 mm long, acute
or awn-tipped; lemmas 8-10 mm long, with the awn 10-20 mm long, strongly
divergent. Prairies, southwest Alberta. A form with awnless lemmas has been
described as var. inerme Heller.

Agropyron subsecundum (Link) Hitchc. (Fig. 28) awned wheatgrass

Plants loosely tufted, with erect culms 50-100 cm high. Sheaths densely
pubescent in young plants, becoming glabrous; blades 6-10 mm wide, flat,
pubescent when young. Spikes 6-15 or 20 cm long, erect to slightly nodding;
spikelets 12-20 mm long, imbricated, 5- to 7-flowered, often twisted to one side
of the rachis; glumes 12-15 mm long, broad, tapering into a short awn; lem-
mas 10-12 mm long, with the awn 10-30 mm long. Moist areas, fescue prairie,
woodlands; Parklands and Boreal forest. Often considered to be a variety of
A. trachycaulum (Link) Malte var. unilaterale (Cass.) Malte.

Agropyron trachycaulum (Link) Malte (Fig. 29) slender wheatgrass

Plants tufted, with culms 50-100 cm high, erect or somewhat decumbent
at base. Sheaths glabrous, sometimes purplish at base; blades 4-6 mm wide,
flat, somewhat scabrous on both sides. Spikes 10-25 cm long, usually erect to
slightly nodding; spikelets 15-20 mm long, 5- to 8-flowered, somewhat imbri-
cated or remote; glumes 10-12 mm long, awnless; lemmas 12-15 mm long,
awnless or awn-tipped. Moist areas, around sloughs and lakes, open woods
and meadows; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Agropyron triticeum Gaertn.

Plants loosely tufted, annual, with culms 10-30 cm high, decumbent at
base or erect. Blades 2-3 mm wide, flat. Spikes 10-15 mm long, oval to ovate,
thick; spikelets 5-7 mm long, densely crowded; glumes 4-6 mm long, awnless;
lemmas 6-8 mm long, awnless. Introduced; southeast Alberta.

89

Fig. 28. Awned wheatgrass, Agropyron subsecundum (Link) Hitchc.

90

Fig. 29. Slender wheatgrass, Agropyron trachycaulum (Link) Make.

91

Agrostis bent grass

1. Palea present, at least half as long as the

lemma 2

Palea absent or minute 4

2. Plants tufted; rachilla prolonged behind

the palea as a bristle A. thurberiana

Plants rhizomatous or stoloniferous;
rachilla not prolonged behind the
palea 3

3. Plants often with long stolons; panicle

contracted even when in flower; blades

to 3 mm wide A. stolonifera var. major

Plants often rhizomatous, sometimes
rooting at the nodes of decumbent
stems; panicle open when in flower;
blades usually more than 3 mm wide A. stolonifera

4. Panicle narrow, with the branches

appressed or ascending 5

Panicle open, with the branches spreading

or reflexed 6

5. Culms usually less than 3 dm high; pani-

cle to 6 cm long, purple A. variabilis

Culms usually more than 3 dm high;

panicle to 30 cm long, greenish A. exarata

6. Panicle very diffuse; spikelets about 2 mm

long; lemmas awnless A. scabra

Panicle not very diffuse; spikelets about 3

mm long; lemmas awned A. borealis

Agrostis borealis Hartm. northern bent grass

Plants tufted, with erect culms 5-40 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; leaves 1-3
mm wide, mostly basal. Panicle 1-10 cm long, with lower branches whorled,
spreading; glumes 2-3 mm long; lemma awned, slightly shorter than glumes,
with the awn usually twisted, bent, and exserted. Slopes and moist areas;
Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest.

Agrostis exarata Trin. spike redtop

Plants tufted, with culms 20-100 cm high, slender to somewhat stout.
Sheaths glabrous to somewhat scabrous; blades 2-10 mm wide, scabrous.
Panicle 5-30 cm long, narrow, dense or slightly open; glumes 2.5-4 mm long,
acuminate to awn-tipped, scabrous in the keel; lemma 1.5-2 mm long, with the
midrib excurrent as a short awn. Moist areas; Prairies and Parklands.

Agrostis scabra Willd. (Fig. 30) rough hair grass

Plants tufted, sometimes densely so, with erect culms 30-70 cm high.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, scabrous. Panicle 15-25 cm long,
diffuse, with the branches spreading to ascending, branching above the mid-
dle; glumes 2-2.5 mm long, acuminate; lemma 1.5-1.7 mm long, sparsely
pubescent at base. Meadows, open woods, waste places; throughout the Prai-
rie Provinces.

92

Fig. 30. Rough hair grass, Agrostis scabra Willd.

93

Agrostis stolonifera L. REDTOP

Plants tufted, often with rhizomes, with culms erect or decumbent, or
forming stolons, which root at the internodes. Sheaths glabrous; blades 4-8
mm wide, flat or somewhat involute to folded, scabrous on both sides. Panicle
5-30 cm high, usually pyramidal; glumes 2-3.5 mm long, acuminate, some-
what pubescent on the keel; lemma 1.5-2.3 mm long, sometimes short-awned;
palea about half as long as lemma. Moist areas in Boreal forest, or as escape
from cultivation. Often listed as A. alba L., but this name appears to be based
on a rather depauperate specimen of Poa nemoralis L. and is therefore invalid.
Our plants are in part var. genuina (Schur) A. & G. (Fig. 31), with rather
numerous and creeping rhizomes, and var. major Farw. forma palustris (Huds.)
J. & W., lacking or with few short rhizomes.

Agrostis thurberiana Hitchc.

Plants in small tufts, with erect culms 20-40 cm high. Sheaths glabrous;
blades 1-2 mm wide, mostly basal, crowded. Panicle 5-7 cm long, somewhat
drooping; glumes 1.5-2 mm long, often purplish; lemmas about as long as
glumes; palea about 1.5 mm. Bogs and meadows; Rocky Mountains, south-
west Alberta.

Agrostis variabilis Rydb. alpine redtop

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 10-25 cm high. Sheaths glabrous;
blades about 1 mm wide, flat. Panicle 2-5 cm long, narrow, with branches
ascending; glumes 2-2.5 mm long, purple; lemma 1.5 mm long. Rocky slopes
and creek banks; Rocky Mountains, southwest Alberta.

Alopecurus water foxtail

1. Panicles thick, about 10 mm wide 2

Panicles slender, about 5 mm wide 3

2. Panicles very woolly, ovoid, to 4 cm long;

plants with rhizomes. A. alpinus

Panicles not very woolly, cylindric, to 10

cm long; plants without rhizomes A. pratensis

3. Culms erect or spreading; awn of lemma

barely exserted; anthers orange yellow A. aequalis

Culms usually decumbent, geniculate;
awn of lemma much exserted; anthers
pale yellow or purplish A. geniculatus

Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. short-awned foxtail

Plants forming large tufts or sods, with culms 15-60 cm high, erect or
spreading. Blades 1-4 mm wide, gray green. Panicle slender, cylindric, 2-7 cm
long, 4 mm wide; glumes 2.5-3 mm long; lemmas 2.5 mm long, with the awn
inserted at the middle, hardly exserted. Anthers orange. Moist to wet soils,
around sloughs, lakeshores, river flats; common throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces.

Alopecurus alpinus J. E. Smith alpine foxtail

Plants from creeping rhizomes, with stiff culms 10-60 cm high, erect or
decumbent at base. Sheaths glabrous, often inflated. Blades 3-5 mm wide.

94

Fig. 31. Redtop, Agrostis stolonifera L. var. genuina (Schur.) A. & G.

95

Panicle thick, ovoid or oblong, \-A cm long, 1 cm wide, woolly; glumes 3~4
mm long, woolly; lemmas 3-4 mm long, with the awn inserted near the base,
exserted. Rare; southwest Saskatchewan, southern Rocky Mountains.

Alopeeurus genieulatus L. water foxtail

Plants forming tufts or sods, with culms to 60 cm high, at first spreading,
later geniculate ascending, often rooting at the lower nodes. Blades to 6 mm
wide, gray green, strongly nerved. Panicle cylindric, to 5 cm long, 7 mm wide;
glumes 2.5-3 mm long, short pubescent toward the apex; lemmas 2.5 mm long,
short pubescent, with the awn inserted at the base, well-exserted. Anthers light
yellow. Rare; moist and wet soils; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Alopeeurus pratensis L. meadow foxtail

Plants from short rhizomes, with culms to 100 cm high, erect or decum-
bent at base. Sheaths glabrous; blades to 6 mm wide or wider, flat. Panicle
cylindric, 3-10 cm long, often wider than 1 cm; glumes about 5 mm long, whit-
ish with green veins; keel and margins ciliate; lemmas 4 mm long, with the
awn inserted at the base, 1 cm long, exserted. Introduced forage grass, occa-
sionally seeded in moist meadows; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Andropogon bluestem

1. Racemes solitary on peduncles A. scoparius

Racemes 2-5 on peduncles, digitate 2

2. Plants with long rhizomes; spikes villous A. hallii

Plants with short rhizomes; spikes not

villous A. gerardi

Andropogon gerardi Vitman (Fig. 32) BIG bluestem

Plants in large tufts, with offshoot on short rhizomes; culms 100-150 cm
high. Sheaths pubescent; blades flat, 6-10 mm wide, somewhat pubescent at
base, otherwise glabrous, blue green to glaucous. Racemes 3-6, 5-10 cm long,
usually purplish; sessile spikelet 7-10 mm long, with first glume having awn
10-20 mm long, geniculate, twisted below; pedicellate spikelet 7-10 mm long,
awnless, staminate. Prairies, southeastern Parklands.

Andropogon hallii Hack. sand bluestem

Plants in tufts with extensive creeping rhizomes; culms 100-150 cm high;
sheaths somewhat pubescent to glabrous; blades 6-10 mm wide, glabrous,
blue green to purplish. Racemes 3-6, 5-10 cm long, purplish, densely villous
with gray or yellowish hairs; sessile spikelet 7-10 mm long, with first glume
having awn 5 mm long; pedicellate spikelet 7-10 mm long, awnless, staminate.
Sand hills; southeastern Parklands.

Andropogon scoparius Michx. (Fig. 33) little bluestem

Plants densely tufted, with short scaly rhizomes; erect culms 30-70 cm
high. Sheaths keeled, glabrous; blades 5-8 mm wide, flat to folded, light green
to blue green, glaucous. Racemes 3-6 cm long, several to many on long
ascending peduncles, with rachis pilose; sessile spikelet 6-8 mm long, with the

96

Fig. 32. Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardi Vitman.

97

Fig. 33. Little bluestem, Andropogon scoparius Michx.

98

awn 8-15 mm long; pedicellate spikelet reduced, short-awned. Usually calcar-
eous soils; Prairies, southern Manitoba, southern Saskatchewan, southwest
Alberta.

Arctagrostis

Arctagrostis latifolia (R. Br.) Griseb.

Plants with creeping rhizomes; tufted culms 30-100 cm high, or occasion-
ally to 150 cm. Sheath smooth, glabrous; blades 4-10 mm wide, flat, rather lax.
Panicle 3-25 or to 30 cm long, somewhat open to narrow, with the branches
1-12 cm long, erect and appressed to ascending, usually 3 or 4 at one side of
the stem, often interrupted or lobed; spikelets 2.5-5 mm long, with first glume
2-3.5 mm long, 1- to 3-nerved, and second glume 3-5 mm long, 3-nerved; lem-
mas 3.5-5 mm long, 5-nerved, pubescent, with the palea as long as the lemma,
obscurely to strongly 3-nerved, pubescent. A species of variable size, appear-
ance, and color; panicle ranging from yellowish green through purple-tinged
to deep purple; anthers yellow or purple. Rare; in marshes and tundra; Boreal
forest.

Arctophila

Arc tophi la fulva (Trin.) Anderson

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 30-90 cm high, erect or decumbent.
Sheaths strongly ribbed; blades 4-10 mm wide, flat. Panicle 6-20 cm long,
usually open, with branches 5-8 cm long, ascending to spreading, and the
lower ones often reflexed; spikelets 3-5 mm long, usually purplish, 2- to 6-
flowered, with the first glume 2-3 mm long, and the second glume 3-4 mm
long; lemmas 2.5-4 mm long, glabrous, obtuse. Rare; wet shores and marshes;
Boreal forest.

Aristida three-awn

Plants easily distinguished by the 3 lemmas.

Aristida longiseta Steud. red three-awn

Plants tufted, with erect culms 20-30 cm high. Sheaths scabrous with min-
ute prickles. Blades 1-2 mm wide, often involute or bristle-like, very scabrous
on both sides. Panicle 3^4 cm long without the awns, narrow, erect, few-
flowered; branches ascending or appressed; first glume 8-10 mm long; second
glume 15-20 mm long; lemmas 12-15 mm long, terete, with awns 6-8 cm long,
divergent. Rare; in grassland, on slopes; Prairies.

A vena oat

Spikelets mostly 2-flowered; awn usually
straight or absent; lemmas glabrous A. saliva

Spikelets mostly 3-flowered; awn stout,
twisted, geniculate; lemmas pubescent A. fatua

99

Avenafatua L. (Fig. 34) wild oat

Plants tufted, with culms 30-75 cm high or sometimes to 100 cm, erect,
stout. Sheaths smooth; blades 4-8 mm wide, flat. Panicle open, with branches
ascending, spreading; spikelets mostly 3-flowered; glumes 2-2.5 cm long; the
lower lemmas 15-20 mm long, the upper ones shorter, pubescent with stiff
brown hairs, with the awn to 4 cm long, twisted and geniculate. A noxious
weed in cultivated fields. Has become very common in many areas; through-
out Prairies and Parklands.

A vena sativa L. OAT

The cultivated form, derived from A. fatua, differing from it in having
mostly 2-flowered spikelets, glabrous lemmas, and the awn small and straight
or lacking. Widely cultivated throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Beckmannia slough grass

Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fern. (Fig. 35) slough grass

Plants tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, erect or decumbent, and some-
times spreading, geniculate ascending. Sheaths glabrous; blades to 12 mm
wide, light green. Panicle 10-25 cm long; branches 1-5 cm long, appressed to
ascending; spikes crowded, 1-2 cm long; spikelets 1 -flowered, 3 mm long, with
glumes 3 mm long, wrinkled, deeply keeled; lemmas 7.5 mm long. Wet areas,
slough margins, lakeshores, valuable as hay, and readily eaten by cattle;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Bouteloua grama

Spikes 10-50, pendulous B. curtipendula

Spikes 1-3, spreading B. gracilis

Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. side-oats grama

Plants tufted, from short scaly rhizomes, with erect culms 50-75 cm high.
Sheaths usually pubescent; blades to 7 mm wide, flat to convolute, with few
scattered hairs. Spikes 35-50, usually pendulous, secund; spikelets 5-8 in a
spike, 6-10 mm long; fertile lemma 6 mm, mucronate; sterile lemma with 3
awns. Rare; in grassland; southeastern Parklands.

Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag. (Fig. 36) blue grama

Plants densely tufted, from very short scaly rhizomes, with erect culms
20-50 cm high. Sheaths glabrous or sparsely pubescent; blades to 3 mm wide,
light green to dark or reddish green, twisted. Spikes 1-3, usually 2, 2.5-5 cm
long, falcate, spreading at maturity; spikelets numerous, 70-80, about 5 mm
long; first glume 2-3 mm, second glume 3—4.5 mm; fertile lemma 3^1 mm
long, pubescent; sterile lemma densely bearded. Common; in grassland; Prai-
rie and Parkland.

100

Fig. 34. Wild oat, Avenafatua L.

101

Fig. 35. Slough grass, Beckmannia syzigaehne (Steud.) Fern.

02

Fig. 36. Blue grama, Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag.

03

Bromus brome

1. Plants with rhizomes 2

Plants with fibrous roots 3

2. Lemmas glabrous; blades and culms glab-

rous or somewhat scabrous B. inermis

Lemmas pubescent, at least along the
margins; blades pilose above; culms
pubescent at nodes B. pumpellianus

3. First glume 1-nerved 4

First glume 3- to 5-nerved 7

4. Plants annual; sheath and blade softly

pubescent; spikelets drooping; culms

to 5 dm high B. tectorum

Plants perennial; sheath and blades
pubescent or glabrous; culms to 1 m
high 5

5. Lemmas rather evenly pubescent on the

back, but more densely so on lower

margins B. purgans

Lemmas pubescent along margins and
lower part only, with the upper part
glabrous 6

6. Sheath and blades soft pubescent; blades

5-8 mm wide; lemmas narrow; ligules

prominent; awns 6-8 mm long B. vulgaris

Sheath and blades glabrous or short
pubescent; blades 4-6 mm wide; lem-
mas broad; ligures inconspicuous B. ciliatus

7. Plants annual; sheath and blade softly

villose 8

Plants perennial; sheath and blade glab-
rous or sparingly pubescent 9

8. Spikelets 5-8 mm wide, inflated; first

glume 5-nerved; awns strongly

divergent B. squarrosus

Spikelets less than 5 mm wide; first glume

3-nerved; awns flexuous B. japonicus

9. Spikelets strongly flattened, with lemmas

keeled; panicle with ascending

branches B. marginatus

Spikelets not strongly flattened, with lem-
mas rounded on the back; panicle
drooping 10

10. Second glume 3-nerved B. porteri

Second glume 5-nerved B. kalmii

104

Bromus ciliatus L. fringed brome

Plants loosely cespitose, with 2-4 culms together 60-100 cm high. Culms
and sheaths glabrous or short pubescent at the nodes; blades 4-10 mm wide,
glabrous to sparsely villose. Panicle 10-20 cm long, with branches slender,
often flexuous, spreading or drooping, up to 15 cm long. Spikelets drooping,
1-2 cm long, 4- to 10-flowered, with first glume lance-subulate, 5-7 mm long,
1-nerved, and second glume lanceolate, 7-10 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 8-1 1
mm long, pubescent along the lower half to three-quarters margin, glabrous or
nearly so on the back, with the awn to 5 mm long. Woods, and forest open-
ings; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Bromus inermis Leyss. smooth brome

Erect culms 50-100 cm high, from long creeping rhizomes. Culms,
sheaths, and blades usually glabrous or nearly so; blades 5-12 mm wide. Pani-
cle 6-20 cm long, usually contracted and secund at maturity, with 1-4
branches at each node. Spikelets 1.5-2.5 cm long, 7- to 10-flowered, with first
glume 6-9 mm long, 1-nerved, and second glume 8-10 mm long, 3-nerved;
lemmas 10-12 mm long, 5- to 7-nerved, somewhat pubescent at base, awnless
or short-awned. Introduced for forage, and now acclimatized in many areas,
particularly in low-lying areas; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Bromus japonicus Thunb. Japanese chess

Plants cespitose, with culms erect or ascending 40-70 cm high. Culms
long pubescent on the nodes, with sheaths densely villous; blades 1-3 mm
wide, long villous. Panicle 10-20 cm long, open, with branches slender, spread-
ing or drooping, somewhat flexuous. Spikelets 1-2 cm long, 5- to 9-flowered,
with first glume 4—6 mm long, broad, 3-nerved, and second glume 6-8 mm
long, 5 -nerved; lemmas 7-9 mm long, 9-nerved, with awn 8-10 mm long,
twisted and flexuous at maturity. Weed along roadsides, waste places, and
fields; southwest Alberta.

Bromus kalmii Gray

Plants loosely cespitose, with few culms together 50-100 cm high. Culms
usually pubescent at the nodes, with lower sheaths pubescent, and upper ones
glabrous or nearly so; blades 5-10 mm wide, pubescent on both sides. Panicle
5-10 cm long, with branches slender, flexuous, drooping. Spikelets few, 1.5-2.5
cm long, 5- to 10-flowered, with first glume 6-7 mm long, 3-nerved, and second
glume 7-9 mm long, 5-nerved; lemmas 8-10 mm long, 7-nerved, pubescent on
the back, densely so along margins, with the awn 2-3 mm long. Rare; margins
of woods, openings; southeastern Parklands.

Bromus marginatus Nees

Plants cespitose, with few culms together 50-100 cm high. Sheaths usually
retrorsely pubescent; blades to 12 mm wide, scabrous to sparsely pubescent.
Panicles 10—20 cm long, with branches ascending to spreading; spikelets 15-25
mm long, 6- to 10-flowered, with first glume 6-9 mm long, 3-nerved, and sec-
ond glume 10-15 mm long, 5-nerved; lemmas 10-15 mm long, keeled, min-
utely pubescent, with the awn 5-7 mm long. Open woods; southern Rocky
Mountains.

105

Bromus porteri (Coult.) Nash

Plants loosely cespitose, with culms 30-60 cm high, slender, pubescent on
the nodes. Sheaths pilose to glabrous; blades 2-4 mm wide, scabrous. Panicle
nodding, 5-10 cm long, with branches slender flexuous, spreading or drooping.
Spikelets 2-2.5 cm long, 5- to 7-flowered, with first glume 5-7 mm long, 3-
nerved, and second glume 7-9 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 9-12 mm long,
densely and evenly pubescent on the back, with the awn 2-4 mm long. Mar-
gins of woods and openings; Alberta.

Bromus pumpellianus Scribn. northern awnless brome

Culms erect from long creeping rhizomes. Sheaths usually pubescent, pur-
plish at base; blades to 12 mm wide, scabrous below, often pubescent above.
Panicle 6-20 cm long, with branches ascending or the lower ones divergent,
usually contracted at maturity, \-4 branches at each node; spikelets 1.5-3.5
cm long, 7- to 10-flowered, with first glume 6-9 mm long, 1 -nerved, and second
glume 8-11 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 9-12 mm long, 5- to 7-nerved, pubes-
cent at base and along margins, awnless or the awn 1-2 mm long. Open
woods, margins, and shrubbery; Cypress Hills, Rocky Mountains.

Bromus pur gans L. Canada brome

Plants loosely cespitose, with few culms together 60-100 cm high. Culms
pubescent at nodes; sheaths usually retrorsely pubescent; blades 5-10 mm
wide, sparsely pubescent to glabrous on both surfaces. Panicle 5-20 cm long,
nodding, with branches elongate, spreading or drooping; spikelets 2-3 cm
long, 7- to 10-flowered, with first glume 5-8 mm long, 1 -nerved, and second
glume 6-10 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 9-12 mm long, 7-nerved, thinly to
densely and evenly pubescent on whole back, with the awn 2-8 mm long.
Woods and forest margins; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Bromus squarrosus L. FIELD BROME

Plants cespitose, with culms 20-30 cm high. Sheaths and blades densely
pubescent. Panicles 10-20 cm long, nodding, with branches slender, spreading
or drooping; spikelets 1.5-2.0 cm long, 7- to 10-flowered, with first glume 4-6
mm long, 5-nerved, and second glume 5-8 mm long, 7-nerved; lemmas 6-9
mm long, 7-nerved, glabrous, with the awn about 10 mm long, spreading or
recurved. Waste places and roadsides.

Bromus tectorum L. (Fig. 37) downy CHESS

Plants cespitose, with erect culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths and blades
densely long pubescent. Panicle drooping, 10-20 cm long, with many rather
short flexuous branches drooping; spikelets 2-3 cm long, 6- to 10-flowered,
pubescent throughout, with first glume 5-7 mm long, 1 -nerved, and second
glume 8-10 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 10-12 mm long, 5- to 7-nerved, with
the awn 12-17 mm long, straight. Waste places and roadsides.

Bromus vulgaris (Hook.) Shear

Plants cespitose, with culms 70-100 cm high, erect, slender, pubescent on
the nodes. Sheaths and blades more or less pubescent; blades 7-12 mm wide.

106

Fig. 37. Downy chess, Bromus tectorum L.

107

Panicle 10-15 cm long, with branches slender, ascending to divergent, some-
what drooping; spikelets 1.5-2.5 cm long, 5- to 9-flowered, with first glume 5-8
mm long, 1-nerved, and second glume 7-9 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 8-10
mm long, sparsely pubescent on the back, with the awn 6-8 mm long. Woods
and openings; southwest Alberta.

Buchloe buffalo grass

Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. buffalo grass

Plants stoloniferous, forming a dense sod, with culms of staminate plants
to 20 cm high and culms of pistillate plants shorter than the leaves. Sheaths
somewhat inflated; blades 1-2 mm wide, sparsely pubescent. Staminate spikes
5-15 mm long, 2 or 3 on a peduncle; spikelets 2-flowered, sessile, closely imbri-
cated, with first glume 1-1.5 mm long, and second glume 1.5-2 mm long; both
glumes 1-nerved; lemmas to 4 mm long, 3-nerved. Pistillate spikes with 4 or 5
spikelets, usually 2 spikes on a peduncle; the peduncle short, included in the
sheaths of the upper leaves; first glume of pistillate floret 4 mm long, and sec-
ond glume 5 mm long, firm, thick, rigid, rounded and expanded in the middle,
enveloping the floret, and having 3 awn-like lobes at the summit; lemma mem-
branous, 3-nerved, with the summit 3-lobed. Very rare; Prairies.

Calamagrostis reed grass

Medium- to tall-growing creeping-rooted grasses, with open or narrow
panicles of small-flowered spikelets. Few or no basal leaves. The tall species
usually occur in low, moist localities; found in all types of vegetation across
the Prairie Provinces.

1. Awn geniculate, longer than or about as

long as the glumes, usually protruding

from glumes 2

Awn straight, as long as or shorter than
the glumes, usually not protruding
from glumes 5

2. Awn longer than the glumes 3

Awn not longer than the glumes 4

3. Panicle open, with the branches spread-

ing; glumes acuminate, glabrous, 4-6
mm long; callus hairs half as long as

lemma; culms to 40 cm high C. deschampsioides

Panicle narrow, with the branches
appressed to erect; glumes acute, min-
utely scabrous, 6-8 mm long; callus
hairs one-third as long as lemma;
culms 60-100 cm high C. purpurascens

4. Plants strongly rhizomatous, with culms

often solitary; blades about 2 mm

wide, stiff, involute; collar glabrous C. montanensis

Plants rhizomatous, with culms tufted;
blades about 4 mm wide, rather lax,
flat; collar pubescent C. rubescens

108

5. Panicle open, with the branches spreading

and often drooping C. canadensis

Panicle narrow and more or less contract-
ed, with the branches appressed or
ascending 6

6. Blades and upper part of culm scabrous;

ligules of upper leaves 4—8 mm long,
lacerate; panicle dense, to 25 mm
wide C. inexpansa

Blades smooth or scabrous only at tip;
culms smooth except under the pani-
cle; ligules of upper leaves 1-3 mm
long, entire; panicle dense or loose,
about 10 mm wide 7

7. Panicle lax, purplish; spikelets 4.5-5.5

mm long; lemmas 3.5-4 mm long;

leaves short, about 2 mm wide C. lapponica

Panicle stiff, usually brownish; spikelets
2.5-4.5 mm long; lemmas 2-3.5 mm
long; leaves long, about 4 mm wide C. neglecta

Calamogrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv. marsh reed grass

Plants tufted, with creeping rhizomes; culms 60-120 to 150 cm high.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 6-10 mm wide, flat, rather lax. Panicle 10-20 cm
long, mostly nodding, open to dense and somewhat contracted; glumes 3^4
mm long, acute, somewhat scabrous; lemma 2-3 mm long, thin, smooth, with
callus hairs abundant, as long as the lemma; awn delicate, straight, inserted
just below the middle. In marshes, lakeshores, meadows, and moist woods;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

In the northern part of the boreal zone var. scabra (Presl) Hitchc, with
larger spikelets, glumes 4.5-6 mm long, and lemmas 3.5-4 mm, and var.
robusta Vasey, with glumes 3-5.6 mm and lemmas 3-3.5 mm, have been found.

Calamagrostis deschampsioides Trin.

Plants small, tufted; culms 1 5-^0 cm high. Sheaths smooth; blades 2-4
mm wide, glabrous. Panicle 4—8 cm long, open, pyramidal, with branches
spreading, bearing spikelets toward the tips; spikelets purplish; glumes 4—6
mm long, acuminate; lemma 3-5 mm long, with callus hairs half as long as the
lemma; awn 8-10 mm long, bent, exserted. Boreal forests, Hudson Bay, Mani-
toba.

Calamagrostis inexpansa A. Gray northern reed grass

Plants tufted, with slender creeping rhizomes; culms 40-100 cm high.
Sheaths glabrous, often purplish at base; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat or some-
what involute, firm. Panicle 5-15 cm long, contracted, dense, with branches
ascending-appressed at maturity; glumes 3^4 mm long, acuminate; lemmas
2.5-3.5 mm long, with callus hairs half to three-quarters as long as the lemma;
awn inserted above the middle, a little longer than the lemma, straight. One of
the common slough grasses; around sloughs, lakeshores, marshes; throughout
the Prairie Provinces.

109

Calamagrostis lapponica (Wahl.) Hartm.

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, mostly solitary.
Sheaths scabrous; leaves 1-3 mm wide, scabrous toward the tip. Panicle to 10
cm, narrow, contracted to somewhat open, with branches ascending; glumes
4.5-5.5 mm long; lemmas 3.5-4 mm long, with callus hairs as long as the lem-
ma; awn delicate, curved or weakly bent. Boreal forest. Generally considered
to be var. nearctica Porsild.

Calamagrostis montanensis Scribn. (Fig. 38) plains reed grass

Plants with extensively creeping rhizomes; culms 20-40 cm high, solitary
or in small tufts, stiffly erect. Sheaths rather chartaceous; leaves 2-3 mm wide,
bluish green, stiff, flat to involute. Panicle 5-10 cm long, erect, interrupted,
dense, usually whitish; spikelets 4-5 mm long; glumes acuminate; lemmas
4-4.5 mm long, with callus hairs about half as long as the lemma; awn inserted
above the base, 5 mm long, geniculate, exserted. In moist or moderately dry
grassland; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Calamagrostis neglecta (Ehrh.) Gaertn., Mey. & Schreb. narrow reed grass

Plants with long slender rhizomes; culms to 100 cm high, solitary or few
in a small tuft. Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat to convolute, usu-
ally scabrous on both sides, gray green. Panicle 5-10 cm long, very narrow,
usually contracted, greenish to brownish; spikelets 3-3.5 mm; glumes acumi-
nate; lemmas about as long as glumes, with callus hairs about three-quarters
as long as the lemma; awn as long as the lemma, straight. Mostly associated
with C. canadensis and C. inexpansa in somewhat acid wet soils; throughout
the Prairie Provinces.

Calamagrostis purpurascens R. Br. purple reed grass

Plants tufted; rhizomes, if present, very short; erect culms 40-60 cm high.
Sheaths scabrous; blades 2-A mm wide, flat or somewhat involute, scabrous.
Panicle 5-15 cm long, dense, reddish to purplish; spikelets 6-8 mm long;
glumes acuminate, scabrous; lemmas as long as the glumes, with callus hairs
less than half as long as the lemma; awn exserted near the base, about 1 cm
long, geniculate, exserted. Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Calamagrostis rubescens Buckl. pine reed grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms closely spaced, often sod-forming or
solitary. Sheaths smooth, pubescent at the collar; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat,
somewhat lax, scabrous. Panicle 6-15 cm long, often somewhat loose, with
ascending branches, mostly contracted at maturity, usually rather dense, often
purplish; spikelets 4-5 mm long; glumes narrow, acuminate; lemmas 4.5 mm
long; callus hairs less than half as long as the lemma; awn inserted at the base,
geniculate, exserted. Open pine woods; Boreal forest, Cypress Hills, southern
Rocky Mountains.

110

Fig. 38. Plains reed grass, Calamagrostis montanensis Scribn.

Ill

Calamovilfa sand grass

Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn. (Fig. 39) sand grass

Plants with long, yellowish, thick and tough, scaly rhizomes; culms
50-150 cm high, usually solitary. Sheaths usually smooth, rarely somewhat
pubescent; blades to 12 mm wide, flat to involute, firm, dark green. Panicle
15-35 cm long, with branches ascending, and often appressed, contracted at
maturity; spikelets 6-7 mm long; first glume 4 mm; lemma 6-6.5 mm, with
callus hairs copious, 4-5 mm long. In sandy areas of Prairies and Parklands;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Catabrosa brook grass

Catabrosa aquatica (L.) Beauv. brook grass

Plants with long rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm long, decumbent, rooting at
the nodes. Sheaths often somewhat compressed, glabrous, often purplish at
base; blades 4-8 mm wide, glabrous, light green, flat, lax. Panicle 10—30 cm
long, pyramidal, with branches slender, spreading or sometimes reflexed;
spikelets about 3 mm long, usually purplish, with first glume 1 mm long, and
second glume 1.5 mm long; lemma 2.5-3 mm long, broad, strongly 3-nerved,
with the apex scarious, irregular; palea as long as the lemma. In streams,
ponds, swampy areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces in Prairies and Park-
lands.

Cinna wood grass

Cinna latifolia (Trev.) Griseb. slender wood grass

Plants loosely tufted, with culms to 150 cm high. Sheaths smooth; blades
8-15 mm wide, flat, lax. Panicle 15-30 cm long, greenish or yellowish, with
branches slender, spreading or drooping; spikelets 3.5-4.0 mm long; glumes
3-3.5 mm long; lemma 3 mm long, 3-nerved, with awn to 1 mm long.
Throughout Boreal forests.

Dactylis orchard grass

Dactylis glomerata L. (Fig. 40) orchard grass

Plants forming large tussocks; culms to 100 cm high. Sheaths strongly
compressed, keeled; blades 4-10 mm wide, flat or folded, pale green or some-
what glaucous. Panicles 5-20 cm long, with branches solitary or 2 together,
secund, ascending, appressed at maturity; spikelets 5-7 mm long, mostly 3- to
4-flowered, clustered at the tips of the branches, with first glume 5-6 mm long,
and second glume 6-7 mm long, often ciliate on the keel; lemmas 6-8 mm
long, mucronate, ciliate on the keel and margins. Introduced; seeded in
orchards and irrigation projects; occasionally escaped.

112

Fig. 39. Sand grass, Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn.

113

Fig. 40. Orchard grass, Dactylis glomerata L.

114

Danthonia oat grass

1. Lemmas glabrous except on the margins 2

Lemmas pubescent on whole back 4

2. Panicle usually with a single spikelet;

culms seldom more than 25 cm high D. unispicata

Panicle usually with several spikelets;

culms often more than 25 cm high 3

3. Panicle narrow, with the branches

appressed; glumes 10-15 mm long;

blades pilose D. intermedia

Panicle open, with the branches spread-
ing; glumes 15-20 mm long; blades
glabrous D. califomiea

4. Glumes about 10 mm long; lemmas about

4 mm long; blades often curled D. spicata

Glumes about 20 mm long; lemmas about

10 mm long; blades not curled D. parryi

Danthonia califomiea Boland. California oat grass

Plants tufted, with culms 30-80 cm high, glabrous, tending to break at the
nodes. Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, glabrous, pilose at the collar.
Panicle 5-8 cm long, usually with 2-5 spikelets on slender, flexuous branches;
spikelets 20-25 mm long, with glumes 15-20 mm long; lemma 8-10 mm long,
with apical teeth long aristate, pilose at base and callus; awn twisted, genicu-
late, 15-20 mm long. Rare; Prairies, southern Rocky Mountains. Generally
considered to be var. americana (Scribn.) Hitchc, usually having foliage pilose.

Danthonia intermedia Vasey (Fig. 41) timber oat grass

Plants tufted, with culms to 50 cm high. Sheaths pilose-pubescent; blades
to 3 mm wide, flat to involute, short pubescent above, long scattered pubescent
below. Panicle 2-5 cm long, with branches appressed ascending, each bearing
a single spikelet; spikelets 12-15 mm long, with glumes 10-15 mm long; lem-
mas 7-8 mm long, with apical teeth acuminate-aristate, appressed pilose along
lower margins and callus; awn twisted, geniculate, 10—15 mm long. In fescue
grasslands; in Parklands, Boreal zone, Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills, Wood
Mountain.

Danthonia parryi Scribn. parry oat grass

Plants forming large tough tussocks, with stout culms 30-60 cm high.
Sheaths glabrous; blades to 3 mm wide, flat to involute, pilose at the collar,
otherwise glabrous. Panicle 3-7 cm long, with branches appressed-ascending,
1-2 cm long, each bearing a single spikelet; spikelets 20-25 mm long, with
glumes about 20 mm long; lemma about 10 mm long, with apical teeth acumi-
nate, pilose on the back and margins; awn twisted and geniculate, 15-20 mm
long. Prairies, southern Rocky Mountains.

Danthonia spicata (L.) Beauv. poverty oat grass

Plants usually in rather small tufts, with culms 20-50 cm high. Sheaths
usually pilose-pubescent; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat to involute, often flexuous,

115

Fig. 41 . Timber oat grass, Danthonia intermedia Vasey.

116

usually pilose-pubescent, especially at the collar. Panicle 2-5 cm long, with
stiff branches 2-3 cm long, the lower ones with 2 or 3 spikelets, the upper ones
bearing a single spikelet; spikelets to 15 mm long, with glumes 10-12 mm long;
lemmas 3-5 mm long, with apical teeth acuminate, sparsely pubescent across
the back. Rock outcrops, dry prairie; Parklands, Boreal forest, Rocky Moun-
tains.

Danthonia unispicata (Thurb.) Munro one-spike oat grass

Plants tufted, sod-forming when abundant, with culms 15-25 cm high.
Sheaths pilose, or the lower ones glabrous; blades to 3 mm wide, flat, light
green, pilose. Panicle a single spikelet, or occasionally 2 or 3 spikelets, 10-15
mm long, with glumes 10—12 mm long; lemmas 3-5 mm long, glabrous, with
the callus pubescent. Cypress Hills, southern Rocky Mountains.

Deschampsia hair grass

1. Plants annual; very few, short leaves D. danthonioides

Plants perennial; several to many leaves 2

2. Panicle spike-like, with the branches

appressed; leaves filiform D. elongata

Panicle open, with the branches spread-
ing; leaves not filiform 3

3. Glumes longer than the florets; blades

flat, rather soft D. atropurpurea

Glumes shorter than the florets; blades

rigid, translucent between the ribs D. caespitosa

Deschampsia atropurpurea (Wahl.) Scheele mountain hair grass

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 40-80 cm high, purplish at base. Sheaths
glabrous; blades 4—6 mm wide, flat, thin. Panicle 5-10 cm long, loose, open,
with few slender branches; spikelets purplish, with glumes about 5 mm long,
the second glume 3-nerved; lemmas 2.5 mm long, with callus hairs 0.8-1.2 mm
long; awn of the first floret straight, that of the second one geniculate, ex-
serted. Southern Rocky Mountains.

Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv. (Fig. 42) tufted hair grass

Plants densely tufted, with culms 60-120 cm high. Sheaths compressed,
keeled, glabrous; blades to 5 mm wide, flat to folded, prominently veined,
translucent between the veins. Panicle 10-25 cm long, loose, open, often nod-
ding, with branches slender, bearing spikelets toward the tips, spreading, the
lower ones to 10 cm long; spikelets 4-5 mm long, mostly 2-flowered, with the
first glume 2 mm long, 1 -nerved, and the second glume 3 mm long, 3-nerved;
florets distant, with the lemma of the first floret about 2 mm long, and that of
the second floret 1.5 mm long; awns about 1 mm long, fragile. On poorly
drained, rather fertile soils; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Deschampsia danthonioides (Trin.) Munro annual hair grass

Plants tufted, with culms 15-60 cm high, slender, erect. Sheaths glabrous;
blades 2 mm wide, glabrous, very few. Panicle 7-25 cm long, open, with
branches very slender, mostly in twos, ascending; spikelets borne toward the

1 17

Fig. 42. Tufted hair grass, Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv.

118

tips, with glumes 4-8 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 2-3 mm long, pilose at base;
awn 4—6 mm long, geniculate. Not yet reported, but probably in southern
Rocky Mountains.

Deschampsia elongata (Hook.) Munro slender hair grass

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-100 cm high, slender, erect. Sheaths
glabrous to somewhat scabrous; blades 1-1.5 mm wide, flat or folded, soft.
Panicle to 30 cm long, narrow, with slender branches appressed-ascending;
spikelets short appressed, pedicellate, with glumes 4-6 mm long, 3-nerved;
lemmas 2-3 mm long; awns about 4 mm long, straight. Meadows and slopes;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Digitaria crabgrass

First glume evident, with sheaths pubescent D. sanguinalis

First glume rudimentary or lacking, with
sheaths glabrous D. ischaemum

Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Schreb. smooth crabgrass

Plants sod-forming, with culms to 60 cm high, at first erect, but soon
decumbent and spreading, and branching. Sheaths glabrous, smooth; blades
to 10 mm wide, narrowed at the base. Racemes 4—10 cm long, usually 2-6, red-
dish purple; spikelets 2-2.5 mm long, with the first glume rudimentary or lack-
ing, and the second glume 1.5 mm long, 3-nerved; sterile lemma about 1.5 mm,
5-nerved; fertile lemma 1.5 mm, pubescent. Rare; in waste areas; Manitoba.

Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. crabgrass

Plants sod-forming, with culms to 60 cm high, decumbent and spreading,
often rooting at the nodes. Sheaths, at least the lower ones, papillose-pilose;
blades 5-10 mm wide, pubescent. Racemes to 15 cm long, usually having 3-6
spikelets 3 mm long, with the first glume scale-like, and the second glume
1.5-2 mm long, 3-nerved; sterile lemma to 2 mm long, 7-nerved; fertile lemma
to 2 mm long, dark reddish purple. Rare; in waste areas; Manitoba, Saskat-
chewan, Alberta.

Distichlis alkali grass

Distichlis stricta (Torr.) Rydb. (Fig. 43) alkali grass, salt grass

Plants sod-forming, from scaly creeping rhizomes, with tufted culms
10-40 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat to involute, yellow-
ish green. Panicles 2-6 cm long, with branches erect to ascending; staminate
spikelets 10-15 mm long, 8- to 15-flowered; pistillate spikelets about 10 mm
long, 7- or 9-flowered; glumes 3-6 mm long; lemma 2.5-4 mm long, firm. Salt
marshes, around saline sloughs, and dry saline areas; throughout Prairies and
Parklands.

119

Fig. 43. Alkali grass, Distichlis stricta (Torr.) Rydb.

120

Dupontia

Dupontia fisheri R. Br.

Plants from creeping rhizomes, with culms 15-60 cm high, erect to
decumbent at the base. Sheaths smooth, glabrous; blades 2-4 mm, flat or invo-
lute, with pronounced midrib, yellowish green. Panicle 3-10 cm long, narrow,
with short branches ascending to appressed; spikelets 4-8 mm long, shiny
bronze to purplish, having 3-5 florets, with the first glume 1.5-5 mm long, and
the second glume 2-6 mm long, enclosing the spikelet; lemmas 3-5 mm long,
pubescent, especially on the midrib toward the base, occasionally at the base
only. Rare; saline marshes; along Hudson Bay.

Echinochloa barnyard grass

Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. (Fig. 44) barnyard grass

Plants tufted, with culms to 100 cm high, erect to decumbent, stout.
Sheaths flat, compressed, keeled, glabrous; leaves 6-15 mm wide, flat or V-
shaped, keeled below. Panicle 10-20 cm long; racemes erect to spreading;
spikelets crowded, ovate, about 3 mm long, green- or reddish-tinged, with the
first glume 1 mm long, broadly ovate, acute, 3-nerved, and the second glume 3
mm long, 5-nerved, acuminate; sterile lemma about 3 mm long, with awn 1-5
cm long; glumes and sterile lemma pubescent; fertile lemma 2.5 mm long,
glabrous. Considered a weed in gardens, fields, and waste places; Prairies and
Parklands. Echinochloa pungens (Poir.) Rydb. has been distinguished by the
pubescence of glumes and sterile lemma, having hairs with a papillate base.
However, E. crusgalli in Europe has, usually, as much papillosity as E.
pungens. The vM.frumentacea (Roxb.) Wight, with thick racemes and inflated
spikelets, has been grown for forage, and is occasionally found. In Europe,
plants with erect culms have been differentiated as var. erecta Soest, and those
with the culms all prostrate and only the panicle ascending, as var. depressa
Soest. Further differentiation can be made on the basis of length of awn: those
with long awns, 2-5 cm, are f. longiseta (Doll) J. & W.; those with most of the
awns shorter than 1 cm, or reduced to a mere tip, are f. breviseta (Doll) J. & W.

(Fig. 44 overleaf)

121

Fig. 44. Barnyard grass, Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv.

122

Elymus wild rye

Tufted, usually fairly tall grasses with spike-like awned heads. Closely
related to the wheat grasses, but the double floret at each node distinguishing
the rye grasses from the wheat grasses, having only one floret at the node of
the rachis. Fairly palatable to livestock.

1. Plants with rhizomes 2

Plants without rhizomes 6

2. Lemmas awnless 3

Lemmas awned 4

3. Glumes lanceolate; rhizomes long-

creeping E. arenarius

Glumes subulate; rhizomes, when pres-
ent, short and stout E. cinereus

4. Awn of lemma 2-A cm long, strongly

divergent at maturity; spikes typically

curved E. canadensis

Awn of lemma about 1 cm long, straight;

spikes typically erect 5

5. Lemmas densely purplish pubescent;

glumes awn-tipped; awn of lemmas

about 5 mm long E. innovatus

Lemmas with hyaline pubescence, awn of
glumes about as long as glume; awn of
lemmas 5-10 mm long E. hirtiflorus

6. Lemmas awnless 7

Lemmas awned or awn-tipped 8

7. Glumes long ciliate; lemmas evenly

pubescent across the back; plants to

0.7 m high E.junceus

Glumes not ciliate; lemmas sparsely
pubescent along margins, to subglab-
rous; plants to 1.5 m high E. cinereus

8. Awns 2^4 cm long, strongly divergent at

maturity 9

Awns less than 2 cm long, straight or

nearly so 10

9. Glumes about 1 mm wide, 3- to 5-nerved;

spikes usually strongly curved E. canadensis

Glumes about 0.5 mm wide, 1 -nerved or

nerveless; spikes semierect, flexuous E. interruptus

10. Awns of the lemmas about twice as long

as the body of the lemma E. glaucus

Awns of the lemmas usually much shorter

than the body of the lemma 1 1

11. Glumes indurated at the base and

strongly outward bent; lemmas glab-
rous; blades lax E. virginicus

123

Glumes not indurated or bent; lemmas
pubescent, at least on the margins;
blades stiff E. angustus

Elymus angustus Trin. ALTAI wild rye

Plants densely tufted, with culms 60-100 cm high. Sheaths glabrous;
blades to 15 mm wide, flat, stiff, prominently veined. Spike 10-20 cm long;
spikelets 20-25 mm long; glumes 10-18 mm long; lemmas 10-20 mm long.
Introduced; forage grass; Saskatchewan.

Elymus arenarius L. sea lime grass

Plants from creeping rhizomes, with culms to 100 cm high, stout, erect.
Sheaths glabrous; blades to 15 mm wide, hard and stiff, involute in drying.
Spike to 30 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, stiffly erect; spikelets to 2.5 cm long, usually
2 at the upper and lower nodes, 3 at the middle nodes, mostly 3-flowered;
glumes 15-25 mm long, lanceolate, pubescent; lemmas 20-25 mm long, acumi-
nate, short pubescent. Boreal zone, along coast of Hudson Bay and Lake
Athabasca. Plants with the culm pubescent below the spike and the glumes
and lemmas more densely pubescent are E. arenarius ssp. mollis (Trin.) Hult.

Elymus canadensis L. (Fig. 45) Canada wild rye

Plants tufted, with short rhizomes at least when young; culms 100-150 cm
high. Sheaths glaucous; blades 10-20 mm wide, flat, sometimes convolute,
dark green to glaucous. Spike 10-25 cm long, nodding; spikelets 20-30 mm
long without awns, mostly 3 or 4 at a node; glumes 15-20 mm long, pubescent,
with the awn as long as the body; lemmas 10-15 mm long, pubescent, with the
awns 2-4 cm long, divergent. Beaches, riverbanks, sandy areas, and sand
dunes; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Elymus cinereus Scribn. & Merr. giant wild rye

Plants densely tufted, forming large tussocks, with very short rhizomes;
erect culms 60-120 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; blades 10-15 mm wide, flat to
convolute, thick and stiff. Spike 10-25 cm long, thick, dense; spikelets 15-20
mm long, 3-5 at a node; glumes awl-shaped, with the first one 8-10 mm long,
and the second one 10-15 mm long; lemmas 10-15 mm long, somewhat pubes-
cent. Rare; riverbanks, slopes, and ravines; southern Saskatchewan, southern
Alberta.

Elymus glaucus Buckl. smooth wild rye

Plants tufted, with culms 60-120 cm high, erect or ascending. Sheaths
glabrous or scabrous; blades 10-15 mm wide, flat, becoming involute on dry-
ing. Spike 5-20 cm long, erect to somewhat nodding; spikelets 20-25 mm long;
glumes 8-15 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate or awn-tipped; lemmas about 10
mm long, with the awn 10-20 mm long, erect to spreading. Not common; open
woods and meadows; Parklands.

Elymus hirtiflorus Hitchc. blue wild rye

Plants tufted, with slender creeping rhizomes; erect culms 40-90 cm high.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 1^1 mm long, flat or involute, firm. Spike 5-15 cm

124

Fig. 45. Canada wild rye, Elymus canadensis L.

125

long, erect; spikelets about 10 mm long; glumes 8-10 mm long, hirsute, taper-
ing into an awn; lemmas 8-9 mm long, hirsute, with an awn 5-10 mm long.
Woods, riverbanks; southern Rocky Mountains.

Elymus innovatus Beal hairy wild rye

Plants in small tufts from long creeping rhizomes; erect culms 50-80 cm
high. Sheaths glabrous, or the lower ones scabrous; blades 6-12 mm wide, flat
to convolute, scabrous on both sides. Spike 5-12 cm long, usually dense, vil-
lous; spikelets 10-15 mm long; glumes 10-12 mm long, subulate, purplish or
grayish villous; lemmas about 10 mm long, awn-tipped, villous. Common
throughout Boreal forest; in woods, clearings, and openings; rare in Parklands
and Prairies.

Elymus interruptus Buckl. VARIABLE-GLUMED wild rye

Plants tufted, with erect culms 70-100 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; blades
5-12 mm wide. Spike 8-15 cm long, flexuous or somewhat nodding; spikelets
20-30 mm long; glumes about 10 mm long, awl-shaped; lemmas 10-12 mm
long, scabrous or hirsute, with the awn 1-3 cm long, flexuous or divergent.
Rare; woods and openings; Boreal forest, Saskatchewan, Riding Mountain.

Elymus junceus Fisch. RUSSIAN wild rye

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths glabrous,
smooth; blades 3-5 mm wide, flat to convolute, scabrous on both sides, gray-
ish green. Spike 5-12 cm long, erect; spikelets 12-15 mm long, 2 or 3 at a
node; glumes 4-5 mm long; lemmas 5-7 mm long. Introduced forage grass;
becoming established in coulees and roadsides in various locations in the Prai-
ries, rarely in Parklands.

Elymus virginicus L. Virginia wild rye

Plants in loose, small tufts; with erect culms 60-120 cm high. Sheaths
glabrous; blades 5-12 mm wide, flat, scabrous on both sides. Spike 5-15 cm
long, usually erect or somewhat flexuous; spikelets 10-15 mm long; glumes
13-17 mm long, 5-nerved, much widened at base; lemmas 10-12 mm long,
tapering into an awn, about 1 cm long. In woods and openings, along rivers in
Parklands; rare in Prairies.

Eragrostis love grass

1. Plants stoloniferous, rooting at the nodes

of prostrate culms E. hypnoides

Plants not stoloniferous, with culms erect

or decumbent 2

2. Palea long ciliate on the keels; spikelets

mostly 1.5-2 cm long, 15- to

40-flowered E. cilianensis

Palea scabrous; spikelets shorter, 8- to

15-flowered E. poaeoides

126

Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Lutati stinkgrass

Plants mat-forming, with culms 10-50 cm high, ascending to spreading.
Sheaths pilose at the collar; blades 2-7 mm wide, flat; the nerves and margins
with depressed glands, causing the unpleasant odor of the plant. Panicles 5-20
cm long, erect; the branches ascending with glands; glumes about 2 mm long,
deciduous; lemmas 2-2.5 mm long. Rare in southern Parklands of Manitoba
and southeast Saskatchewan; a weed in waste areas and gardens.

Eragrostis hypnoides (Lam.) BSP. creeping love grass

Plants mat-forming, with culms stoloniferous, creeping and flowering
culms 10-20 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, scabrous to
pubescent above. Panicle 1-6 cm long, few-flowered; spikelets 5-15 mm long,
8- to 12-flowered; glumes 1.5-2 mm long; lemmas 1.5-2.0 mm long. Rare; on
sandy shores in southern Parklands of Manitoba, southeast Saskatchewan.

Eragrostis poaeoides Beauv. stinkgrass

Plants mat-forming, with culms 10-50 cm high, ascending to spreading,
branching. Sheaths long pubescent toward the collar; blades glabrous. Panicle
5-10 cm long; branches with depressed glands; glumes 1.5-2 mm; lemmas
1.5-2 mm, with the keel glandular. Very rare weedy species; at Saskatoon,
Sask.

Festuca fescue

Small- to medium-growing grasses with paniculate heads. Useful forage
grasses and very palatable to stock.

1. Leaf blades flat, up to 10 mm wide; plants

not densely tufted 2

Leaf blades narrow, to 4 mm wide, usu-
ally involute; plants mostly densely
tufted 4

2. Lemmas tipped with an awn 5-20 mm

long; panicle open, drooping F. subulata

Lemmas awnless 3

3. Panicle erect; spikelets 8-12 mm long;

lemmas thin, with scarious margins F. elatior

Panicle diffuse, with the branches spread-
ing to reflexed; lemmas firm F. obtusa

4. Plants annual; culms solitary or in small

tufts F. octoflora

Plants perennial 5

5. Glumes firm, much shorter than the

spikelet 6

Glumes thin, dry, not much shorter than

the spikelet 10

6. Panicle open, with the branches mostly in

pairs, ascending or spreading; lemmas

awnless or nearly so F. viridula

127

Panicle narrow, with the branches mostly

ap pressed; lemmas awned 7

7. Plants loosely tufted, often with short

matted rhizomes; culms often decum-
bent, red at the base; underside of leaf

glossy F. rubra

Plants densely tufted; roots fibrous 8

8. Awns as long as, or longer than, the lem-

mas; blades filiform, soft; panicle

secund F. occidentalis

Awns shorter than the lemmas; blades

firm, involute, rigid 9

9. Culms usually more than 40 cm high;

panicle 10-20 cm long, with branches
somewhat spreading; blades glaucous
blue green F. idahoensis

Culms usually less than 40 cm high; pani-
cle to 10 cm long, narrow; blades gray
green F. ovina

10. Spikelets with 2 or 3 florets, the third

floret sterile; glumes subequal, as long

as the first lemma F. hallil

Spikelets with 3-6 florets, mostly all fer-
tile; glumes unequal, shorter than the
first lemma 1 1

11. Plants grayish or bluish green; shoots

coarse, with the culms 40-100 cm high F. campestris

Plants yellowish or dark green; shoots

small, with the culms 30-60 cm high F. altaica

Festuca altaica Trin. ex Ledeb. northern rough fescue

Plants tufted, with fibrous root system; culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths
glabrous to scabrous; blades 1-2.5 mm wide, 7-nerved, somewhat pubescent,
flat to involute. Panicle 8-15 cm long, open to somewhat contracted; nodes
with 1-3 flexuous branches, the lower ones spreading to ascending; spikelets
10-13 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, light green often diffused with purple; first
glume 4-5 mm long, 1 -nerved; second glume 6-7 mm long, faintly 3-nerved;
lemmas 6-8 mm long, 5-nerved, scabrous to more or less pubescent; palea
equaling the lemma. In the typical form the culm and sheath are glabrous and
usually lustrous. The form with scabrous to softly pubescent culms and scab-
rous sheaths is f. scabrella (Torr.) Loom. (F. scabrella Torr. ex Hook.). Grass-
land and open woods; northern Rocky mountains.

Festuca campestris Rydb. rough fescue

Plants tufted, with fibrous root system, often forming large tussocks;
shoots coarse, with culms 40-120 cm high, erect, stout. Sheaths and culms
glabrous, often lustrous; blades 2-A mm wide, 7-nerved, rough, usually
sparsely short pubescent, gray green or bluish green, flat or involute, often
breaking off at the collar. Panicle 10-20 cm long, open to somewhat con-

128

traded at anthesis; nodes with 1-3 flexuous branches, the lower ones spread-
ing to reflexed; spikelets 1 1-16 mm long, 3- to 6-flowered; first glume 3-6 mm
long, 1 -nerved; second glume 4-8 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 7-9 mm long, 5-
nerved, glabrous to scabrous or slightly pubescent on the margins, occasion-
ally diffused with purple. One of the important grasses in the prairies in the
southern Rocky Mountains and foothills. Syn.: F. scabrella Torr. var. major
Vasey, F. doreana Loom.

Festuca elatior L. meadow fescue

Plants sod-forming; culms 50-100 cm high, the decumbent culms some-
times rooting at the nodes. Sheaths glabrous, reddish or purplish at the base;
blades 5-8 mm wide, prominently veined, dull green above, and slightly
keeled, glossy green below. Panicle 10-20 cm long, erect or nodding at the top,
often somewhat secund, contracted before and after flowering; lower branches
mostly in twos; spikelets linear-cylindric, 8-12 mm long, 6- to 10-flowered, yel-
low green or violet-tinged; first glume 3 mm long, 1 -nerved; second glume 4
mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 6-7 mm long, obscurely 5-nerved, with the apex
scarious. Introduced forage grass, for seeding in moist meadows; Parklands.
Tall fescue, F. elatior var. arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm., is used for seeding in
wet areas.

Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper plains rough fescue

Plants tufted, with fibrous roots and often more or less well-developed
rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, glabrous, often lustrous. Sheaths glabrous,
lustrous, often diffused with purple; blades 1-1.5 mm wide, sparsely short
pubescent, mostly gray green, 5-nerved, always involute. Panicle 6-15 cm long,
open to contracted at flowering; the lowest node with 1 or 2 branches, these
ascending to contracted; spikelets 7-8 mm long, with 2 or 3 florets, the third
floret usually infertile; glumes membranous, often diffused with purple, lus-
trous; first glume 6-7 mm long, 1 -nerved; second glume 6-8 mm long, 1- to 3-
nerved; lemmas 7-8 mm long, 5-nerved, scabrous to short pubescent, espe-
cially on the margins, often diffused with purple. An important grass in the
Parkland prairie, Cypress Hills, and Wood Mountain; sparse on sheltered
slopes in Prairies.

Festuca idahoensis Elmer. (Fig. 46) idaho fescue

Plants densely tufted, with culms to 100 cm high; whole plant blue green
and glaucous. Sheaths flattened, keeled, smooth; blades to 2 mm wide, folded,
filiform, erect. Panicle 10-20 cm long; branches ascending to appressed; spike-
lets 4-7 mm long, 5- to 7-flowered; glumes 2.5 mm and 3 mm long; lemmas
almost terete, 6-7 mm, with the awn 2-A mm long. Fescue prairie, Cypress
Hills, southern Rocky Mountains.

Festuca obtusa Biehler

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 50-100 cm high, solitary or few together.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 4-7 mm wide, flat, lax, glossy. Panicle 10-20 cm long,
loose, somewhat nodding; spikelet 4-8 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered; glumes
about 3 and 4 mm long; lemmas about 4 mm long, coriaceous. Open woods;
southeast Boreal forest and Parklands.

129

Fig. 46. Idaho fescue, Festuca idahoensis Elmer.

130

Festuca occidentalis Hook.

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 40-100 cm high. Sheaths glabrous;
blades to 2 mm wide, involute, filiform, soft and smooth. Panicle 7-20 cm
long, loose, often drooping at the top; branches solitary or in twos; spikelets
6-10 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, mostly on slender pedicels; glumes 3 and 4
mm long; lemmas 5-6 mm long, thin, with awn 6-10 mm long, straight.
Woods and shrubbery, southern Rocky Mountains.

Festuca octoflora Walt. six-weeks fescue

Plants tufted, with erect culms 15-30 cm high. Sheaths flattened, keeled,
scabrous or minutely pubescent; blades to 2 mm wide, filiform, twisted,
strongly veined, dark green. Panicle 4-8 cm long; spikelets 6-8 mm long, 5- to
10-flowered, crowded; first glume 3-3.5 mm long, 1-nerved; second glume
3.5-4.5 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 4—5 mm long, with the awn 3-7 mm long.
Not common; moist open ground in Prairies.

Festuca ovina L. sheep fescue

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-30 cm high; whole plant gray green.
Sheaths glabrous, smooth; blades about 1 mm wide, tightly rolled, filiform.
Panicle 5-7 cm long, narrow, contracted before and after flowering; spikelets
4-7 mm long, green, sometimes violet-tinged, 3- to 8-flowered; first glume 1.5
mm long; second glume 2 mm long; lemmas 3^4 mm long, obscurely 5-nerved.
In open prairie and forest margins throughout Parklands; in openings and
open woods in Boreal forest; rare in moist areas in Prairies. A variable species,
which has been divided into several varieties and forms. Plants from the Prai-
rie Provinces are usually distinguished as F. ovina var. saximontana (Rydb.)
Gl. (Syn.: F. saximontana Rydb.). However, these plants conform quite well to
F. ovina ssp. eu-ovina Hack. var. vulgaris Koch, with very narrow filiform
leaves, and the lemma with an awn more than 1 mm long.

Festuca rubra L. red fescue

Plants loosely tufted, with short rhizomes; culms mostly 30-80 cm high,
erect to somewhat decumbent at the base. Sheaths finely pubescent, reddish to
purplish at the base; blades to 3 mm wide, thick, V-shaped to tightly folded,
dark green. Panicle 5-20 cm long, erect or somewhat nodding; branches
spreading during and after flowering; spikelets 7-10 mm long, 4- to 6-
flowered; first glume 2.5-3 mm long; second glume 3-3.5 mm long; lemmas
5-7 mm long, often somewhat pubescent, awn-tipped or with a short awn, to
about 3 mm long. Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest in Alberta. Introduced and
cultivated for pasture, hay, and lawns throughout the Prairie Provinces. Very
variable; most of our plants belong to ssp. eu-rubra Hack. var. genuina Hack.,
the loosely tufted rhizomatous form. Plants with a small panicle and densely
pubescent, rather small spikelets are subvar. arenaria (Osb.) Hack.; Lake
Athabasca, York Factory.

Festuca subulata Trin.

Plants tufted, with erect culms 50-100 cm high. Sheaths glabrous; blades
3-10 mm wide, flat, thin, lax. Panicle 15-40 cm long, open, drooping; branches
in twos and threes, spreading to reflexed, the lower ones to 15 cm long; spike-

131

lets 7-10 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, very open; first glume 3 mm long; second
glume 5 mm long; lemmas about 4 mm long, scabrous toward the apex, taper-
ing into an awn 5-20 mm long. Rare; moist woods; Rocky Mountains.

Festuca viridula Vasey

Plants loosely tufted, with erect culms 50-100 cm high. Sheaths glabrous
or scabrous; blades 4-6 mm wide, flat or involute, soft, erect. Panicle 10-15 cm
long, open; branches mostly in pairs, ascending to spreading; spikelets 6-12
mm long, 3- to 6-flowered; first glume 4—6 mm long; second glume 5-7 mm
long; lemma 6-8 mm long, membranous. Montane meadows; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Glyceria manna grass

Mostly medium to tall semiaquatic grasses, found in sloughs, shallow
water, and marshes. Quite palatable to livestock.

1. Spikelets linear, almost terete; sheaths

strongly flattened 2

Spikelets ovate or oblong; sheaths not

strongly flattened 3

2. Spikelets less than 2 cm long, slender ped-

iceled; the upper glume 2-3 mm long;
lemmas 2>-A mm long; blades 2-5 mm
wide G. borealis

Spikelets 2-4 cm long, subsessile; the
upper glume 3^4 mm long; lemmas 6-8
mm long; blades 4-8 mm wide G.fluitans

3. Upper glume 3-nerved; lemmas with 5

prominent nerves; ligules 5 mm or

longer G.pauciflora

Upper glume 1 -nerved; lemmas with 7
prominent nerves; ligules less than 5
mm long 4

4. Upper and lower glumes of about equal

length, both 2-2.5 mm long 5

Upper glumes about 1 mm long, lower

glumes about 0.5 mm long 6

5. Glumes acute, greenish white; lemmas

purple with very narrow scarious mar-
gins; blades to 15 mm wide, with culms
to 1.5 m high G. grandis

Glumes obtuse, bronze purple; lemmas
purple with broad scarious margins;
blades 3-6 mm wide, with culms to 0.6
m high G. pulchella

6. Plants strongly rhizomatous, with culms

to 0.8 m high; blades usually less than

5 mm wide; panicle to 2 dm long G. striata

132

Plants not strongly rhizomatous tufted,
with culms to 1.5 m high; blades 5-10
mm wide; panicle 2-3 dm long G. elata

Glyceria borealis (Nash) Batch. northern manna grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms to 100 cm high, solitary or in tufts.
Sheaths compressed, keeled; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat or folded. Panicle 20-40
cm long, with branches to 10 cm long, mostly drooping; spikelets 10-15 mm
long, 6- to 12-flowered, often appressed, linear; glumes about 1.5 and 3 mm
long; lemmas 3-4 mm long, thin, strongly 7-nerved. Wet areas, slough mar-
gins, lakeshores; common in Boreal forest; rare in Parkland and Prairie.

Glyceria elata (Nash) Hitchc. tall manna grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 100-150 cm high, often in large
tufts or tussocks, dark green. Sheaths compressed, keeled; blades 6-12 mm
wide, flat, lax. Panicle 15-30 cm long, oblong, with branches spreading, droop-
ing, the lower ones often reflexed; spikelets 4-6 mm long, ovate, 6- to 8-
flowered; glumes about 0.6 and 1.3 mm long; lemmas 3 mm long, strongly 7-
nerved. Moist woods, riverbanks, wet meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Glyceria fluitans (L.) R. Br. MANNA GRASS

Plants with creeping rhizomes, loosely sod-forming; culms to 100 cm
high, lax, ascending. Sheaths compressed, keeled; blades 4-7 mm wide, dull
green, flat, with margins and midrib scabrous. Panicle 10-50 cm long, narrow;
spikelets 20-25 mm long, loosely 5- to 12-flowered; first glume about 3 mm
long; second glume 4 mm long; lemmas 6-7 mm long, strongly 7-nerved, the 5
middle ones almost parallel. Probably found in Manitoba.

Glyceria grandis S. Wats. (Fig. 47) tall manna grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes, loosely sod-forming; culms to 200 cm
high, solitary or in small tufts. Sheaths to 1 cm thick, round or compressed
above, somewhat scabrous; blades 10-15 mm wide, flat, scabrous on the mar-
gins. Panicle 20-40 cm long, usually nodding, rather dense; spikelets 6-8 mm
long, 4- to 7-flowered; first glume 1.5-2 mm long; second glume 2-2.5 mm
long; lemmas about 2.5 mm long, mostly purplish, strongly 7-nerved. Slough
margins, lakeshores, riverbanks; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Often con-
sidered a variety or subspecies of G. maxima (Hartm.) Holmb., namely var.
americana (Torr.) Boiv., or ssp. grandis (Wats.) Hult.

Glyceria pauciflora Presl small-flowered manna grass

Plants with long creeping rhizomes; culms 50-100 cm high, in small tufts
or solitary. Sheaths compressed, keeled, smooth; blades 5-15 mm wide, thin,
flat, lax. Panicle 10-20 cm long, open to somewhat dense, flexuous; spikelets
4-5 mm long, 5- or 6-flowered, mostly purplish; glumes 1 and 1.5 mm long;
lemmas 2-2.5 mm long, prominently 5-nerved. Wet areas; Rocky Mountains.

Glyceria pulchella (Nash) K. Schum. graceful manna grass

Plants with rhizomes; culms 40-60 cm high, loosely tufted. Sheaths com-
pressed, keeled; blades 2-6 mm wide, flat, yellow green. Panicle 10-15 cm

133

Fig. 47. Tall manna grass, Glyceria grandis S. Wats.

134

long, with branches spreading to drooping; spikelets 5-6 mm long, mostly pur-
plish; glumes 1 and 1.5 mm long; lemmas 2-2.5 mm long, purplish with a
broad scarious margin. Uncommon; wet areas, meadows; Boreal forest, Peace
River district.

Glyceria striata (Lam.) Hitchc. FOWL manna GRASS

Plants with long creeping rhizomes; culms 30-80 cm high, often in large
clumps. Sheaths compressed, keeled; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat or folded, light
green. Panicle 10-20 cm long, erect or nodding at the tip; spikelets 3^4 mm
long; first glume 0.5-0.8 mm long; second glume 1-1.5 mm long; lemmas
1.5-2.2 mm long, strongly 7-nerved, somewhat scarious at the apex. Common
in shallow water; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Helictotrichon oat grass

Helictotrichon hookeri (Scribn.) Henr. HOOKER'S OAT grass

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 20^0 cm high. Sheaths com-
pressed, keeled; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat or folded, blue green, glaucous.
Panicle 5-10 cm long, narrow, with branches erect or ascending, mostly bear-
ing a single spikelet; spikelets 12-18 mm long, 3- to 6-flowered; glumes 12-15
mm long; lemmas 10-12 mm long, firm, brown; rachilla white villous; awn
10-15 mm long, twisted and geniculate. Fairly common; in moist to moder-
ately dry prairie; in Prairies and Parklands, Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills,
Riding Mountain, Duck Mountain.

Hierochloe sweet grass

Staminate lemmas bearing awns 5-8 mm long H. alpina

Staminate lemmas, awnless H. odorata

Hierochloe alpina (Swartz) R. & S. HOLY GRASS

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, erect, tufted, leafy
shoots at base. Sheath glabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, with the basal ones
elongate; culm leaves short. Panicle 3-4 cm long, narrow, with branches short,
ascending; spikelets 6-8 mm long, broad; glumes 4-5 mm long, ovate; stami-
nate lemmas about 5 mm long, ciliate on the margins, with awns 5-8 mm long,
inserted below the tip; fertile lemma 5 mm long, appressed pubescent. Alpine
and Arctic meadows, Boreal forest, Hudson Bay, possibly Rocky Mountains.

Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv. (Fig. 48) sweet grass

Plants with long rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, erect, often solitary or
with a few leafy shoots. Sheaths smooth; blades 2-6 mm wide, those of the
shoots elongate; culm leaves seldom more than 5 cm long. Panicle 10-15 cm
long, pyramidal, to 7 cm wide at the base; branches spreading, somewhat
flexuous; spikelets about 6 mm long, lustrous golden yellow; glumes 5-6 mm
long, ovate; staminate lemmas about 4 mm long, awnless; fertile lemma 4 mm
long, brown, appressed pubescent. Wet areas; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces.

135

Fig. 48. Sweet grass, Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv.

136

Hordeum barley

1. Plants perennial; awns slender; auricles

missing H.jubatum

Plants annual; awns stout; auricles pres-
ent or missing 3

2. Blades with prominent auricles H. vulgare

Blades without auricles H. pusillum

Hordeum jubatum L. (Fig. 49) wild barley

Plants densely tufted; culms 30-60 cm high, erect or decumbent at the
base. Sheaths pubescent, glaucous, often purplish; blades 2-6 mm wide, flat,
often twisted, usually villose above, densely puberulent below, bluish green.
Spike 5-10 cm long, often nodding; lateral spikelets reduced to 1-3 spreading
awns; glumes of perfect floret awn-like, spreading; lemma 6-8 mm long, with
the awn as long as the glumes. Several varieties are distinguishable by the
length of the awns. In var. jubatum the awns 2.5-6 cm long, the spike about as
wide as long; var. caespitosum (Scribn.) Hitchc. having awns 1.5-3 cm long,
spikes about twice as long as wide; var. boreale (Hitchc.) Boiv. (= H.
brachyantherum Nevski) having awns less than 1.5 cm long, and the spike sev-
eral times longer than wide. Varieties jubatum and caespitosum very common
in wetlands, brackish marshes, roadsides; throughout the Prairie Provinces.
Variety boreale not common; occurring occasionally in saline areas; in Prai-
ries.

Hordeum pusillum Nutt. little barley

Plants annual, with tufted culms 10-30 cm high. Sheaths soft pubescent;
blades 1-3 mm wide, flat, gray green, pubescent. Spike 2-7 cm long, erect;
spikelets 8-15 mm long without the awns; glumes of fertile spikelets 8-10 mm
i :g, much widened above the base, narrowing into an awn 8-15 mm long;
lemmas 6-8 mm long, that of the central spikelet awned, those of the later
spikelets awn-tipped. Open ground, alkali flats; southern Rocky Mountains.

Hordeum vulgare L. BARLEY

Plants annual, with erect tufted culms 30-100 cm high. Sheaths somewhat
pubescent; blades 5-15 mm wide, strongly auricled, flat, usually pubescent.
Spike 2-10 cm long without the awns; spikelets 8-15 mm long, sessile; glumes
narrow, divergent at base, with a stout awn; lemmas with an awn 10-15 cm
long. Cultivated in two main forms: 2-rowed barley (H. distichon L.), having
sterile lateral spikelets; and 6- or 4-rowed barleys (H. hexastichon L.), having
all fertile florets. In 4-rowed barley the lateral spikelets overlapping. Both
types consisting of several cultivated varieties (cultivars) occurring along road-
sides and railways, and in waste areas, but lacking persistence.

Koeleria June grass

Koeleria gracilis Pers. (Fig. 50) JUNE grass

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 10-50 cm high. Sheaths glabrous
to more or less densely pubescent; blades 1-4 mm wide, flat or involute, bluish

137

Fig. 49. Wild barley, Hordeum jubatum L.

138

Fig. 50. June grass, Koeleria gracilis Pers.

139

green, more or less pubescent on one or both sides or glabrous. Panicle 3-10
cm long, spike-like, often interrupted below, contracted at maturity; spikelets
4^.5 mm long, 2- or 3-flowered; glumes 3-4 mm long; lemmas 3-4 mm long,
lustrous. Occurring in four forms: ssp. nitida (Nutt.) Domin is glabrous
throughout, or has at most the lower sheaths somewhat pubescent; in ssp.
eugracilis Domin at least the sheaths are pubescent; in var. typica Domin the
blades are pubescent with long spreading hairs; in var. glabra Domin the
blades are short pubescent or glabrate. Very common throughout grasslands
and occasionally found in forest openings or open forest, especially on light
calcareous soils throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Leersia cut grass

Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw. rice cut grass

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 70-100 cm high, erect or decumbent
at the base. Sheaths retrorse scabrous; blades 6-12 mm wide, with the margins
very rough, spinulose. Panicle 10-20 cm long, with branches slender, spreading
or ascending, bearing spikelets along the upper half or two-thirds, the lower
branches often included in the sheath; spikelets 4-6 mm long, 3-8 forming a
spike-like raceme; lemmas about 4 mm long, stiffly ciliate on the keel and
nerves; glumes absent. Wet meadows, riverbanks, and lakeshores; southeast-
ern Parklands, Boreal forest.

Lolium rye grass

1. Glumes as long as, or longer than, the

spikelets 2

Glumes shorter than the spikelets 3

2. Florets compressed, 9-10 mm long L. persicum

Florets rounded, 6-8 mm long L. temulentum

3. Lemmas awnless or nearly so L. perenne

Lemmas, at least the upper ones, awned;

awns 3-5 mm long L. multiflorum

Lolium multiflorum Lam. Italian rye grass

Plants annual or short-lived perennial, with culms to 100 cm high, erect or
ascending. Sheaths glabrous, or somewhat scabrous; blades 3-5 mm wide,
prominently nerved, scabrous above, with auricles usually well-developed.
Spike 10-30 cm long; spikelets 1-4 cm long, numerous, mostly 10- to 15-
flowered; glumes 8-10 mm long, mostly 7-nerved; lemmas 7-8 mm long, usu-
ally awned. Introduced; often in mixtures for lawn grass and occasionally per-
sisting.

Lolium perenne L. perennial rye grass

Plants sod-forming; culms 30-60 cm high, erect or geniculate ascending.
Sheaths smooth and glabrous, usually compressed, not keeled; blades to 6 mm
wide, keeled, prominently veined above, glossy bright green below, with small
auricles. Spike to 25 cm long, often somewhat nodding; spikelets 15-20 mm
long, acute, awnless. Introduced; seeded in short-term pasture and hayland,
and in mixtures for lawn grass.

140

Lolium persicum Boiss. & Hohen. (Fig. 51) Persian darnel

Plants annual, tufted; culms 30-60 cm high, branching at the lower nodes.
Sheaths glabrous, round or slightly compressed; blades 2-6 mm wide, flat to
convolute, twisted. Spike 8-12 cm long; spikelets 15-20 mm long, distant to
somewhat overlapping; glumes 10-15 mm long; lemmas about 10 mm long,
with the awn 5-12 mm long. Introduced; a troublesome weed in grainfields,
gardens, and waste areas; has become widespread throughout the Prairies and
Parklands.

Lolium temulentum L. darnel

Plants annual, loosely tufted; culms 30-80 cm high, mostly unbranched or
with little branching. Sheaths somewhat scabrous; blades 4-8 mm wide, flat,
scabrous above. Spike to 25 cm; spikelets 10-25 mm long, numerous, barely
imbricate; 6- to 15-flowered; glumes 12-20 mm long; lemmas 6-8 mm long,
with the awn 3-5 mm long, or rarely awnless. Introduced; weedy in fields and
gardens; Prairies and Parklands. The seed of this species contains a poisonous
narcotic.

Melica melic grass

1. Lemmas awned; plants not bulbous at

base M. smithii

Lemmas awnless; plants mostly bulbous

at base 2

2. Glumes narrow; lemmas narrow, long

acuminate, pubescent M. subulata

Glumes broad; lemmas broad, acute or

obtuse, glabrous 3

3. Spikelets ascending on stout pedicels; first

glume more than half as long as the

spikelet M. bulbosa

Spikelets spreading on slender flexuous
pedicels; first glume less than half as
long as the spikelet M. spectabilis

Melica bulbosa Geyer onion grass

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, bulbous at base.
Sheaths flat; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous to somewhat
pubescent. Panicle 10-15 cm long, narrow, with the short branches appressed;
spikelets 7-15 mm long, papery; glumes 6-8 mm long; lemmas 5-8 mm long.
Open woods and meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Melica smithii (Porter) Vasey melic grass

Plants with elongated rhizomes; culms 50-100 cm high, not bulbous at the
base. Sheaths retrorsely scabrous; blades 6-12 mm wide, flat, lax. Panicle
10-25 cm long, erect to nodding at the tip; branches solitary, distant, spread-
ing to reflexed; spikelets 15-20 mm long, 3- to 6-flowered, often purplish; first
glume 3-6 mm long; second glume 4-8 mm long; lemmas 8-10 mm long, with
the awn 3-5 mm long, inserted at the bifid apex. Moist woods, meadows;
southern Rocky Mountains.

141

Fig. 51. Persian darnel, Lolium persicum Boiss. & Hohen.

142

Melica spectabilis Scribn. purple onion grass

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, bulbous at base.
Sheaths pubescent; blades 2-A mm wide, flat to involute; panicle 10-15 cm
long, with the flexuous branches spreading-ascending; spikelets 10-15 mm
long, purplish; first glume 4-6 mm long; second glume 5-7 mm long; lemmas
6-10 mm long, strongly 7-nerved. Open woods and meadows; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Melica subulata (Griseb.) Scribn. Alaska onion grass

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 60-100 cm high, mostly bulbous at
base. Sheaths retrorsely scabrous to long pubescent; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat,
thin, scabrous above. Panicle 10-20 cm long, narrow, with the branches
appressed-ascending; spikelets 15-20 mm long, narrow; first glume 5-7 mm
long; second glume 6-10 mm long; lemmas about 12 mm long, 7-nerved,
pubescent. Moist woods; Rocky Mountains.

Milium millet grass

Milium effusum L. millet grass

Plants with short, rather stout rhizomes; culms 30-70 cm high, erect from
a bent base. Sheaths smooth; blades 7-12 mm wide, flat, lax. Panicles 10-20
cm long, open, pyramidal, with the slender branches spreading, and the lower
ones often reflexed; spikelets 3-3.5 mm long; glumes 3-3.5 mm long, rounded,
scaberulous; lemmas 2.5-3 mm long. Very rare; moist woods and clearings;
Boreal forest.

Muhlenbergia muhly

A very variable genus with panicles usually narrow.

1. Panicle open with divergent capillary

branches; spikelets long pedicellate M. aspehfolia

Panicle contracted, with the branches
appressed or ascending; spikelets short
pedicellate or sessile 2

2. Panicle very narrowly linear, usually not

more than 2 mm wide; blades 1-2 mm

wide 3

Panicle not narrowly linear, usually about

5 mm wide; blades 2-8 mm wide 4

3. Plant with rhizomes; glumes ovate, 1-1.5

mm long, less than half as long as the

spikelet M. richardsonis

Plant with fibrous roots and hard, scaly,
bulb-like base; glumes acuminate-cus-
pidate, 2-2.5 mm long, more than half
as long as the spikelet M. cuspidata

143

4. Lemmas awned, the awn to 10 mm long;

hairs at base of lemma copious, as long
as the lemma; glumes awnless or
awn-tipped M. andina

Lemmas not awned; hairs at base of
lemma not conspicuous, usually less
than half as long as lemma; glumes
awnless, awn-tipped, or awned 5

5. Glumes awnless or awn-tipped, about as

long as the lemma M. mexicana

Glumes awned, much longer than the

lemmas 6

6. Sheath keeled; ligule 1-1.5 mm long;

culms usually branching from the mid-
dle nodes; internodes smooth M. racemosa

Sheath not keeled; ligule minute; culms
simple or branching from the base;
internodes puberulent M. glomerata

Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) Hitchc. (Fig. 52) foxtail muhly

Plants with elongated, wiry, and scaly rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high,
erect, puberulent below the nodes. Sheaths somewhat scabrous; blades 2-6
mm wide, scabrous. Panicles 7-15 cm long, spike-like; spikelets 3-4 mm long;
glumes 3^ mm long, scabrous on the keel; lemmas 2.5-3.5 mm long, tapering
into an awn 4-8 mm long, with copious hairs at base. Very rare; wet mud
soils; Duck Mountain, Boreal forest.

Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Nees & Mey.) Parodi scratch grass

Plants with thin, scaly rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, compressed,
branching at the base. Sheaths flattened, keeled; blades to 2 mm wide, flat,
very scabrous above, smooth below. Panicles 5-15 cm long, diffuse, with
branches very slender, at first erect or ascending, later spreading; spikelets
1.5-2 mm long; glumes 1-2 mm long; lemmas 2 mm long. Not common;
damp or marshy calcareous or moderately alkaline soils; Prairies.

Muhlenbergia cuspidata (Torr.) Rydb. prairie muhly

Plants with hard, bulb-like scaly bases; culms 10-30 cm high, slender,
wiry, densely tufted. Sheaths somewhat flattened, glabrous; blades 3 mm wide,
flat to folded, prominently veined, hard. Panicles 5-10 cm long, very narrow,
with branches short, appressed; spikelets 2-3 mm long; glumes 1-1.5 mm
long; lemmas about 2.5-3 mm long. Slopes and crests of moderately to
strongly eroded calcareous slopes; Prairies.

Muhlenbergia glomerata (Willd.) Trin. BOG MUHLY

Plants with long, branching scaly rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, occa-
sionally branching at the base. Sheaths scabrous; blades 2-5 mm wide, ascend-
ing, flat. Panicles 3-7 cm long, usually interrupted, narrow; spikelets 5-6 mm
long; glumes about 2 mm long, with a stiff awn 3-5 mm long; lemmas about 3
mm long, awnless, long pilose at the base. Bogs and swamps; Boreal forest,
where var. cinnoides (Link) Hermann is found.

144

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Fig. 52. Foxtail muhly, Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) Hitchc.

145

Muhlenbergia mexicana (L.) Trin. wood muhly

Plants with creeping scaly rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, erect or
ascending, somewhat branching below. Sheaths scabrous; blades 2-4 mm
wide, flat, lax. Panicles 10-15 cm long, with short densely flowered ascending
branches; spikelets 2-3 mm long; glumes 1.5-2 mm long, awn-tipped; lemmas
about 2 mm long, awn-tipped, long pilose at the base. Not common; margins
of woods, moist grassland; eastern Parklands.

Muhlenbergia racemosa (Michx.) BSP. MARSH MUHLY

Plants with creeping scaly rhizomes; stout culms 20-50 cm high. Sheaths
flattened, keeled, scabrous; blades 3-6 mm wide, flat to folded, scabrous on
both sides. Panicles 5-15 cm long, narrow, often interrupted; spikelets 5-7 mm
long; glumes 4-4.5 mm long, awn-tipped; lemmas 2.5-3.5 mm long, occasion-
ally awn-tipped, long pilose at base. Not common; meadows, margins of
woods, coulees and ravines; Prairies and Parklands.

Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb. (Fig. 53) mat muhly

Perennial with numerous thin, hard, scaly rhizomes; culms 5-40 cm high,
densely tufted, wiry, erect or decumbent. Sheaths round, smooth; blades 1-2
mm wide, flat or involute, scabrous above, smooth below. Panicles 3-10 cm
long, very narrow; spikelets 2-3 mm long; first glume 1 mm long; second
glume 1.5 mm long; lemmas 2.5-3 mm long. Common; in moist, often alka-
line, grasslands; Prairies, Parklands, parts of Boreal forest, Peace River dis-
trict.

Munroa false buffalo grass

Munroa squarrosa (Nutt.) Torr. false buffalo grass

Plants annual, forming mats to 50 cm across; culms prostrate, with inter-
nodes to 10 cm long. Sheaths round, pilose or ciliate at the throat, inflated;
blades to 3 mm wide, stiff, in bundles at nodes and tips of branches. Spikelets
8-12 mm long, 2- to 4-flowered, in groups of two or three at the tips of culms;
first glume 4-6 mm long; second glume 6-8 mm long; both glumes 1 -nerved;
lemmas 3-5 mm long, 3-nerved, with a conspicuous tuft of hairs halfway along
the margin. Very rare; in dry grassland; Prairies.

Oryzopsis rice grass

Long-leaved, tufted grasses of medium height with rather large, rice-like
seeds, found in various locations.

1. Panicles diffuse, with regularly dichoto-
mous branches; glumes with a long
firm tip, much exceeding the long silky
lemma O. hymenoides

Panicles not diffuse, with branches erect
or somewhat spreading; glumes not
sharp-pointed; lemmas short pubescent
or glabrous 2

146

Fig. 53. Mat muhly, Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb.

147

2. Lemmas glabrous, with awns 5-10 mm

long; blades flat or involute, 0.5-2 mm

wide O. micrantha

Lemmas pubescent 3

3. Blades flat, evergreen, 4-10 mm wide; spi-

kelets 6-8 mm long not including the

awns; awns 5-10 mm long O. asperifolia

Blades mostly involute or filiform; spike-
lets 3-5 mm long 4

4. Blades flat to involute; panicle open, lax,

with flexuous, ascending or spreading

branches O. canadensis

Blades filiform; panicle narrow, with

ascending or appressed branches 5

5. Panicle branches erect or appressed; awns

4-6 mm long, geniculate; glumes

acute O. exigua

Panicle branches loosely ascending; awns
0.5-2 mm long, straight; glumes
obtuse O. pungens

Oryzopsis asperifolia Michx. white-grain ed mountain rice grass

Plants tufted, with culms 20-70 cm high, at first erect, later spreading to
prostrate. Sheaths smooth or somewhat scabrous, dark purple at base; blades
of two types: some 1-5 cm long, others 20-40 cm long, all 3—10 mm wide, flat
to convolute, dark green. Panicles 5-10 cm long, few-flowered, narrow, with
branches ascending-appressed; spikelets 6-9 mm long; glumes 6-8 mm long,
mostly 5- to 7-nerved; lemmas 7-9 mm long, sparsely pubescent on the back,
densely so at the base, with the awn 5-10 mm long. Rather common in woods,
Boreal forest; less common in Parklands.

Oryzopsis canadensis (Poir.) Torr. Canadian rice grass

Plants tufted, with erect culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths scabrous; blades
2-4 mm wide, flat to involute, scabrous. Panicles 5-10 cm long, open, with
branches flexuous, ascending to spreading; spikelets about 5 mm long, on long
slender pedicels; glumes 4-5 mm long; lemmas about 3 mm long, appressed-
pubescent, with the awn 1-2 cm long, weakly twice geniculate. Not common;
in woods; Boreal forest, Parklands.

Oryzopsis exigua Thurb. LITTLE RICE GRASS

Plants densely tufted, with culms 15-30 cm high, stiffly erect. Sheaths
smooth or somewhat scabrous; blades 2-4 mm wide, filiform to involute, stiffly
erect. Panicles 3-6 cm long, narrow, with branches ascending-appressed;
spikelets about 4 mm long, short-pediceled; glumes 3-4 mm long; lemmas 3-4
mm long, appressed pubescent, with the awn 4—8 mm long, geniculate. Not
common; woods and clearings; southern Rocky Mountains.

Oryzopsis hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Ricker (Fig. 54) Indian rice grass

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths smooth or
somewhat scabrous, prominently veined; blades 2-5 mm wide, to 50 cm long,

148

Fig. 54. Indian rice grass, Oryzopsis hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Ricker.

149

mostly involute, coarsely veined. Panicles 10-20 cm long, diffuse, with
branches slender, in pairs, branching forked, and flexuous pedicels; spikelets
6-7 mm long, solitary; glumes 6-7 mm long, papery; lemmas about 3 mm
long, almost black at maturity, densely pilose with white hairs as long as the
lemma; the awn about 4 mm long, straight. On sandy soils and slopes, sand
dunes; Prairies and Parklands. An important grass in the sand hills, very
resistant to wind action, and a good sand-binder. Palatable to livestock, and
fairly resistant to grazing.

Oryzopsis micrantha (Trin. & Rupr.) Thurb. little-SEED rice grass

Plants rather densely tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, erect, slender.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 0.5-2 mm wide, flat or involute, scabrous. Panicles
10-15 cm long, open, with branches spreading to reflexed, single or in pairs;
spikelets about 4 mm long; glumes 3^ mm long, thin; lemmas 2-2.5 mm long,
glabrous or appressed pubescent, with the awn 5-10 mm long, straight. Rare;
in shrubbery on sandy soils; Prairies, eastern Parklands.

Oryzopsis pungens (Torr.) Hitchc. northern rice grass

Plants densely tufted, with culms 20^0 cm high, erect, slender. Sheaths
smooth or somewhat scabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat or involute, strongly
nerved, erect. Panicles 3-6 cm long, narrow, with branches ascending-ap-
pressed or spreading; spikelets 3-4 mm long, few; glumes 3-4 mm long, often
bronze-colored; lemmas 3-4 mm long, densely pubescent, with the awn 1-3
mm long. Rather common; open woods, clearings, mostly on light soils;
Boreal forest.

Panicum millet

Annual or perennial grasses of various habits and habitats, with glumes
unequal, the first often being very minute. Mostly found in the moister, eastern
part of the Prairie Provinces.

1. Plants annual 2

Plants perennial 3

2. Panicles erect, diffuse; spikelets 2-4 mm

long P. capillare

Panicles arching, not diffuse; spikelets

4.5-5.5 mm long P. miliaceum

3. Plants with hard, scaly creeping rhizomes P. virgatum

Plants without rhizomes, often with spe-
cialized form in autumn 4

4. Spikelets less than 2 mm long P. lanuginosum

Spikelets more than 2 mm long 5

5. Spikelets 3.5^4 mm long, soft villous;

sheaths papillose-hispid P. leibergii

Spikelets glabrous or pilose, not long

villous 6

6. Spikelets of autumn plants often hidden

in lower sheaths 7

150

Spikelets of autumn plants on branches of

the culms 9

7. Spikelets 3—4.5 mm long, beaked, exceed-

ing the fruit P. depauperatum

Spikelets 2-3.5 mm long, beakless, as long

as the fruit 8

8. Spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm long, sheaths

densely pilose P. perlongum

Spikelets 2.2-2.7 mm long, sheaths glab-
rous or nearly so P. linearifolium

9. Spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, pilose; culms of

autumn plants branching at base,

forming bushy tufts P. wilcoxianum

Spikelets 3-4 mm long, glabrous or min-
utely pubescent; autumn plants
branching from the nodes, not forming
bushy tufts 10

10. Spikelets 3-3.4 mm long; panicle
branches spreading; culms of autumn
plants branching at upper nodes P. oligosanthes

Spikelets 3.5^4 mm long; panicle
branches stiffly erect; culms of autumn
plants branching at lower nodes P. xanthophysum

Panicum capillar e L. witch grass

Plants annual, tufted, with culms 20-80 cm high, erect or spreading, papil-
lose-hispid. Sheaths dull green, conspicuously papillose-hispid; leaves 5-15
mm wide, hispid on both sides, papillose-ciliate at the base. Panicles to more
than half the height of plants; the plant very diffuse, densely flowered; spike-
lets 2-2.5 mm long; the entire panicle breaking off at maturity. Not common;
waste places, sandy prairie. The var. occidentale Rydb. having the panicle to
two-thirds the height of the plants, long exserted; rare in west; Parklands.

Panicum depauperatum Muhl. panic grass

Plants tufted; the summer plants with several to many erect culms 20-30
cm high. Sheaths glabrous or papillose-pilose; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat to
involute when drying. Panicles 5-10 cm long, exserted; spikelets 3^4 mm long,
pointed, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Autumn plants similar, but with pani-
cles reduced, partly hidden in the basal leaves. Rare; sandy areas, open
woods; southeastern Boreal forest, Parklands.

Panicum lanuginosum Ell. soft millet

Summer plants in large clumps; culms 40-70 cm high, lax, spreading, vil-
lous throughout, except under the nodes. Sheaths densely velvety pubescent;
blades 5-10 mm wide, flat, pubescent on both sides. Panicles 5-15 cm long;
spikelets about 1-2 mm long, pubescent. Autumn plants with culms decum-
bent or spreading, repeatedly branching from the middle nodes, with branches
again repeatedly branching and forming leafy inflorescences. Rare; open pine
woods, sandy areas; southeastern Boreal forests, Parklands.

151

Panicum leibergii (Vasey) Scribn.

Summer plants tufted; culms 30-70 cm high, erect or geniculate at the
base, pilose to scabrous. Sheaths papillose-hispid, with hairs spreading; blades
6-15 mm wide, erect or ascending, thin, papillose-hispid on both sides. Pani-
cles 5-15 cm long; spikelets 3.5-4 mm, strongly papillose-hispid. Autumn
plants spreading, branching from the middle and lower nodes. Rare; dry prai-
rie and clearings; southeastern Boreal forest, Parklands.

Panicum linearifolium Scribn.

Summer plants densely tufted; culms 20^0 cm high, slender, erect.
Sheaths papillose-pilose; blades 2-4 mm wide, erect, usually exceeding the
panicles. Panicles 5-10 cm long, with branches flexuous, ascending; spikelets
2.2-2.7 mm long, sparsely pilose. Autumn plants with reduced panicles hidden
among the basal leaves. Rare; rock outcrops in southeastern Boreal forest.

Panicum miliaceum L. broomcorn millet

Plants annual, tufted; culms 20-80 cm high, stout, erect or decumbent at
the base. Sheaths pilose; blades 10-20 mm wide, to 30 cm long, pilose to glab-
ra te on both sides. Panicles 10-30 cm long, included at the base, nodding,
branches ascending, scabrous; spikelets 4.5-5.5 mm long; fruit 3 mm long,
straw-colored to reddish brown. Introduced; escaped in various places.

Panicum oligosanthes Schult. var. scribnerianum (Nash) Fern.

Summer plants tufted; culms 40-80 cm high, appressed-pubescent.
Sheaths papillose-pubescent; blades 5-8 mm wide, to 15 cm long, glabrous or
nearly so above, coarsely puberulent below. Panicles 5-15 cm long; spikelets
3-3.5 mm long, sparsely pubescent. Autumn plants freely branching from the
upper nodes, erect to spreading. Rare; sandy prairie, southeastern Parklands.

Panicum perlongum Nash long-stalked panic grass

Summer plants in small tufts, with the whole plant pilose; culms 20-40 cm
high. Sheaths pilose; blades 2-A mm wide, pubescent on both sides. Panicles
5-10 cm long, with branches appressed-ascending; spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm long,
sparingly pubescent. Autumn plants with numerous reduced panicles. Rare;
open woods on sandy soil; southeastern Parklands.

Panicum virgatum L. (Fig. 55) switch grass

Plants with long, scaly rhizomes; culms 80-150 cm high, tufted, erect,
tough. Sheaths round, glabrous, white to purplish-tinged below; blades 6-12
mm wide, distinctly veined, long pubescent above at base, otherwise glabrous.
Panicles 15-50 cm long, open to diffuse; spikelets 3.5-5 mm long; fruit nar-
rowly ovate. Very rare; prairies, open woods; southeastern Parklands.

Panicum wilcoxianum Vasey sand millet

Summer plants tufted, papillose-hirsute throughout; culms 10-25 cm
high; blades 3-6 mm wide, to 10 cm long, involute-acuminate. Panicles 2-5 cm
long; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, papillose-pubescent. Autumn plants branching
from the nodes, forming bushy tufts with rigid, erect blades. Rare; sand hill
prairie, clearings; Parklands.

152

Fig. 55. Switch grass, Panicum virgatum L.

153

Panicum xanthophysum A. Gray

Summer plants tufted, yellowish green; culms 20-60 cm high, scabrous.
Sheaths somewhat papillose-pilose; blades 10-20 mm wide, to 15 cm long,
erect, with base ciliate, otherwise glabrous. Panicles 5-10 cm long, very nar-
row, with branches stiffly erect, few-flowered; spikelets 3.5^ mm long, pubes-
cent. Autumn plants branching from the lower nodes, erect or ascending.
Open pine woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Phalaris canary grass

Perennial with rhizomes; panicles narrow;
outer glumes not winged P. arundinacea

Annual; panicles spike-like, ovate; outer
glumes winged P. canariensis

Phalaris arundinacea L. (Fig. 56) REED canary grass

Plants with thick rhizomes, to 4 mm in diam, scaly, dark brown; culms to
2 m high, stiffly erect, smooth, with up to 10 leaves. Sheaths glabrous, dis-
tinctly veined; blades to 20 mm wide, to 20 cm long, flat, somewhat scabrous.
Panicles 10-20 cm long, with the lower branches 3-5 cm long, spreading dur-
ing flowering, later appressed; glumes 3-5 mm long, narrowly winged; lemmas
3-4 mm long, appressed-pubescent; sterile lemmas 1 mm long, villous. Native;
in wet areas, marshes, riverbanks, and lakeshores; Boreal forest. Introduced
for forage in irrigated haylands.

Phalaris canariensis L. canary grass

A medium-growing annual with rather pretty ovoid head, 20-35 mm long,
pale with green stripe on glumes. Found where seed for a caged bird has been
scattered.

Phleum timothy

Panicles elongate-cylindric; awns less than

half the length of empty glumes P. pratense

Panicles short, ovoid or oblong; awns about

half the length of empty glumes P. alpinum

Phleum alpinum L. (Fig. 57) alpine timothy

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, densely tufted, decum-
bent at the base. Sheath round, glabrous, inflated near the middle; blades 4-8
mm wide, 2-15 cm long, scabrous above and on the margins. Panicles 1^ cm
long, to 1 cm wide, bristly; glumes about 5 mm long, ciliate on the keel, with
the awn 2-3 mm long. Mountain meadows, bogs, and wet areas; Rocky
Mountains, Cypress Hills; occasionally in Boreal forest.

Phleum pratense L. (Fig. 58) timothy

Plants with a swollen, bulb-like base; culms 50-80 cm high, often forming
large clumps. Sheaths glabrous, green, often purplish at base; blades 6-12 mm
wide, to 30 cm long, flat, often twisted, light green or grayish green. Panicles,
usually 5-10, occasionally to 20 cm long, to 1 cm thick; glumes 3-5 mm long,

154

Fig. 56. Reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea L.

155

Fig. 57. Alpine timothy, Phleum alpinum L.

156

Fig. 58. Timothy, Phleum pratense L.

157

with a green midrib, ciliate on the keel, with the awn 1-2 mm long, stout.
Introduced forage grass; escaped and established in many parts of Parklands,
Boreal forest, and in moist areas in Rocky Mountains.

Phragmites giant reed grass

Phragmites communis Trin. COMMON reed grass

Plants with long, extensively creeping rhizomes, to 3 cm thick; culms \~4
m high, erect, occasionally decumbent and stoloniferous. Sheaths glabrous,
purplish at the base; blades 20-40 mm wide, to 40 cm long, acuminate, glab-
rous. Panicles 15-40 cm long, with branches spreading in flower, often droop-
ing, densely flowered; spikelets 6-15 mm long; first glume 5-7 mm long; sec-
ond glume 10-12 mm long; lemmas about 12 mm long; hairs of the rachilla
exceeding the spikelets. Wet places in Parklands, Boreal forest; rarely in
springy places in the Prairies.

Poa blue grass

A very large and difficult genus, mainly of low- to medium-growing spe-
cies and found in all types of habitat. The leaves have boat-shaped tips and
usually have a double line down the midrib.

Valuable forage grasses. Many species grow very early in the season.

1. Plants with rhizomes 2

Plants with fibrous roots 10

2. Culms strongly compressed, flat; panicle

narrow, with the branchlets bearing

spikelets to near the base P. compressa

Culms terete or somewhat flattened 3

3. Lemmas pubescent, at least on the nerves 5

Lemmas not pubescent 4

4. Panicle open, with branches spreading;

lemmas keeled; rhizomes long P. nervosa

Panicle narrow, dense; lemmas rounded

on the back; rhizomes short P. ampla

5. Lemmas less than 4 mm long 6

Lemmas more than 4 mm long 7

6. Lemmas cobwebby at base; keel and

marginal nerves sparsely pubescent

toward the base P. pratensis

Lemmas not cobwebby at base; densely
pubescent on lower keel and marginal
nerves P. arida

1 . Lemmas cobwebby at base P. arctica

Lemmas not cobwebby at base 8

8. Panicle narrow, with branches ascending;
spikelets 7-10 mm long; leaves folded
or involute, stiff. P. fendleriana

158

Panicle open, with branches spreading;

leaves flat or folded, not stiff. 9

9. Panicle usually small, less than 10 cm
long; lemmas purplish, suffused with
orange at the tip P. arctica

Panicle usually large, 15-20 cm long; lem-
mas not purplish; foliage blue green P. glaucifolia

10. Plants annual; blades soft and flat, often

rugose; ligule white P. annua

Plants perennial 1 1

11. Plants densely tufted; blades narrow 12

Plants not densely tufted; blades flat 20

12. Lemmas cobwebby at base 13

Lemmas not cobwebby at base 14

13. Spikelets less than 4.5 mm long; lemmas

less than 3 mm long; blades 2-3 mm

wide, flat P. nemoralis

Spikelets 5-6 mm long; lemmas about 4
mm long; blades 1 mm wide, folded,
lax P. pattersonii

14. Lemmas not pubescent 15

Lemmas crisp pubescent, silky or villose,

at least at base 16

15. Blades of culm leaves filiform; spikelets

7-9 mm long P. cusickii

Blades of culm leaves flat; spikelets 5-6

mm long P. epilis

16. Lemmas rounded on the back; spikelets

not flattened 17

Lemmas keeled; spikelets flattened 18

17. Blades short, often curled; culms usually

less than 30 cm high; panicles less than

10 cm long P. secunda

Blades 10 cm or longer, not curled; culms

30-60 cm high; panicles to 15 cm long P. canbyi

18. Plants usually blue green; spikelets 2- and

3-flowered; panicle rather lax P. glauca

Plants not blue green; spikelets 4- and 5-

flowered; panicle stiff, erect 19

19. Blades 5-10 cm long; culms 5-20 cm

high; blades about 1 mm wide, lax P. pattersonii

Blades 1-5 cm long; culms 10-20 cm

high; blades 1-1.5 mm wide, stiff. P. rupicola

20. Lemmas cobwebby at base 21

Lemmas not cobwebby at base 23

21. Spikelets 5-6 mm long; panicle usually

5-10 cm long; culms solitary or few

together P. leptocoma

159

Spikelets 3-4 mm long; panicle usually

10-30 cm long; culms loosely tufted 22

22. Culms erect from a decumbent base; lig-

ule to 3 mm long; blades long, grayish

green beneath P. palustris

Culms decumbent to spreading, often
rooting at nodes; ligule to 7 mm long;
blades glossy green below P. trivialis

23. Panicle narrow, with branches ascending 24

Panicle with spreading or drooping

branches 25

24. Blades involute, rather stiff; lemmas 3.5-4

mm long P. juncifolia

Blades flat or folded, 1-3 mm wide; lem-
mas 4-6 mm long P. ampla

25. Blades flat and short, 3-6 cm long, 2-4

mm wide; spikelets purplish or bronze P. alpina

Blades folded or involute; spikelets

greenish 26

26. Basal leaves filiform; panicles with lower

branches spreading or reflexed; spike-
lets rounded P. gracillima

Basal leaves flat; panicles with drooping

branches; spikelets flattened P. stenantha

Poa alpina L. alpine blue grass

Plants tufted, sod-forming, with erect culms 10-30 cm high. Sheaths glab-
rous, keeled; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat, short. Panicles 1-8 cm long, compact
short pyramidal or ovoid, with branches spreading, or the lower ones reflexed;
spikelets 4-6 mm long, purplish; glumes 1.5-2 mm long; lemmas 3^t mm long,
pubescent to villous on keel and marginal nerves. Rocky Mountains, Boreal
forest.

Poa ampla Merr. big blue grass

Plants densely tufted, with short rhizomes; erect culms 60-80 cm high.
Sheaths smooth or somewhat scabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, green or glau-
cous. Panicles 10-15 cm long, narrow, mostly dense; spikelets 8-10 mm long,
4- to 7-flowered; glumes 2.5-5 mm long; lemmas 4-6 mm long. Meadows and
slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Poa annua L. annual blue grass

Plants annual or biennial, sod-forming; culms 5-20 cm high, ascending or
spreading, sometimes rooting at the internodes. Sheaths somewhat com-
pressed, glabrous; blades \^\ mm wide, flat or somewhat folded, thin, light
green. Panicles 3-10 cm long, pyramidal, often secund, with branches spread-
ing, the lower ones often reflexed; spikelets about 3 mm long, 4- and 5-
flowered, green- or purple-tinged; first glume 1.5-2 mm long, 1-nerved; second
glume 2-2.5 mm long, 3-nerved; glumes 2.5-3 mm long, 5-nerved, subglabrous

160

to short pubescent. Introduced; weedy in gardens in the Prairies; increasingly
common in Parklands and Boreal forest.

Poa arctica R. Br. arctic blue grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, erect, with the base
decumbent, tufted. Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-3 mm wide, flat to folded. Pani-
cles 5-10 cm long, open, pyramidal, with the lower branches spreading to
reflexed; spikelets 5-8 mm long, 3- and 4-flowered; first glume 1.5-2 mm long;
second glume 2-2.5 mm long; lemmas 3.5^4 mm long, densely villous-pubes-
cent on the keel and marginal nerves. Alpine and high boreal meadows;
Rocky Mountains, Boreal forests.

Poa arida Vasey plains blue grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, erect, solitary or few
together. Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-3 mm wide, folded, stiff. Panicles 2-10
cm long, narrow, with branches appressed-ascending; spikelets 5-7 mm long,
4- to 8-flowered; first glume 2-A mm long; second glume 2.5^4.5 mm long;
lemmas 3-4 mm long, densely pubescent on the back. Dry to moist, often
somewhat alkali prairies; Prairies, Parklands.

Poa canbyi (Scribn.) Piper (Fig. 59) canby blue grass

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 30-80 cm high. Sheaths somewhat
compressed, scabrous; blades to 4 mm wide, flat to folded, green and glau-
cous. Panicles 10-15 cm long, narrow, compact or somewhat loose, with
branches short, appressed or ascending; spikelets 5-6 mm long, 3- to 5-
flowered; first glume 2.5-3.5 mm long; second glume 3-4.5 mm long; lemmas
3^.5 mm long, obscurely 5-nerved, more or less pubescent on the nerves, at
least toward the base. Moist, often alkali meadows; Prairies, Parklands.

Poa compressa L. Canada blue grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 15-50 cm, solitary or few together,
flat, wiry. Sheaths strongly compressed and sharply keeled, glabrous; blades
2-5 mm wide, flat to folded, bluish green. Panicles 3-10 cm long, with
branches usually short, in pairs; spikelets 4—6 mm long, 3- to 6-flowered; first
glume. 1.5-2.5 mm long; second glume 2-3 mm long; lemmas 2-3 mm long,
somewhat pubescent. Introduced; dry, poor, often stony soils; throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

Poa cusickii Vasey early blue grass

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 20-40 cm high. Sheaths com-
pressed, sharply keeled, scabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat to folded and bris-
tle-like, erect. Panicles 3-8 cm long, dense, usually obovoid, pale; spikelets 7-9
mm long; glumes 3-4 mm long; lemmas 4—6 mm long, smooth or somewhat
scabrous. Dry to moist prairie; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Poa epilis Scribn. skyline blue grass

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 20-40 cm high. Sheaths com-
pressed; blades 2-3 mm wide, folded or involute. Panicles 2-6 cm long, dense,
oblong, usually purplish; spikelets about 5 mm long, 3-flowered; glumes about
5 mm long; lemmas 6 mm long, glabrous. Mountain meadows; Rocky Moun-
tains.

161

Fig. 59. Canby blue grass, Poa canbyi (Scribn.) Piper.

162

Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey mutton grass

Plants tufted, with culms 30-50 cm high, erect, scabrous below the pani-
cle. Sheaths scabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, folded or involute, stiff, erect.
Panicles 2-7 cm long, contracted; spikelets 6-8 mm long, 4- to 6-flowered;
glumes about 3 and 4 mm long; lemmas 4-5 mm long, long pilose on lower
keel and marginal nerves. Dry slopes, prairie; Prairies.

Poa glauca Vahl

Plants tufted, sometimes densely so, with erect culms 20-50 cm high.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat, blue green, glaucous. Panicles
3-10 cm long, narrow, often compact, with branches ascending, spreading in
flower; spikelets 5-6 mm long, 2- or 3-flowered; glumes 2.5-4 mm long, sub-
equal; lemmas 2.5-4 mm long, densely pubescent on lower half of keel and
marginal nerves. Stony areas, sandy soils; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Poa glaucifolia Scribn. & Will. glaucous blue grass

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, loosely tufted, erect.
Sheaths somewhat compressed, glabrous; blades 2-A mm wide, flat to folded,
glabrous, glaucous on both sides. Panicles 10-20 cm long, open, with branches
ascending to spreading; spikelets 5-7 mm long, 2- to 4-flowered; glumes about
3.5 and 4.5 mm long; lemmas about 4 mm long, villous on lower half of keel
and marginal nerves. Not common; moist, often somewhat alkali areas and
meadows; Prairies, Parklands.

Poa gracillima Vasey pacific blue grass

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 30-60 cm high, mostly decumbent at the
base. Sheaths somewhat scabrous; blades 0.5-1.5 mm wide, flat or folded, with
the basal ones filiform. Panicles 3-10 cm long, pyramidal, with branches
spreading, the lower ones often reflexed; spikelets 4-6 mm long; first glume
2.5-3 mm long; second glume 3-4 mm long; lemmas about 4 mm long, pubes-
cent on the lower part of back. Slopes, riverbanks, lakeshores; Rocky Moun-
tains.

Poa juncifolia Scribn. alkali blue grass

Plants tufted, with erect culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths somewhat
flattened; blades 1-3 mm wide, involute, rather stiff. Panicles 10-20 cm long,
narrow, with branches appressed; spikelets 7-10 mm long, 3- to 6-flowered;
glumes about 4 mm long; lemmas about 4 mm long, glabrous or nearly so.
Alkaline meadows; Prairies.

Poa leptocoma Trin. bog blue grass

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 20-50 cm high, often decumbent at the
base. Sheaths slightly scabrous; blades 2-A mm wide, short, flat, lax. Panicles
7-15 cm long, open, nodding at the tip, with branches very slender, ascending
or spreading; spikelets 4-6 mm long, 2- to 4-flowered; glumes about 2.5 and 3
mm long; lemmas 3.5-4.5 mm long, pubescent on the back. Not common;
bogs and wet meadows; Rocky Mountains.

163

Poa nemoralis L. wood blue grass

Plants sod-forming, with culms 30-70 cm high, loosely tufted, erect, often
decumbent at the base. Sheaths glabrous, smooth; blades to 2 mm wide, flat,
lax. Panicles 5-10 cm long, loose, often nodding, with branches spreading in
flower, later appressed, scabrous; spikelets 3-5 mm long, 1- to 6-flowered, light
green; glumes about 2.5 and 3.5 mm long; lemmas 3^4 mm long, pubescent on
the lower back. Meadows and open woods; Parklands, Boreal forests. Var.
interior (Rydb.) Abbe & Butters (P. interior Rydb.), more densely tufted,
stiffer, with the branches of the panicles more contracted, is very similar to var.
firmula Gaud, of Europe and may be identical. Plants of this variety with
reduced panicles are forma rariflora (Desf.) A. & G. In dry areas, sandy open
forest, slopes; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Poa nervosa (Hook.) Vasey wheeler's blue grass

Plants with long rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, erect, somewhat tufted.
Sheaths often purplish below, the lower ones retrorsely pubescent; blades 2-4
mm wide, flat or folded. Panicles 5-10 cm long, open, nodding at the tip, with
branches spreading, the lower ones often reflexed; spikelets 4-6 or sometimes
8 mm long; glumes subequal, about 2 mm long; lemmas 3^4 mm long,
strongly nerved, pubescent to glabrous on lower back. Slopes, open woods;
Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Poapalustris L. fowl blue grass

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 30-100 cm high, decumbent, purplish at
base. Sheaths somewhat flattened, keeled, often somewhat scabrous; blades
2-4 mm wide, flat or loosely folded, lax, scabrous on both sides. Panicles
10-30 cm high, pyramidal or oblong, with branches spreading; spikelets 3^4
mm long, 3- or 4-flowered; glumes subequal, 2.5-3 mm long; lemmas 2.5-3
mm long, often bronzed at the tip, pubescent on lower back. Meadows, moist
areas, lakeshores, and riverbanks; throughout Prairie Provinces.

Poa patter sonii Vasey

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 5-20 cm high. Sheaths smooth;
blades about 1 mm wide, folded, lax. Panicles 1-4 cm long, dense, purplish;
spikelets 5-6 mm long, 4- or 5-flowered; glumes about 3 and 3.5 mm long;
lemmas about 4 mm long, strongly pubescent on keel and marginal nerves.
Rare; in alpine meadows and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Poa pratensis L. Kentucky blue grass

Plants with long rhizomes; culms to 100 cm high. Culms compressed and
slightly keeled, glabrous, dark green; blades to 5 mm wide, often to 40 cm
long, linear, dark green, the lower side glossy, soft. Panicles 5-15 cm long, con-
tracted before flowering, with branches spreading during flowering; spikelets
3-6 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered, green- or purplish-tinged; glumes subequal,
3-3.5 mm long, the first 1-nerved, the second 3-nerved; lemmas 2>.5-A mm
long, distinctly 5-nerved, densely short pubescent on the nerves, and strongly
webbed at the base. Common throughout the Prairie Provinces. Sown in lawn
mixtures, pastures; also found in meadows, moist prairies, and forest openings.
Probably native, as well as introduced. Very variable, consisting of many

164

races. Low plants, 15-20 cm high, with small, few-flowered panicles, and often
rather grayish green, are var. humilis (Ehrh.) Griseb.; on dry ground. Plants
15-30 cm high, culms stiff, usually with a single culm leaf, and panicles small,
stiff, with branches single or in pairs, are var. arenaria J. & W.; in dry pastures,
sand dunes. The form described as P. agassizensis Boivin & Love seems to fit
in both these varieties.

Poa rupicola Nash tim Berlin e blue grass

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-20 cm high, erect, stiff. Sheaths
smooth; blades 1-1.5 mm wide, erect. Panicles 2-5 cm long, narrow, with
branches short, ascending to appressed; spikelets 4-5 mm long, mostly 3-
flowered, purple; glumes about 3 mm long; lemmas about 3.5 mm long, villous
on lower keel and marginal nerves. Slopes, openings, and meadows; Rocky
Mountains.

Poa secunda Presl sandbercs blue grass

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 10-30 cm high. Sheaths com-
pressed, often somewhat scabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat or folded, twisted
to erect. Panicles 2-10 cm long, narrow, with branches short ascending to
appressed; spikelets 4-6 mm long, pale green; glumes about 3-3.5 mm long;
lemmas 3.5-4 mm long, pubescent on lower back. Apparently rare or lacking
in Manitoba; dry grasslands; Prairies, Parklands.

Poa stenantha Trin.

Plants tufted, with erect culms 30-50 cm high. Sheaths smooth; blades
1-2 mm wide, flat or somewhat involute, lax. Panicles 5-15 cm long, nodding,
with branches drooping; spikelets 6-8 mm long, 3- to 5-flowered; glumes
about 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm long; lemmas about 5 mm long, pubescent on lower
back. Moist meadows and openings; Rocky Mountains.

Poa trivialis L. ROUGH-STALKED BLUE GRASS

Plants sod-forming, with culms erect or ascending, sometimes stolonifer-
ous below. Sheaths compressed, sharply keeled; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat, lax,
glossy green below. Panicles 10-20 cm long, oblong, often somewhat contract-
ed, with branches scabrous, ascending-spreading; spikelets about 4 mm long,
2- to 5-flowered, usually green, sometimes bronze- or purplish-tinged; glumes
about 2 and 3 mm long; lemmas 2.5-3 mm long, finely but distinctly 5-nerved,
strongly webbed at the base. Introduced; occasionally sown in pastures;
escaped in various locations.

Polypogon beard grass

Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. rabbitfoot GRASS

Plants annual, with culms 15-50 cm high, erect or decumbent. Sheaths
scabrous; blades 4-6 mm wide, scabrous. Panicles 1-15 cm long, spike-like,
dense, silky, yellowish when mature; glumes 2 mm long, with the apex some-
what lobed and the awn 6-8 mm long, pubescent on the back; lemmas about 1
mm long, short-awned. Introduced; established in various locations as a
weedy plant in waste areas, dry banks, coulees, along streams.

165

Puccinellia salt-meadow grass

Low to medium, tufted, feathery panicled grasses of moist alkaline soils.

1. Plants stoloniferous, with the stolons

bearing bulblets; lemmas entire,

3.5—4.5 mm long P. phryganodes

Plants not stoloniferous, with the culms
ascending or decumbent; lemmas 1.5-3
mm long 2

2. Lemmas rounded or truncate at the tip;

lower panicle branches reflexed at

maturity P. distans

Lemmas blunt, narrowed to a triangular

tip; panicle branches not reflexed P. nuttalliana

Puccinellia distans (L.) Pari. slender salt-meadow grass

Plants sod-forming, bluish green, with culms 15-60 cm high, mostly genic-
ulate-ascending. Sheaths broad, smooth; blades 1-2 mm wide, linear, flat.
Panicles 5-15 cm long, pyramidal, with branches scabrous, reflexed at maturi-
ty; spikelets 4-6 mm long, 4- to 7-flowered; glumes 1 and 2 mm long; lemmas
1.5-2 mm long, 5-nerved, often reddish-tinged with a hyaline or yellowish
membranous margin. Introduced from Europe; not common; on alkaline soils
around lakes.

Puccinellia nuttalliana (Schultes) Hitchc. (Fig. 60)

NUTTALL'S SALT-MEADOW GRASS

Plants sod-forming or tufted, with culms 30-60 cm high, usually erect or
ascending, slender. Sheaths smooth; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat or involute,
glaucous. Panicles 10-20 cm long, open, pyramidal, with branches scabrous,
spreading; spikelets 4-7 mm long, 3- to 6-flowered; first glume 1-1.5 mm long;
second glume 1.5-2 mm long; lemmas 2-3 mm long, narrowed to an obtuse
apex. Common; on moist to rather dry alkaline soils; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Puccinellia phryganodes (Trin.) Scribn. & Merr.

Plants sod-forming, with sterile culms stoloniferous, bearing bulblets at
the nodes; fertile culms 20-40 cm high, erect or decumbent. Sheaths smooth;
blades 1-3 mm wide, mostly folded, thick. Panicles 5-15 cm long, open; spike-
lets 8-12 mm long, 4- to 7-flowered; first glume 2-3 mm long; second glume
3-4 mm long; lemmas 3.5-4.5 mm long. Around sloughs and wet calcareous
gravelly soils; Churchill.

Schedonnardus tumble grass

Schedonnardus paniculatus (Nutt.) Trel. TUMBLE GRASS

Plants spreading, tufted, with culms 20-40 cm high, erect or ascending.
Sheaths compressed, sharply keeled; blades 1-2 mm wide, folded, twisted, and
wavy. Spikes 2-5 cm long; spikelets about 4 mm long, narrow, distant.
Inflorescence elongating at maturity into a spiral that breaks off and rolls with
the wind. Dry, sandy, or infertile soils; Prairies.

166

--^fr<=K a)j2<ij

Fig. 60. Nuttall's salt-meadow grass, Puccinellia nuttalliana (Schultes)
Hitchc.

167

Schizachne purple oat grass

Schizachne purpurascens (Torr.) Swallen (Fig. 61) PURPLE OAT grass

Plants with rhizomes; culms 50-100 cm high, loosely tufted, usually
decumbent at the base. Sheaths round or slightly flattened; blades 2-6 mm
wide, flat to loosely folded. Panicles 6-15 cm long, often secund, with branches
more or less drooping, single or in pairs; spikelets 20-25 mm long; first glume
4-5 mm long; second glume 6-8 mm long, purplish; lemmas 8-10 mm long,
with the awn 10-15 mm long. In woods throughout the Prairie Provinces; rare
in Prairies.

Scolochloa spangle top

Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link (Fig. 62) spangletop

Plants with thick, long rhizomes; culms to 150 cm high, stout. Sheaths
glabrous, prominently veined; blades 5-10 mm wide, flat to convolute. Pani-
cles 15-20 cm long, loose, with branches fascicled, ascending; spikelets 6-9
mm long, 4- to 7-flowered; first glume 5-7 mm long; second glume 6-8 mm
long; lemmas 5-7 mm long, villous at the base. Wet areas throughout the Prai-
rie Provinces.

Secale rye

Sec ale cereale L. rye

Annual or winter annual; culms to 2 m high, usually densely pubescent
above. Leaves flat, often glaucous, to 15 mm wide. Spikes to 15 cm long; spike-
lets usually 2-flowered; glumes awl-shaped, to 1 cm long; lemmas 3- to 5-
nerved, to 18 mm long, with the awn 4-8 cm long. A cereal grain grown on
light soils; occasionally established in roadsides and waste areas.

Setaria foxtail

Weedy annuals with cylindric, dense, spike-like, bristly heads, found in
waste places and as a weed in cultivated fields. Introduced from Europe but
rapidly spreading.

Spikelets with more than 5 bristles, these
mostly less than 3 times as long as the
spikelet S. glauca

Spikelets with fewer than 5 bristles, these 3-5
times as long as the spikelet S. viridis

Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. yellow foxtail

Plants annual, tufted, with culms 50 cm or more high, erect, occasionally
branching above. Sheaths compressed, keeled, pale green; blades 5-12 mm
wide, flat or loosely folded, twisted, soft, gray green. Panicles 5-10 cm long,
spike-like, cylindrical; spikelets 3-3.5 mm long; first glume about 1.2 mm long,
3-nerved; second glume about 1.7 mm long, 5-nerved; lemmas about 3 mm
long, rugose; bristles usually 6-8 or up to 20, 6-10 mm long. Not common;
introduced; weedy in gardens and waste places.

168

Fig. 61. Purple oat grass, Schizachne purpurascens (Torr.) Swallen.

169

Fig. 62. Spangletop, Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link.

170

Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. (Fig. 63) green foxtail

Plants annual, tufted, with culms 20-50 cm high, erect or geniculate-as-
cending. Sheaths slightly compressed, glabrous or appressed-pubescent;
blades 5-12 mm wide, flat, light green. Panicles 3-10 cm long; spikelets 2-2.5
mm long; first glume less than 1 mm long, 1 -nerved; second glume about 2
mm long, 5-nerved; lemmas 2-2.5 mm long, smooth; bristles 1-3, below each
spikelet, 8-10 mm long. Introduced; weedy in gardens, cultivated land, road-
sides; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Sitanion squirreltail

Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) J. G. Smith squirreltail

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-50 cm high, erect to spreading, stiff.
Sheaths somewhat keeled above, softly pubescent or glabrous; blades 1-3 mm
wide, flat to involute, finely pubescent on both sides. Spikes 2-7 cm long, the
lower parts often included in the sheaths; spikelets about 15 mm long exclud-
ing the awns; glumes about 6 mm long excluding the awn, very narrow; lem-
mas about 10 mm long excluding the awn; awns of glumes and lemmas 3-10
cm long. Very rare; slopes, dry grassland, open areas; Prairies.

Sorghastrum Indian grass

Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash Indian grass

Plants with long, scaly rhizomes; culms 60-150 cm high, loosely tufted,
somewhat pubescent on the nodes. Sheaths round, distinctly veined; blades
5-10 mm wide, flat, to 50 cm long, dull green to glaucous. Panicles 10-25 cm
long, narrow, yellowish, brownish at maturity; spikelets 6-8 mm long, with the
awn 10-15 mm long; summit of branchlets, rachis joints, pedicels, and spike-
lets long grayish hirsute. Rare; in grassland; southeastern Parklands.

Spartina cord grass

Erect coarse grasses with scaly rhizomes found in moist areas throughout
the Prairie Provinces. Spikelets crowded on one side of panicle branches,
which are borne alternately on the main stem and closely parallel it. Leaves
very coarse.

Lemmas awned, found only in eastern prairies S. pectinata

Lemmas not awned S. gracilis

Spartina gracilis Trin. (Fig. 64) alkali cord grass

Plants with tough rhizomes; culms 60-100 cm high, solitary or in small
tufts. Sheaths glabrous, yellowish green, to 5 mm wide, very scabrous above.
Inflorescence 6-15 cm long, with 4—8 closely appressed spikes 2-A cm long;
spikelets 6-8 mm long; first glume about 5 mm long; second glume about 10
mm long; lemmas about 10 mm long; glumes and lemmas ciliate on the keel.
Common; in dry to wet alkali areas, and sandy soils; Prairies and Parklands.

171

Fig. 63. Green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.

172

Fig. 64. Alkali cord grass, Spartina gracilis Trin.

173

Spartina pectinata Link PRAIRIE CORD GRASS

Plants with long, tough rhizomes; culms to 2 m high, solitary or a few
together. Sheaths glabrous, distinctly veined; blades 5-15 mm wide, to 60 cm
long, flat to involute. Inflorescence 10-30 cm long, with 10-20 spikes 4-8 cm
long, ascending to appressed; first glume 5-6 mm long, short-awned; second
glume 8-12 mm long, with the awn 4-10 mm long; lemmas 7-9 mm long.
Moist prairie, riverbanks, and lakeshores; southeastern Prairies and Park-
lands.

Sphenopholis wedge grass

Tall tufted grasses with narrow panicles and many shining spikelets.

Second glume much wider than lemma,
wedge-shaped; panicle dense, spike-like,
erect S. obtusata

Second glume not much wider than lemma,
obtuse or acute; panicle not dense or spike-
like, drooping S. intermedia

Sphenopholis intermedia Rydb. slender wedge grass

Plants in small tufts, with erect culms 30-60 cm high. Sheaths glabrous or
somewhat pubescent; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat, soft. Panicles 8-15 cm long, to
3 cm in diam, more or less lobed, lustrous; first glume 1.5-2.5 mm long; sec-
ond glume 2-3 mm long; lemmas 2.5-3 mm long. Moist soil, ravines, margins
of woods, and meadows; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Sphenopholis obtusata (Michx.) Scribn. prairie wedge grass

Plants tufted, with erect culms 20-60 cm high. Sheaths glabrous or slightly
scabrous, distinctly veined; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat, scabrous on both sides.
Panicles 5-15 cm long, narrow, dense, mostly spike-like, sometimes lobed
below, lustrous; first glume 1-2 mm long; second glume 1.5-2.5 mm long; lem-
mas 1.5-2.5 mm long. Moist areas, shrubbery, coulee bottoms, creek banks,
and lakeshores; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Sporobolus dropseed

Tufted plants with paniculate inflorescence, the seeds readily falling at
maturity, giving the common name to the genus. Fairly palatable forage
plants.

1. Plants annual; panicle contracted or

spike-like S. neglectus

Plants perennial; panicle open and

branches more or less spreading 2

2. Spikelets less than 3.2 mm long S. cryptandrus

Spikelets more than 3.2 mm long S. heterolepis

174

Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray (Fig. 65) sand dropseed

Plants tufted, with culms 30-100 cm high, solitary or few together, erect
or spreading to prostrate. Sheaths prominently veined, often purplish at the
base, with the margin ciliate; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat to involute, with con-
spicuous tufts of hairs at the base. Panicles 10-25 cm long, the base often
included in the sheath, with branches spreading or reflexed; spikelets 2-2.5
mm long, grayish; first glume about 1 mm long; second glume 2-2.5 mm long;
lemmas about 2.5 mm long. Prairies and open woods on sandy soils; Prairies
and Parklands.

Sporobolus heterolepis A. Gray prairie dropseed

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, erect, slender. Sheaths
somewhat flattened, glabrous or pubescent; blades 1-3 mm wide, to 45 cm
long, flat to involute, erect or slightly drooping. Panicles 5-20 cm long, oblong
to narrowly ovoid, with branches 3-6 cm long, ascending to appressed; spike-
lets 3-6 mm long, grayish; first glume 2-4 mm long; second glume 4-6 mm
long; lemmas 5-5.5 mm long. Moist grasslands; southeastern Prairies and
Parklands.

Sporobolus neglectus Nash annual dropseed

Plants annual, tufted, with culms 20-40 cm high, erect or spreading.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, with the upper culm leaves 1-2 cm
long. Panicles 2-5 cm long, rarely exserted, often exceeded by the uppermost
blade; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long; first glume 1.5-2.5 mm long; second glume
2-3 mm long; lemmas 2-3 mm long. Rare; dry open areas; Prairies.

Stipa needle grass

Medium- to tall-growing tufted grasses with narrow panicles of fairly
large spikelets bearing twisted awns. Spikelets breaking off at maturity above
glumes. Lemmas remaining attached to the seed characterized by a hard,
sharp-pointed, hairy callus, and a long twisted awn. The needle-like lemmas
injurious to the mouthparts and skin of grazing animals, particularly sheep.
Except when the seeds are mature and still attached, the needle grasses are
excellent forage plants, both for hay and pasture, and are one of the most
important groups of forage plants on the western range.

1. Glumes 15-^40 mm long; lemmas 8-20

mm long; awns 10-25 cm long 2

Glumes 8-10 mm long; lemmas 5-7 mm

long; awns 2-3 cm long 4

2. Awns indistinctly geniculate, with the

upper part strongly curled and
flexuous; glumes 15-30 mm long; lem-
mas 8-15 mm long S. comata

Awns distinctly twice geniculate 3

3. Glumes 30-40 mm long; lemmas 15-25

mm long; awns to 25 cm long S. spartea

Glumes 20-30 mm long; lemmas 12-15

mm long; awns to 12 cm long S. spartea var. curtiseta

175

Fig. 65. Sand dropseed, Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray.

176

4. Panicle open, with branches spreading

and drooping; spikelets few at ends of

branches S. richardsonii

Panicle narrow with appressed branches 5

5. Callus blunt; collar and lower nodes of

panicle villose S. viridula

Callus sharp-pointed; collar and lower

nodes of panicle glabrous S. columbiana

Stipa columbiana Macoun Columbia needle grass

Plants tufted, with culms 30-60 cm high, erect or ascending. Sheaths glab-
rous; blades 1-3 mm wide, to 25 cm long, usually involute. Panicles 10-25 cm
long, narrow, with branches appressed-ascending; glumes about 1 cm long;
lemmas 6-7 mm long, pubescent, with the callus sharp-pointed; awns 2-2.5
cm, twisted below, twice geniculate. Prairies and openings; Rocky Mountains,
Peace River, Cypress Hills.

Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr. (Fig. 66) spear grass

Plants in small, dense tufts, with culms 30-60 cm high, erect. Sheaths
round or somewhat compressed; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat to involute, promi-
nently ridged above. Panicles 10-20 cm long, commonly included at the base;
glumes 15-25 mm long; lemmas 8-12 mm long, at first pale, shiny brown at
maturity, sparsely pubescent; awns 10-15 cm long, twisted below, curled
toward the tip, flexuous. Very common; in grasslands of the Prairies and Park-
lands, and in the Peace River region. A very important forage species in the
drier parts of the grasslands.

Stipa richardsonii Link Richardson needle grass

Plants tufted, with culms 50-80 cm high, usually erect. Sheaths slightly
flattened, smooth or scabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, involute, scabrous, indis-
tinctly veined. Panicles 10-20 cm long, open, with branches slender, flexuous,
spreading or drooping, bearing spikelets at the tips; glumes 8-10 mm long;
lemmas about 5 mm long, pubescent, brown when mature; awns 25-35 mm
long, weakly twice geniculate. Moist grasslands; Rocky Mountains, Cypress
Hills, Parklands, Riding Mountain, Duck Mountain.

Stipa spartea Trin. PORCUPINE GRASS

Plants in large tufts or tussocks, with erect culms to 1 m high. Sheaths
round, with the outer margin usually ciliate; blades 3-5 mm wide, flat to con-
volute, ridged above. Panicles 15-20 cm long, narrow, nodding, with branches
slender, each bearing one or two spikelets; glumes 3-4 cm long, tapering to a
slender point; lemmas 15-25 mm long, brown, with the callus 7 mm long, vil-
lous; awns stout, 15-25 cm long, twice geniculate. Becoming rare; grassland
and openings; southeastern Prairies and Parklands.

Stipa spartea Trin. var. curtiseta Hitchc. WESTERN PORCUPINE GRASS

Very similar in stature to spear grass, but with wider, usually flat leaves;
glumes 2-3 cm long; lemmas 12-15 mm long, brown; awns to 10 cm long,
twice geniculate. Common; in moist prairie; throughout Prairies, Parklands,
and Rocky Mountains; replacing spear grass as dominant in the moister sites.

177

Fig. 66. Spear grass, Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr.

178

Stipa vihdula Trin. (Fig. 67) GREEN NEEDLE grass

Plants loosely tufted, with erect culms 50-100 cm high. Sheaths round,
prominently veined, villous at the throat; blades 2-5 mm wide, to 25 cm long,
flat. Panicles 10-20 cm long, narrow, with branches appressed-ascending;
glumes 7-10 mm long; lemmas 5-6 mm long, plump, with the callus blunt,
appressed-pubescent. Moderately dry to moist areas, in shrubbery, forest mar-
gins; throughout Prairies and Parklands. A variety of this species has been
improved, and named green stipa grass, occasionally seeded for forage, mostly
in comparative trials.

Trisetum trisetum

Tufted perennials, with open or contracted panicles; spikelets usually 2-
or 3-flowered, shiny. Not common, of almost no forage value.

1. Lemmas awnless, or the awn less than 2

mm long, hidden by the glumes T. wolfii

Lemmas awned, with the awn bent and

exserted 2

2. Panicle open, nodding, with branches

flexuous T. cernuum

Panicle contracted, with branches short,

ascending 3

3. Plants densely tufted; panicles 5-15 cm

long, spike-like T. spicatum

Plants loosely tufted, with culms often
solitary; panicles 10-25 cm long, nar-
row, loose T. canescens

Trisetum canescens Buckl. tall trisetum

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 60-100 cm high, erect or decumbent at
the base, often solitary. Sheaths, at least the lower one, sparsely to densely re-
trorse pubescent; blades 2-7 mm wide, flat, scabrous to pubescent. Panicles
10-25 cm long, narrow, usually loose, occasionally interrupted and spike-like,
with branches appressed-ascending; spikelets about 8 mm long, 2- or 3-
flowered; glumes 5-7 mm long; lemmas 5-6 mm long; rachilla hairs copious;
awns to 12 mm long, geniculate. Moist meadows, woods, and openings; south-
ern Rocky Mountains.

Trisetum cernuum Trin. nodding trisetum

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 60-100 cm high, rather lax. Sheaths glab-
rous or sparsely pubescent; blades 6-12 mm wide, flat, lax, scabrous. Panicles
15-30 cm long, open, with branches flexuous, spreading or ascending; spike-
lets 6-12 mm long, usually with 3 florets; first glume 0.5-2 mm long, 1 -nerved;
second glume 3^4 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 5-6 mm long; callus hairs to 1
mm long, those of the rachilla to 2 mm long; awns 5-10 mm long, flexuous.
Moist woods and openings; southern Rocky Mountains.

179

Fig. 67. Green needle grass, Stipa vihdula Trin.

180

Trisetum spicatum (L.) Richt. spike trisetum

Plants tufted, with culms 10-50 cm high, erect, pubescent below the pani-
cle. Sheaths retrorse-pubescent; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat or involute, pubes-
cent to subglabrous. Panicles 3-10 cm long, dense; spikelets about 6 mm long,
shiny; first glume 3-5 mm long, 1 -nerved; second glume 3.5-5.5 mm long, 3-
nerved; lemmas 3.5-5 mm long; awns to 6 mm long, inserted below the apex,
flexuous. Not common; grasslands, open woods; Rocky Mountains, Cypress
Hills.

Trisetum wolfii Vasey awnless trisetum

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 50-100 cm high, erect. Sheaths scabrous,
or the lower sparsely pubescent; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat, scabrous or pilose
above. Panicles 8-15 cm long, rather dense, with short branches appressed-as-
cending; spikelets 5-7 mm long, usually 2-flowered; glumes about 5 mm long,
subequal; lemmas 4-5 mm long, awnless or with a short awn below the tip.
Meadows and moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Triticum wheat

Triticum aestivum L. wheat

Annual plants, with stems to 1 m high. Leaves flat, to 2 cm wide. Spike to
12 cm long, dense; spikelets 2- to 5-flowered; glumes ovate, the upper part
keeled, mucronate; lemmas glabrous to pubescent, awnless or awned, depend-
ing on the variety. The most important cereal grain, with many varieties, in the
Prairie Provinces; occasionally established in roadsides and waste areas.

Zizania wild-rice

Zizania aquatica L. ANNUAL WILD-RICE

Plants aquatic, with stout culms 1-2 m high. Sheaths long, with the ligule
10-15 mm long; blades 5-15 mm wide, flat. Panicles 30-50 cm long, with
branches 10-20 cm long; spikelets unisexual; upper half of panicle pistillate,
with branches appressed-ascending; lower half of panicle staminate, with
branches spreading, spikelets pendulous, 6-11 mm long; pistillate spikelets
with awns 1-6 cm long. Borders of streams and lakes; native in southeastern
Boreal forest; introduced and established in several lakes in Boreal forests of
Saskatchewan and Alberta.

CYPERACEAE — sedge family

Grass-like or rush-like annual or perennial plants, usually with solid
stems. Root fibrous or of long running rootstocks. The long, narrow leaves
with closed sheaths on three sides of the stem, or 3-ranked. Flowers either per-
fect or unisexual with no sepals or petals, their places being taken by bristles or
scales (perigynia). Although usually associated with moist or marshy areas,
many species occur in very arid localities.

181

1. Flowers perfect, with spikelets uniform;

achenes not enclosed in a perigynium

or bract 2

Flowers imperfect, with staminate and
pistillate flowers in same or different
spikelets; achenes enclosed in a perigy-
nium or bract 6

2. Scales of the spikelets 2-ranked, keeled;

perianth lacking; spikelets in simple or

compound terminal umbels Cyperus

Scales of the spikelets several-ranked, spi-
rally arranged, not keeled; perianth
present as bristles; spikelets solitary
and terminal or partly lateral 3

3. Base of the style persistent as a tubercle

on top of the achene 4

Base of the style not persistent, the

achene without a tubercle 5

4. Culms leafless, with sheaths usually

bladeless; spikelet solitary, terminal Eleocharis

Culms with bristle-like leaves; spikelets

several Rhynchospora

5. Perianth bristles 1-8, occasionally lack-

ing, usually little longer or shorter than

the achene Scirpus

Perianth bristles numerous, often 2-3 cm

long, silky Eriophorum

6. Achenes partly enclosed by a spathe-like

scale Kobresia

Achenes entirely enclosed by a

perigynium Carex

Carex sedge

The genus Carex is very large, and its taxonomy is difficult. To distinguish
between species, characters of the mature inflorescence are needed. The spe-
cies can be divided into several groups of species that share common charac-
ters. However, determination within groups is often not as easy, because the
characters are variable, hybridization between species is known to occur, and
the opinions of experts differ on the validity of species and varieties.

Sedges are important in the Prairie Provinces. Some species, such as the
awned sedge, beaked sedge, and water sedge, form a large part of the "slough
hay," harvested in many areas. In dry prairie, several species of sedges
increase in abundance as a result of overgrazing, and thereby they help pre-
vent soil erosion. In Boreal forest, sedges are often dominant in swamp vegeta-
tion, and are helpful in building peat soils. Also, in alpine tundra and mead-
ows in the Rocky Mountains, sedges are often the dominant constituents of
the vegetation.

182

Because of their importance, the sedges have been treated in detail in this
publication. A total of 125 species and many varieties are described. The treat-
ment followed is conservative, in that several closely related species are
grouped into one large species. Keys are provided to separate the small species
within these groups.

Well-developed mature fruits (perigynia) and inflorescences are needed
for successful determinations. The various types of perigynia and
inflorescences are shown in Figs. 68 and 69.

male flower

female flowers
two stigmas three stigmas

spike

winged
above

perigynia and scales
winged to base
lanceolate orbicular

beakless
not winged

beaked
not winged

achenes spikes

lenticular three-sided gynaecandrous androgynous

Fig. 68. Flowering and fruiting characters of sedges.

183

I

*r

--.

r

Fig. 69. Inflorescences of sedges: a, single spike; b-k, two or more spikes;
b-f, mostly bisexual spikes; b, c, spikes approximate; d, spikes crowded; e,
compound spikes;/, gynaecandrous spikes; g-k, terminal spikes staminate,
lateral spikes pistillate; g, h, pistillate spikes more or less long-peduncled; k,
pistillate spikes sessile.

184

Key to the Groups of Carex

1. Spike one, usually bractless; leaves usu-

ally all basal. Group 1

Spikes two or more, with bracts often
present; stem leaves often present.

2. Spikes mostly bisexual, sessile; achenes

lenticular; stigmas 2. Group 2

Spikes of two kinds, the terminal spikes
staminate, the lower spikes pistillate.

3. Achenes lenticular; stigmas 2. Group 3
Achenes triangular; stigmas 3.

4. Perigynia with a conspicuously bidentate

beak. Group 4

Perigynia beakless, or the beak not con-
spicuously bidentate. Group 5

Key to Sections and Species in Group 1

1. Achenes lenticular; stigmas 2.
Achenes triangular; stigmas 3.

2. Spikes usually completely staminate or

completely pistillate; perigynia dark,
lustrous, spreading to reflexed.

Spikes androgynous; perigynia ascending
to spreading.

3. Perigynia stipitate, striate.
Perigynia sessile, not striate.

4. Pistillate scales deciduous; at least the

lower perigynia reflexed at maturity.

Pistillate scales not deciduous; perigynia
spreading to ascending at maturity.

5. Perigynia dark brown; style jointed to the

achene.

Perigynia yellowish to light brown; style
continuous with the achene.

6. Plants dioecious, rhizomatous; perigynia

pubescent.

Plants monoecious; spikes androgynous.

7. Margins of the staminate scales united in

the lower part.

Margins of the staminate scales free to the
base.

Section 3. Dioicae
(C. gynocrates)

Section 1. Nardinae
(C. nardina)
Section 2. Capitatae
(C. capitata)

Section 4. Callistachys
Section 44. Orthocerates

Section 23. Scirpinae
(C. scirpoidea)

185

8. Pistillate scales leaf-like; perigynia clearly

beaked.

Pistillate scales not leaf-like; perigynia
rounded at the tip, beakless.

9. Perigynia pubescent or puberulent; plants

densely cespitose; leaves stiffly filiform.

Perigynia not pubescent.

10. Perigynia stipitate, striate.

Perigynia sessile, not striate.

11. Pistillate scales without hyaline margins,

shorter than the perigynia; prairie
species.

Pistillate scales with hyaline margins, con-
cealing the perigynia; mountain species.

12. Perigynia ?>-4 mm long.
Perigynia 5-7 mm long.

Section 19. Phyllostachyae
(C. backii)

Section 18. Politrichoideae
(C. leptalea)

Section 20. Filifoliae
(C.filifolia)

Section 1. Nardinae
(C. nardina)

Section 21. Obtusatae
(C. obtusata)

Section 25. Rupestres
Section 26. Firmiculmes
(C. geyeri)

10

11

12

Key to Sections and Species in Group 2

1. Culms single or few together from long

creeping rhizomes or stolons.

Culms more or less densely tufted; rhi-
zomes, if any, short.

2. Culms stoloniferous, producing shoots

from the nodes of old decumbent
stems.

Culms not stoloniferous; new shoots
arising from rhizomes.

3. Spikes closely aggregated into a globose

or ovoid head; bracts scarious; spikes
androgynous.

Spikes not closely aggregated; bracts not
scarious.

4. Perigynia 4-6 mm long, wing-margined at

the tip, with bidentate beak.

Perigynia to 4 mm long, not wing-mar-
gined, not conspicuously bidentate
beaked.

Section 9 Chordorrhizae
(C. chordorrhiza)

Section 5. Foetidae
(C. maritima)

Section 8. Arenariae
(C. siccata)

186

5. Ventral strip of sheath green, nerved to

the top; collar with two dark warts;
spikes 10-20 or more in a head.

Ventral strip of sheath hyaline or brown,
unveined; collar without warts; spikes
usually less than 10 in a head.

6. Spikes androgynous.
Spikes gynaecandrous.

7. Spikes with only 2 or 3 perigynia; perigy-

nia beakless, not flattened on the
inside.

Spikes with more than 3 perigynia; peri-
gynia beaked, flattened on the inside.

8. Spikes 4-10 in the inflorescence; all rachis

nodes bearing a single spike.

Spikes usually more than 10 in the
inflorescence; at least the lowest rachis
node bearing 2 or more spikes.

9. Culms soft and weak, the angles sharply

winged; perigynia widest at base, the
beak about as long as the body;
sheaths loose.

Culms stiff, not winged; perigynia widest
above the middle, the beak about half
as long as the body; sheaths tight.

10. Perigynia straw-colored; pistillate scales

awned; ventral strip of sheaths
cross-wrinkled.

Perigynia brown to black; pistillate scales
not awned; ventral strip of sheaths
smooth, with reddish spots.

1 1 . Perigynia winged along part or all of the

margin; always with a more or less dis-
tinctly bidentate beak.

Perigynia not winged along the margin;
the beak, if present, not distinctly bi-
dentate.

12. Achenes filling the perigynia almost fully;

perigynia white puncticulate under
magnification.

Achenes filling only the upper half or
two-thirds of the perigynia; perigynia
not puncticulate.

13. Achene visible through the wall of the

perigynium; perigynia more than 4 mm
long; awn-like bracts present.

Section 7. Intermediae
(C. sartwellii)

Section 6. Divisae

7
11

Section 14. Heleonastes
(C. disperma)

Section 10. Bracteosa

Section 13. Vulpinae

10

Section 1 1. Multiflorae
(C. vulpinoidea)

Section 12. Paniculatae
Section 17. Ovales

12

Section 14. Heleonastes

13

Section 16. Deweyanae
(C. deweyana)

187

Achene not visible through the wall of the
perigynium; perigynia less than 4 mm
long; bracts only slightly developed.

Section 15. Stellulatae
(C. muricata)

Perigynia not shiny or inflated, the ribs
obscure or absent, the beak not pro-
nounced; style jointed to the achene.

3. Perigynia rounded, not beaked; bracts

with a sheath.
Perigynia flattened, with a short beak;
bracts sheathless.

4. Sheaths of bracts long; perigynia serrulate

toward the tip.

Sheaths of bracts
serrulate.

short; perigynia not

Section 43. Cryptocarpae

Key to Sections and Species in Group 3

Lower pistillate spikes long-peduncled,
pendulous.

Lower pistillate spikes sessile or short-pe-
duncled, erect or ascending.

Perigynia shiny, inflated, clearly ribbed,
the beak pronounced; style continuous
with the achene.

Section 48. Vesicariae
(C. saxatilis)

Section 42. Acutae

Section 27. Albae
(C. rufina)

Section 28. Bicolores

Key to Sections and Species in Group 4

Perigynia pubescent or puberulent.
Perigynia glabrous.

Perigynia rounded in cross section, not
ribbed; lower bracts shorter than or
equaling the inflorescence.

Perigynia triangular in cross section,
ribbed; lower bracts longer than the
inflorescence.

Style continuous with and usually
strongly curved above the achene, per-
sistent; leaves often strongly and
clearly cross-veined.

Style jointed to the achene, straight, with-
ering; leaves slightly or not cross-veined.

Perigynia about 6 times as long as wide;
lower bracts sheathing.

Perigynia about 3-4 times as long as
wide; lower bracts sheathless.

Section 22. Montanae

Section 39. Hirtae

Section 45. Folliculatae
(C. michauxiana)

188

5. Perigynia shiny, conspicuously 7- to 9-

ribbed, usually contracted at base of
beak.
Perigynia not shiny, 12- to 25-ribbed,
though often obscurely, tapering to the
beak.

6. Perigynia 9-18 mm long; pistillate spikes

globose.

Perigynia to 10 mm long; pistillate spikes
cylindric.

7. Lower pistillate spikes long-peduncled,

pendulous.

Lower pistillate spikes short-peduncled,
ascending or erect.

8. Pistillate spikes long-peduncled, loosely

flowered.

Pistillate spikes sessile or short-pedun-
cled, densely and closely flowered.

Section 48. Vesicariae

Section 49. Lupulinae
(C. intumescens)

Section 46. Pseudo-Cyperae
Section 47. Paludosae

Section 35. Longirostres
( C. sprengelii)

Section 36. Extensae

Key to Sections and Species in Group 5

1. Margins of staminate scales united
toward the base; pistillate scales
leaf-like.

Margins of staminate scales free to the
base; pistillate scales not leaf-like.

2. Perigynia pubescent or puberulent.
Perigynia glabrous.

3. Pistillate bracts developed, sheathed;

perigynia 5-6 mm long, lanceolate.

Pistillate bracts lacking either sheath or
blade; perigynia less than 5 mm long,
ovoid.

4. Spikes 3-8, the upper 3 or 4 closely aggre-

gated; perigynia with a minute beak.
Spikes about 3, widely separated; perigy-
nia with a beak about as long as the
body.

5. Pistillate bracts sheathless, blades more or

less well developed; perigynia rounded
in cross section.

Pistillate bracts long-sheathing, bladeless;
perigynia triangular in cross section.

6. Leaves and sheaths pubescent or

puberulent.

Section 19. Phyllostachyae
(C. backii)

Section 37. Ferrugineae

Section 33. Sylvaticae
(C. assiniboinensis)

Section 22. Montanae
Section 24. Digitatae

Section 38. Virescentes
(C. torreyi)

189

Leaves and sheaths glabrous.

7. Lower pistillate bracts long-sheathing.

Lower pistillate bracts sheathless or
almost sheathless.

8. Bracts bladeless; perigynia less than 2

mm long; leaves involute, to 0.5 mm
wide.

Bracts with blades; perigynia longer than
2 mm; leaves wider than 0.5 mm.

9. Pistillate spikes long-peduncled, pendulous.

Pistillate spikes short-peduncled, erect to
ascending.

10. Pistillate spikes 1-6 cm long; culms to 60

cm high; leaves 3-9 mm wide, deep
green.

Pistillate spikes usually less than 1 cm
long; culms 10-20 cm high; leaves less
than 2 mm wide, yellowish brown.

11. Culms soft, somewhat winged; sheaths

loose, dilated at summit; perigynia
abruptly constricted and bent into a
beak.

Culms firm, not winged; sheaths tight;
perigynia not contracted and bent into
the beak.

12. Perigynia obscurely veined; veins less

than 10; perigynia tapered at base,
somewhat triangular in cross section.

Perigynia clearly veined; veins more than
10; perigynia rounded at base, rounded
in cross section.

13. Pistillate spikes long-peduncled, spread-

ing or pendulous.

Pistillate spike short-peduncled or sessile,
ascending or erect.

14. Bracts of the pistillate spikes small or

absent; pistillate spikes close together,
about 15 mm long.

Bracts of the pistillate spikes well-devel-
oped; pistillate spikes not close togeth-
er, longer than 15 mm.

15. Pistillate spikes oblong; culms longer

than the leaves; plants cespitose.

7
8

13

Section 27. Albae
(C. eburnea)

9
10

11

Section 32. Gracillimae
( C. gracillima)

Section 34. Capillares
(C. capillaris)

Section 30. Laxiflorae
(C. laxiflora)

12

Section 29. Paniceae

Section 31. Granulares

Section 33. Sylvaticae
(C. castanea)

14

15

16

Section 25. Rupestres
(C. glacialis)

190

Pistillate spikes spherical; culms about as

long as the leaves; plants rhizomatous. Section 21. Obtusatae

(C. supina)

16. Perigynia 7-9 mm long, shiny, inflated,

strongly 7- to 9-veined; style continu-
ous with the achene. Section 48. Vesicariae

(C. oligosperma)

Perigynia less than 7 mm long, not shiny
or inflated, obscurely veined; style
jointed to the achene. 17

17. Perigynia with a beak about one-quarter

as long as the body, not flattened,

spreading at maturity. Section 36. Extensae

Perigynia beakless or almost beakless,

clearly flattened, ascending to erect. 18

18. Root system covered with a yellowish

felt; terminal spike staminate; perigyn-
ia yellowish to greenish. Section 40. Limosae

Root system without felt cover; terminal
spike gynaecandrous or staminate;
perigynia greenish to brown. Section 41. Atratae

Section 4. Callistachys

Perigynia erect or spreading at maturity;
leaves involute, 1 mm wide; staminate
flowers few; plants cespitose C. pyrenaica

Perigynia deflexed at maturity; leaves flat,
1.5-2.5 mm wide; staminate flowers numer-
ous; plants rhizomatous C. nigricans

Section 6. Divisae

1. Inflorescence 1-2 times as long as broad;

culms about 20 cm high; rhizomes

brownish, 1-2 mm in diam 2

Inflorescence 2-5 times as long as broad;
culms usually more than 20 cm high;
rhizomes brown or black, 2-3 mm
thick C. praegracilis

2. Plants monoecious; perigynia 2.5-3 mm

long, not concealed by the scales; the

beak about 0.5 mm long C. stenophylla

Plants dioecious; perigynia 3.5-4 mm
long, fully concealed by the scales; the
beak about 1.5 mm long C. douglasii

Section 10. Bracteosae

1. Spikes barely overlapping in the head,
erect with a bract; beak of the perigyn-
ium about as long as the body C. hookerana

191

Spikes densely crowded in the head, only
the lowest spike with a bract; beak of
the perigynium shorter than the body 2

2. Heads ovoid, about as long as broad;

perigynia and scales brown C. hoodii

Heads elongate, more than twice as long
as broad; perigynia and scales
yellowish 3

3. Culms firm, sharply triangular, not

winged; perigynia about 4 mm long,

the beak about 1 mm long C. gravida

Culms soft, the angles winged; perigynia
about 3 mm long, the beak about 1.5

mm long Section 13. Vulpinae

(C. alopecoidea)

Section 12. Paniculatae

Perigynia dark brown, not concealed by the
scales; sheaths with red spots C. diandra

Perigynia light brown to brown, concealed by
the scales; sheaths without red spots C. prairea

Section 13. Vulpinae

Perigynia lanceolate, the beak about as long as
the body, the base spongy C. stipata

Perigynia ovoid, the beak about half as long as
the body, the base not spongy C. alopecoidea

Section 14. Heleonastes

1. Spikes few, widely spaced in the

inflorescence; perigynia 1-5 in a spike 2

Spikes usually several, at least the upper
ones close together; perigynia usually
more than 5 in a spike 3

2. Spikes androgynous; bracts obsolete or

that of the lowest spike about 1 cm

long C. disperma

Spikes gynaecandrous; bract of the lowest
spike as long as or longer than the
inflorescence C. trisperma

3. Beak of the perigynia merely indicated;

scales silvery, more or less transparent 4

Beak of the perigynia at least 0.5 mm
long; scales whitish to brown, not
transparent 5

4. Spikes closely crowded into a head at the

summit of the stem; scales about as

long as the perigynia C. tenuiflora

192

Spikes not crowded into a head, spaced
along the stem; scales about half as
long as the perigynia C. loliacea

5. Spikes more or less crowded into a head

at the summit of the stems 6

Spikes spaced in an elongated

inflorescence 7

6. Perigynia broadest at the base; dorsal

veins pronounced and raised G arcta

Perigynia broadest at the middle, tapering
to the base; dorsal veins not pro-
nounced and raised G heleonastes

7. Perigynia stipitate; the terminal spike

with a long staminate base; scales red-
dish orange brown, as long as the
perigynia C mackenziei

Perigynia not stipitate; the terminal spike
with few staminate flowers; scales whit-
ish to brown, shorter than the
perigynia. 8

8. Perigynia 5-10 in a spike; the beak about

1.5 mm long C. brunnescens

Perigynia 10-30 in a spike; the beak

about 0.25 mm long C curta

Section 1 7. Ovales

1. Bracts leaf-like or considerably longer

than the inflorescence or both 2

Bracts not leaf-like or longer than the

inflorescence 3

2. Bracts leaf-like and much longer than the

inflorescence; perigynia about 5 times

as long as broad G sychnocephala

Bracts not leaf-like but much longer than
the inflorescence; perigynia about 2-3
times as long as broad G athrostachya

3. Perigynia subulate, about 4-5 times as

long as broad; spikes closely crowded

into a head G crawfordii

Perigynia lanceolate to ovate, 2-3 times as
long as broad; spikes crowded to dis-
tant in the head 4

4. The pistillate scales about as long as the

perigynia, completely or almost com-
pletely concealing the perigynia 5

The pistillate scales shorter and narrower
than the perigynia, exposing the beak
and margins of the perigynia 9

193

5. Beak of the perigynium flat, the teeth

spreading, usually serrulate to the tip 6

Beak of the perigynium terete, the teeth, if
developed, parallel, not serrulate to the
tip 8

6. Inflorescence flexuous, the spikes hardly

or not at all overlapping C. argyrantha

Inflorescence stiffly erect, the spikes

crowded or at least well overlapping 7

7. Pistillate scales and perigynia closely

appressed; bracts poorly developed C. xerantica

Pistillate scales and perigynia ascending,

not appressed; lower bracts prominent C. adusta

8. Perigynia 6-8 mm long, prominently

veined on both sides C. petasata

Perigynia 4.5-6 mm long, obscurely

veined or veinless C. phaeocephala

9. Perigynia narrowly lanceolate, about 3

times as long as wide 10

Perigynia lanceolate to ovoid, 2-2.5 times

as long as wide 1 1

10. Spikes crowded into a head at the tip of

the culm; perigynia 4-7 mm long,
veined on both sides; leaves 1-3 mm
wide C. scopaha

Spikes not crowded into a head, at least
the lower spikes separated; perigynia
3-5 mm long, prominently veined ven-
trally, veinless or obscurely veined dor-
sally; leaves 3-7 mm wide C. tribuloides

1 1 . Perigynia broadly ovate, the body almost

orbicular, rather abruptly beaked C. straminea

Perigynia elliptic to ovoid, not almost

orbicular, tapering to the beak 12

12. Beak of the perigynia terete, the teeth, if

developed, parallel 13

Beak of the perigynia flattened, the teeth

usually well-developed, spreading 14

13. Spikes, at least the lower ones, well-sepa-

rated in the head C. preslii

Spikes crowded in the head, hardly sepa-
rated from each other C. macloviana

14. Perigynia prominently 3- to 5-veined dor-

sally; pistillate scales pale green to light
brown; inflorescence elongate,
flexuous C. festucacea

Perigynia not prominently veined dorsal-
ly; pistillate scales reddish to deep
brown; inflorescence dense, stiff. C. tincta

194

Section 21 . Obtusatae

Head a solitary spike, staminate at the tip C. obtusata

Head with 2 or more spikes, the upper one
entirely staminate or with a few pistillate
flowers at the base C. supina

Section 22. Montanae

1. Pistillate spikes all on well-developed

culms, 1-4 dm high 2

Pistillate spikes in part on very short
culms, more or less hidden among the
leaf bases 4

2. Staminate spike to 20 mm long; pistillate

scales about as long as the perigynia;

perigynia subglobose C. pensylvanica

Staminate spike to 10 mm long; pistillate
scales much shorter than the perigynia;
perigynia ellipsoid 3

3. Staminate spikes 5-10 mm long; pistillate

spikes 3 or 4, the lower ones pedun-
cled; perigynia 3-4 mm long; culms
1.5-3 dm high C. nigromarginata

Staminate spikes 2-5 mm long; pistillate
spikes usually 2 or 3, sessile; perigynia
2.5-3 mm long; culms 0.5-1.5 dm high C. deflexa

4. Culms bearing a staminate spike, occa-

sionally with one pistillate spike; bracts
poorly developed, shorter than the
inflorescence 5

Culms bearing a staminate spike, usually
with 2 or 3 staminate spikes; bracts
well-developed, surpassing the
inflorescence 6

5. Perigynia pubescent; blades 1-3 mm

wide C. umbellata

Perigynia glabrous; blades 2-5 mm wide C. tonsa

6. Staminate spike 2-5 mm long; perigynia

2.5-3 mm long, with a beak about 0.5

mm long C deflexa

Staminate spike 3-15 mm long; perigynia
3-3.5 mm long, with a beak about 1
mm long C. rossii

Section 24. Digitatae

1. Lower pistillate spikes long-peduncled;
bracts usually with a short blade; pistil-
late scales short-awned C. pedunculata

195

Lower pistillate spikes short-peduncled or
sessile; bracts bladeless or almost so;
pistillate scales not awned 2

2. Staminate spike 3-6 mm long, crowded

by the pistillate spikes; pistillate scales

light brownish C. concinna

Staminate spike 8-25 mm long, well over-
topping the pistillate spikes; pistillate
scales reddish or dark brown 3

3. Lower pistillate spikes short-peduncled,

often somewhat remote C. richardsonii

Lower pistillate spikes almost sessile,

approximate and usually overlapping C. concinnoides

Section 25. Rupestres

Inflorescence a solitary androgynous spike C. rupestris

Inflorescence consisting of a sessile staminate
spike, and one or more pistillate spikes, the
lower ones peduncled C. glacialis

Section 27. Albae

Stigmas 3; achenes triangular in cross section C. eburnea

Stigmas 2; achenes lenticular in cross section C. rufina

Section 28. Bicolores

Terminal spike staminate; pistillate scales pale
brown to whitish C. aurea

Terminal spike gynaecandrous; pistillate
scales purplish brown to black C. bicolor

Section 29. Paniceae

1. Perigynia beaked, with the beak biden-

tate, about one-quarter the length of
the body; pistillate spikes loosely
flowered C. vaginata

Perigynia beakless, or the beak very short,
not bidentate; pistillate spikes rather
closely flowered 2

2. Pistillate spikes sessile or short-pedun-

cled, ascending to erect; leaves whitish

glaucous, usually folded or involute C. livida

Pistillate spikes, at least the lower ones,
long-peduncled, ascending to spread-
ing; leaves not very glaucous, flat C. tetanica

196

Section 31 . Granulares

Staminate spike sessile or short-peduncled, not
overtopping the pistillate spikes C. granulans

Staminate spike long-peduncled, overtopping
the pistillate spikes C. crawei

Section 33. Sylvaticae

Perigynia pubescent; pistillate spikes very
loosely flowered C. assiniboinensis

Perigynia glabrous; pistillate spikes rather
closely flowered C. castanea

Section 36. Extensae

Perigynia 3.5-6 mm long, spreading to reflexed
in the spike, with the beak about half to
three-quarters the length of the body C.flava

Perigynia 2-3.5 mm long, spreading to ascend-
ing in the spike, with the beak about one-
quarter to half the length of the body C. viridula

Section 33. Ferrugineae

1. Perigynia beakless or almost beakless;

terminal spike entirely staminate C. atrofusca

Perigynia tapering into a beak; terminal

spike pistillate above 2

2. Perigynia 3.5-5 mm long, 1 mm wide;

blackish above, greenish or yellowish

below C. misandra

Perigynia 4.5-6 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide;

yellowish brown C. petricosa

Section 39. Hirtae

1. Perigynia 4-7 mm long, prominently

veined; beak half as long as the body,

its teeth spreading; rhizomes long C. houghtonii

Perigynia 2.5^ mm long, the veins not
prominent, hidden under the pubes-
cence; beak less than half as long as the
body, its teeth slightly spreading; rhi-
zomes short 2

2. Leaves to 2 mm wide, involute; perigynia

4-5 mm long; the body oval, somewhat

flattened C. lasiocarpa

Leaves to 4 mm wide, flat; perigynia
2.5-3.5 mm long; the body almost orbi-
cular, terete C. lanuginosa

197

Section 40. Limosae

1. Pistillate scales long acuminate, to twice

as long as but much narrower than the

perigynia C. magellanica

Pistillate scales ovate, about as long and

wide as the perigynia 2

2. Staminate spike short-peduncled; pistil-

late scales partly clasping and enclos-
ing the perigynia C. rariflora

Staminate spike long-peduncled; pistillate
scales not clasping or enclosing the
perigynia C. limosa

Section 41. Atratae

1. Culms arising from long rhizomes, the

base without the previous year's dry

leaves C. buxbaumii

Culms arising from a tuft of the previous
year's dry leaves, or the lower sheaths
not filamentose 2

2. Lower pistillate spikes long-peduncled,

the peduncles as long as or longer than

the spikes 3

Lower pistillate spikes sessile or short-pe-
duncled, the peduncles shorter than the
spikes 5

3. The terminal spike gynaecandrous C. mertensii

The terminal spike entirely staminate 4

4. Perigynia round in cross section, not

flattened; achenes not stipitate C. raynoldsii

Perigynia strongly flattened; achenes sti-
pitate C. podocarpa

5. Perigynia 2-3.5 mm long; pistillate scales

1.5-2.5 mm long 6

Perigynia 3.5^4 mm long; pistillate scales

about 2.5 mm long C. atrata

6. The terminal spike usually completely pis-

tillate; scales much shorter than the

perigynia; rhizomes short C. norwegica

The terminal spike staminate or gynae-
candrous; scales about equaling the
perigynia; rhizomes long C. parry ana

Section 42. Acutae

1. The terminal spike gynaecandrous; leaf
blades 0.5-1.5 mm wide; pistillate
scales shorter and narrower than the
perigynia C. eleusinoides

198

The terminal spikes staminate; leaf blades
2-8 mm wide; pistillate scales about as
long and as wide as the perigynia 2

2. Perigynia unveined or the veins obscure 3

Perigynia clearly veined 6

3. Culms in large, dense clumps; lowest new

leaf sheaths bladeless C. stricta

Culms singly or in small tufts; lowest new

leaf sheaths with blades 4

4. Staminate spikes usually several; culms in

tufts, together with sterile shoots C. aquatilis

Staminate spike solitary; culms arising

singly or a few together from rhizomes 5

5. Plants low, 1^4 dm high; pistillate scales

as wide as the perigynia C. bigelowii

Plants taller, 3-10 dm high; pistillate
scales about half as wide as the
perigynia C. aperta

6. Perigynia thick, leathery; beak 0.5-1 mm

long, bidentate C. nebraskensis

Perigynia not thick and leathery; beak 0.1

mm long or less, blunt 7

7. Perigynia prominently veined, stipitate;

pistillate scales with a green center

about one-fifth the width of the scale C. kelloggii

Perigynia finely veined, hardly stipitate;
pistillate scales with a green center one-
third the width of the scale C. lenticularis

Section 43. Cryptocarpae

1. Pistillate spikes short-peduncled, ascend-

ing to erect C. salina

Pistillate spikes long-peduncled, spread-
ing to pendulous 2

2. Staminate spikes spreading to pendulous;

pistillate scales tapering to a long awn C. paleacea

Staminate spikes erect; pistillate scales

abruptly contracted to a long awn C. erinita

Section 44. Orthocerates

Perigynia 6-8 mm long; rachilla rudimentary;
culms with 2 or 3 leaves C. pauciflora

Perigynia 4-5 mm long; rachilla well-devel-
oped; culms with 4-8 leaves C. microglochin

199

Section 46. Pseudo-Cyperae

Perigynia spreading or ascending at maturity,

thin-walled, scarcely stipitate C. hystricina

Perigynia spreading to reflexed at maturity,

thick-walled, clearly stipitate C. pseudo-cyperus

Section 47. Paludosae

1. Sheaths and base of leaf blades

pubescent C. atherodes

Sheaths and blades glabrous 2

2. Teeth of the perigynium 0.5 mm long C. lacustris

Teeth of the perigynium 1-2 mm long C. laeviconica

Section 48. Vesicariae

1. Stigmas 2; achenes lenticular C. saxatilis

Stigmas 3; achenes triangular 2

2. Pistillate spikes globose to very short

oblong with 3-15 perigynia; beak of
the perigynium short-bidentate or
edentate C. oligosperma

Pistillate spikes oblong to cylindric with
15 to many perigynia; beak of the peri-
gynium usually prominently bidentate 3

3. The lower perigynia reflexed at maturity;

lower bracts two or more times as long

as the inflorescence C. retrorsa

The lower perigynia not reflexed at matu-
rity, ascending to spreading; lower
bracts slightly exceeding the
inflorescence 4

4. Culms thick, spongy at base, and bluntly

angled; leaves and sheaths conspicu-
ously cross-veined C. rostrata

Culms slender, not spongy at base, and
sharply angled; leaves and sheaths
cross-veined but not conspicuously so 5

5. Perigynia 3-3.5 mm long, obscurely

veined; pistillate scales purplish black;

leaves 1-3 mm wide, involute C. rotundata

Perigynia 4-10 mm long, clearly veined;
pistillate scales yellowish to purplish
brown; leaves 3-7 mm wide, flat C. vesicaria

200

Carex adusta Boott browned sedge

Plants tufted, with culms 20-60 cm high, erect, much taller than the
leaves; blades 3-4 mm wide. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long; spikes crowded, sub-
globose, 8-12 mm long; pistillate scales ovate, hiding the perigynia, brown,
with the margin hyaline; perigynia 4-5 mm long, brown, ovate, sharp-edged
below the middle. Not common; dry, usually sandy, soil; Prairies and Park-
lands.

Carex alopecoidea Tuck. foxtail sedge

Plants tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, erect, soft, mostly as long as or
shorter than the leaves; blades 3^ mm wide. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long, sim-
ple or compound, with the upper spikes crowded, the lower ones distant;
scales shorter than the perigynia, brown; perigynia 3^ mm long, tapering into
a beak nearly as long as the body, brown. Wet meadows, slough margins,
banks of creeks and rivers; Prairies, Parklands, Boreal forest.

Carex aperta Boott open sedge

Plants with stout, woody rhizomes; culms 30-70 cm high, tufted, stiff, and
sharply 3-sided; leaves 2-5 mm wide, flat to channeled. Inflorescence 15-20
cm long; terminal spike staminate, 2-3.5 cm long; pistillate spikes 1-5 cm
long, usually 2 or 3, erect, sessile or on short peduncles, distant to approxi-
mate; scales mostly longer but narrower than the perigynia, reddish black with
light midrib; perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, greenish to straw-colored. Moist are-
as; southern Rocky Mountains.

Carex aquatilis Wahl. water sedge

Plants with long, scaly rhizomes; culms 10-80 cm high, densely tufted,
often in large clumps; blades 3-8 mm wide, flat to channeled, light green or
bluish green. Inflorescence 10-20 cm long; terminal spikes staminate, 1.5-3 cm
long, usually 1-3; pistillate spikes 2-4 cm long, usually 2-6; scales usually nar-
rower than the perigynia, brown with light green center; perigynia 2-4 mm
long, purplish green or green, minutely beaked. Slough margins, marshes, wet
meadows; throughout the Prairie Provinces. A rather variable species var.
altior (Rydb.) Fern, is a larger and coarser plant; var. starts (Drej.) Boott, a
smaller form. Both grade into the typical form. Water sedge is eaten by cattle,
and forms part of slough hay.

Carex arcta Boott narrow sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-40 cm high, densely tufted; blades
2-4 cm wide. Inflorescence 2-4 cm long, with spikes crowded, 5-7 or more;
scales somewhat shorter and as wide as perigynia, pale brown; perigynia 2-2.5
mm long, dull brown or greenish brown, white puncticulate, with the beak
about one-quarter as long as the body. Not common; swamps, wet woods,
muskeg; Boreal forest.

Carex argyrantha Tuck. silvery-flowered sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, equaling or exceeding
the leaves; blades 3-6 mm wide, flat to somewhat involute. Inflorescence 5-10
cm long, flexuous, often nodding at the tip; spikes 6-12 mm long, with the

201

upper ones close, the lower distant; scales as long as, but narrower than, the
perigynia, shiny greenish or light brown; perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm long, distinctly
nerved. Moist grassland, open woods, clearings; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces. Includes C aenea Fern.

Carex assiniboinensis Boott assiniboia sedge

Plants loosely tufted, with culms 30-60 cm high, slender, weak; blades
1-3 mm wide. Inflorescence 10-20 cm long; terminal spike staminate; pistillate
spikes 2-A cm long, loosely flowered, spreading or drooping; scales equaling
the perigynia in size, long acuminate; perigynia 5-8 mm long, narrowly lan-
ceolate, densely short pubescent, with the beak slender, about as long as the
body. Moist open woods; eastern Boreal forest, Parklands.

Carex atherodes Spreng. (Fig. 70) awned sedge

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 50-120 cm high, loosely tufted,
stout, erect; sheaths, especially the lower ones, pubescent; blades 4-12 mm
wide, mostly pubescent toward the base; sheaths and blades rarely glabrous.
Inflorescence to 25 cm long; terminal 2-6 spikes staminate, 2-A cm long; pistil-
late spikes 4-10 cm long, usually 2-4, distant, erect, sessile or short-peduncled;
scales shorter than the perigynia, pale brown; the green midrib prolonged into
an awn; perigynia 6—10 mm long, prominently nerved, with the beak bearing
long, often divergent or recurving teeth. Common; in slough margins, marshes,
and wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces. An important species, palat-
able to livestock, and a major part of slough hay.

Carex athrostachya Olney long-bracted sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; erect culms 10-60 cm high, slender, about as
tall as, or a little taller than, the leaves; blades 2-5 mm wide, mostly basal;
inflorescence 1-2 cm long, and about the same width, with bracts to 6 cm
long; spikes 4-10, crowded, gynaecandrous; scales a little shorter than the per-
igynia, reddish brown with green center; perigynia 3-5 mm long, straw-col-
ored, nerved, the upper half serrulate. Not common; wet meadows; Prairies,
Cypress Hills, Rocky Mountains.

Carex atrata L.

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, tufted; blades 2-5 mm
wide, soft, much shorter than the culm. Inflorescence 3-10 cm long, with
bracts leaf-like, the lowest one about equaling the inflorescence; terminal spike
gynaecandrous, with the lower 2 or 3 pistillate, 1-3 cm long; at first erect, later
spreading or drooping; scales about equaling the perigynia, dark brown to
purplish black; perigynia 2.5-4 mm long, greenish to blackish. A large species,
in which the following taxa have been recognized:

1. Lower pistillate spikes long-peduncled;

perigynia greenish brown C. raymondii Calder

Lower pistillate spikes sessile or short-pe-
duncled; perigynia greenish to purplish
black 2

2. Perigynia flattened 3

202

Fig. 70. Awned sedge, Carex atherodes Spreng.

203

Perigynia somewhat inflated, not

flattened C. atrosquama Mack.

3. Perigynia granular on the surface, pur-
plish black C. albo-nigra Mack.

Perigynia smooth, yellowish green to

brown C. epapillosa Mack.

Of these, C. raymondii occurs in meadows throughout Boreal forest; the others,
in meadows in the Rocky Mountains.

Car ex atrofusca Schk.

Plants with rather stout rhizomes; culms 20-40 cm high, erect; blades 2-4
mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, with bracts 1-3 cm long; terminal
spikelets entirely staminate, usually 1 or 2, 6-12 mm long, slender-peduncled;
pistillate spikes 10-20 mm long, ascending to spreading, or later drooping on
slender peduncles; scales shorter and narrower than the perigynia, blackish;
perigynia 3-4 mm long, blackish, often with a green margin. Very rare;
Churchill.

Carex aurea Nutt. GOLDEN SEDGE

Plants with slender creeping rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, usually
spreading or ascending; blades 2-4 mm wide. Inflorescence 5—10 cm long;
blades of the lowest bracts exceeding the inflorescence; terminal spikelet
gynaecandrous or staminate throughout, 5-15 mm long; pistillate spikes 5-15
mm long, usually 3-5, ascending to spreading on slender peduncles; scales as
long as, but narrower than, the perigynia, straw-colored to brownish with
green midrib; perigynia 2-3 mm long, elliptic to obovoid, at maturity golden
orange. Wet meadows, springy places; throughout Parklands, Cypress Hills,
Riding Mountain, Duck Mountain, Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest. Includes
C. garbed Fern. var. bifaria Fern., having deep brown scales with conspicuous
green midrib, and prominently veined perigynia.

Carex backii Boott back's sedge

Plants densely cespitose, with culms 5-35 cm high; blades 3-6 mm wide,
often exceeding the culms. Inflorescence, without the scales, 1-3 cm long, the
staminate portion of the spike 2-4 mm long, inconspicuous; scales foliaceous,
to 35 mm long, prominently veined, broadened at the base, long acuminate;
perigynia 5-6 mm long, tapering into a stout beak. Dry, open, sandy, or grav-
elly areas; Parklands, Rocky Mountains.

Carex bicolor Bell. two-colored sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 1-12 cm high, very slender, flexuous,
spreading; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat to channeled. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long,
with the terminal spike gynaecandrous; pistillate spikes 5-10 mm long, usually
1-4, crowded; scales purplish black with green midrib; perigynia 1.5-3 mm
long, whitish, beakless. Very rare; in muskeg and marl areas; Churchill.

Carex bigelowii Torr. stiff sedge

Plants with stout, scaly rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, solitary, or few
tufted; blades 2-6 mm wide, flat, smooth. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long; the ter-

204

minal spike staminate, 5-20 mm long; peduncle 5-15 mm long; pistillate
spikes 5-35 mm long, usually 2 or 3, erect, the lower ones with peduncles 5-20
mm long; the lowest bract shorter than the inflorescence; scales hiding the
perigynia, dark brown, or with a narrow green midrib; perigynia 2-4 mm long,
dull green or purple-tinged, occasionally completely purplish. Bogs, marshes,
tundra; Boreal forest.

Car ex brunnescens (Pers.) Poir. brownish sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 20-70 cm high, erect or spreading, much
exceeding the leaves; blades 1-3 mm wide, flat or channeled. Inflorescence 3-6
cm long, with 5-8 spikes 4-6 mm long, short ovoid or subglobose, with 5-10
perigynia, the lower ones distant, the upper ones approximate; scales shorter
than the perigynia, yellowish or tinged with brown; perigynia 2-2.5 mm long,
lightly nerved, puncticulate. Bogs, muskeg, and wet woods; Boreal forest.

Carex buxbaumii Wahl. brown sedge

Plants with long, slender, brown rhizomes; culms 30-70 cm high, loosely
tufted, erect, sharply 3-sided; sheaths reddish brown, becoming filamentose at
the base; blades 2-3 mm wide, flat or channeled, gray green or blue green.
Inflorescence 3-10 cm long, terminal spike gynaecandrous, 2-3 cm long; pistil-
late spikes 1-2 cm long, short-peduncled or subsessile; bract of the lowest
spike leaf-like, the same length as, or somewhat longer than, the inflorescence;
scales 3.5—4 mm long, awn-tipped, reddish brown, with green midrib; perigyn-
ia 3^ mm long, light green, beakless or with two minute teeth. Swamps, wet
meadows, and riverbanks; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex capillaris L. hair-like sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 5-40 cm high; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat,
light green. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long; the terminal spike staminate, 4-8 mm
long; pistillate spikes 5-15 mm long, usually 2 or 3, drooping on slender
peduncles 1-4 cm long; scales 1-2 mm long, hyaline with a green midrib; peri-
gynia 2.5-4 mm long, brown, with two strong veins. Springy areas, marshes,
and bogs; Boreal forest. Large plants, 20-40 cm high, with leaves to 20 cm
long have been named var. elongata Olney; plants 5-20 cm high with leaves
3-10 cm long are var. capillaris. However, intermediate sizes also occur.

Carex capitata L. capitate sedge

Plants with thin, hard, ascending rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, wiry,
stiff; blades mostly less than 1 mm wide, channeled, stiffly erect, often as long
as the culm. Inflorescence a single, androgynous, ovoid spike; scales much
smaller than the perigynia, center brown with a strong midrib, and a wide hya-
line margin; perigynia 2-3 mm long, straw-colored to brown, spreading.
Meadows, bogs, open woods; Boreal forest, northern Rocky Mountains.

Carex castanea Wahl. CHESTNUT SEDGE

Plants tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, purplish at base, erect; blades
3-6 mm wide, softly pubescent. Inflorescence 4-10 cm long; terminal spike
staminate, 1-2 cm long; pistillate spikes 1-2 cm long, usually 3, spreading or

205

drooping on slender peduncles 1-3 cm long; scales about equaling the perigyn-
ium, brownish; perigynia 4-6 mm long, with the beak slender, bidentate, light
brown. Very rare; in damp woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Carex chordorrhiza L. f. prostrate sedge

Plants sod-forming, with culms elongate, prostrate; fertile culms 10-30 cm
high, arising from nodes of the old culms; blades 1-2 mm wide, 1-3 on fertile
culms, the sterile shoots with several long leaves. Inflorescence with 3-8 spikes
crowded in a head 5-15 mm long; spikes androgynous; scales equaling peri-
gynia, straw-colored; perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, oblong-ovoid, plump,
strongly veined. Bogs, muskeg, and lakeshores; Boreal forest.

Carex concinna R. Br. beautiful sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 10-25 cm high, slender, often
recurved or curved ascending, loosely tufted; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat.
Inflorescence 1-3 cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 2-5 mm long,
sessile; pistillate spikes 5-10 mm long, approximate, usually 2 or 3; scales
about half as long as the perigynia, light to dark reddish brown, with the mar-
gins hyaline; perigynia 2.5-3 mm long, thinly pubescent, with a short beak.
Damp woods, meadows, and riverbanks; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex concinnoides Mack. low northern sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 10-35 cm high, slender, erect to
curved; blades 3-5 mm wide, flat, stiff. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long, with the ter-
minal spike 15-20 mm long, sessile; pistillate spikes 5-10 mm long, approxi-
mate, sessile; scales shorter than the perigynia, the center reddish brown with
wide hyaline margins; perigynia 2.5-3 mm long, pubescent, green, with a short
beak. In woods, on stony riverbanks; southern Rocky Mountains.

Carex crawei Dewey crawe'S sedge

Plants with slender, elongate rhizomes; culms 5-30 cm high, one to sev-
eral tufted, slender, stiffly erect; blades 2-5 mm wide, stiff. Inflorescence 5-20
cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 5-20 mm long, on a peduncle 1-7
cm long; pistillate spikes 5-30 mm long, usually 1-4, ascending on peduncles
1-3 cm long, the upper ones often subsessile; scales much shorter than the
perigynia, light brown, with a green center; perigynia 2.0-3.5 mm long, light
green. Wet meadows, lakeshores, and moist woods; Parklands, Boreal forest.

Carex crawfordii Fern. Crawford's sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-70 cm high, mostly barely exceeding
the leaves, stiffly erect; blades 1-3 mm wide, erect, flat. Inflorescence 1-3 cm
long, with 3-12 spikes, crowded in an oblong or ovoid head; spikes 6-10 mm
long, gynaecandrous; scales lanceolate, much shorter than the perigynia, dull
brown; perigynia lanceolate, 3^4.5 mm long, 0.7-1 mm wide, long-tapering
into the beak. Meadows, swamps, margins of woods; Boreal forest, Rocky
Mountains.

Carex crinita Lam. LONG-HAIRED SEDGE

Plants densely cespitose, with culms 50-80 cm high, exceeding the leaves,
3-sided; blades 6-12 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 10-20 cm long, with terminal

206

1-3 spikes staminate, to 5 cm long; pistillate spikes 3-10 cm long, usually 2-5,
approximate or somewhat distant, drooping and nodding on slender pedun-
cles; scales shorter and narrower than the perigynia, brownish with green
midrib; perigynia 2-4.5 mm long, inflated, green, abruptly short-beaked. Very
rare; southeastern Boreal forest.

Carex curta Good. short sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, densely tufted,
sharply 3-sided; blades 2-3 mm wide, about as long as the culms, flat, rather
stiff, gray green. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, usually with 4-6 spikes, the upper
ones approximate, the lower ones distant; spikes about 5 mm long, ovoid,
gynaecandrous, with 10-20 or more flowers; scales shorter than the perigynia,
straw-colored, with the midrib light green; perigynia 2-2.5 mm, yellowish
green. Muskeg, bogs, and marshes; throughout Boreal forest. Syn.: C.
canescens L.

Carex deflexa Hornem. bent sedge

Plants with rather stout horizontal or ascending rhizomes; culms 5-20 cm
high, in leafy tufts, purplish at the base; blades 1-3 mm wide, soft, flat.
Inflorescence 5-20 mm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 2-5 mm long,
often hidden by the 2-4 pistillate spikes, these 5-10 mm long, approximate, the
lower ones with a leaf-like bract 5-20 mm long; scales shorter than the peri-
gynia, light brown, with midrib green; perigynia 2-3 mm long, stipitate, green,
pubescent. Not common; open forest, clearings; Boreal forest.

Carex deweyana Schw. dewevs sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-80 cm high, erect to spreading, weak.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-A mm wide. Inflorescence 3-8 cm long, with 3-5
spikes, the lower one with a bract to 3 cm long; spikes sessile, the upper ones
approximate, the lower ones remote; scales exceeding the perigynia, pale yel-
lowish brown; perigynia 4—5.5 mm long, tapering to a beak more than half as
long as the body, rough-margined. Moist or shady woods, margins of woods,
meadows; Boreal forest.

Carex diandra Schrank two-stamened sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 40-80 cm high, in dense tufts, erect.
Sheaths scabrous; leaves 2-4 mm wide, erect. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, with
6-10 spikes, the lower ones somewhat distant, the upper ones approximate to
crowded; scales equaling the perigynia, brownish; perigynia 2-3 mm long,
shiny dark brown at maturity, tapering into a rough-margined beak, more than
half as long as the body. Swamps, wet meadows, and lakeshores; Boreal forest,
Cypress Hills, Riding Mountain.

Carex disperma Dewey two-seeded sedge

Plants with slender, creeping rhizomes, sod-forming, culms 15-50 cm
high, very slender, weak, spreading. Sheath smooth; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat,
soft. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, with 2-5 androgynous spikes, 3-6 mm long,
distant; scales shorter than the perigynia, white hyaline with green midrib;
perigynia 2-3 mm long, minutely beaked. Bogs, wet woods, springy places;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

207

Carex douglasii Boott Douglas sedge

Plants with slender, long-creeping rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, soli-
tary or in small tufts. Sheaths smooth; blades 1-2 mm wide, erect.
Inflorescence 2-3 cm long, ovoid, usually dioecious, but occasionally monoe-
cious heads are found; spikes 8-12 mm long; scales as long as or slightly
longer than the perigynia, light to dark brown, with green midrib; perigynia
3.5-4 mm long, with the beak more than half as long as the body. Dry grass-
land, sandhills; Prairies, Parklands.

Carex eburnea Boott bristle-leaved sedge

Plants with long, slender rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, densely tufted.
Sheaths smooth; blades to 0.5 mm wide, flat or involute, erect. Inflorescence
2-6 cm long, with the staminate spike sessile, exceeded by the 2 or 3 long-pe-
duncled pistillate spikes, all 3-6 mm long; scales much shorter than the peri-
gynia, whitish to light brown with green midrib; perigynia 1.5-2 mm long,
dark brown when ripe. Open woods and riverbanks; Boreal forest, Parklands.

Carex eleusinoides Turcz. wire-grass sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 15-30 cm high. Sheaths smooth;
blades 0.5-1.5 mm wide, tufted at the base. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, crowd-
ed, with the terminal spike gynaecandrous; the 2-3 pistillate spikes 7-10 mm
long, sessile or subsessile, with the lowermost bract exceeding the
inflorescence; scales much shorter and narrower than the perigynia, purplish
black; perigynia 3.-3.5 mm long, stipitate, distinctly many nerved, white to
light green. Very rare; northern Rocky Mountains.

Carex festucacea Schk. broad-fruited sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-80 cm high, exceeding the leaves.
Sheaths smooth; blades 2-7 mm wide. Inflorescence 1-6 cm long, with 5-10
spikes, 6-10 mm long, crowded or more or less distant below; scales shorter
and narrower than the perigynia, tinged with brown, the margins hyaline; peri-
gynia 2.5-4.5 mm long, ovate to obovate. Meadows, open woods, clearing,
lakeshores; in Boreal forest, Parklands. A large species, including the follow-
ing small species:

1. Perigynia distinctly veined; inflorescence

elongate, flexuous C. tenera Dewey

Perigynia finely veined; inflorescence

compact 2

2. Perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long; scales pale to

dull brown; sheaths tight; blades 2-4

mm wide C. bebbii Olney

Perigynia 3-4.5 mm long; scales hyaline
to light brown; sheaths loose; blades to
7 mm wide C. normalis Mack.

Carex filifolia Nutt. (Fig. 71) thread-leaved sedge

Plants densely tufted, with hard bases; culms 8-30 cm high, stiff, wiry.
Sheaths smooth, reddish; blades 0.25 mm wide, needle-like, stiff. Inflorescence

208

Fig. 71. Thread-leaved sedge, Carex filifolia Nutt.

209

a solitary, androgynous spike, 1-3 cm long, erect; scales hiding the perigynia,
the center dark brown, the broad margins hyaline; perigynia 3-4 mm long,
straw-colored to light brown, puberulent. Dry grassland, eroded slopes, and
hills; Prairies, Parklands. Palatable to livestock, and of moderate forage value.

Carexflava L. yellow sedge

Plants with short rhizomes, sod-forming; culms 30-70 cm high, sharply 3-
sided, stiff, as long as or slightly exceeding the leaves. Sheaths smooth, straw-
colored to light brown; blades 4-5 mm wide, flat, lax. Inflorescence 3-6 cm
long, with the terminal spike staminate, 5-20 mm long; pistillate spikes 2-4,
5-15 mm long, distant or approximate; bracts leaf-like, the lowest one exceed-
ing the inflorescence; scales shorter than the perigynia, reddish brown with
green midrib; perigynia 4.5-7 mm long, with the beak about as long as the
body, yellow. Not common; wet meadows, riverbanks, and swamps; Boreal
forest.

Carex geyeri Boott geyer'S sedge

Plants with thick, short, scaly rhizomes, to 3 mm thick; culms 10-40 cm
high, rough. Sheaths loose; blades 1-3 mm wide, the lower ones short.
Inflorescence a solitary androgynous spike; scales hiding the perigynia,
brownish with hyaline margins; perigynia 4—6 mm long, light brown, beakless
or nearly so. Dry woods, slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Carex glacialis Mack. glacier sedge

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 5-15 cm high. Sheaths scabrous;
blades 1-1.5 mm wide, channeled, recurved. Inflorescence 1-1.5 cm long, with
the terminal spike staminate, 2-6 mm long; 1-3 pistillate spikes, 2-6 mm long,
the lowest short-peduncled, the upper sessile; scales slightly shorter than the
perigynia, brownish to purplish black, with hyaline margins; perigynia 2-2.5
mm long, light to dark brown, with a hyaline beak. Very rare; barren tundra;
Boreal forest.

Carex gracillima Schw. (Fig. 72) slender sedge

Plants tufted, with culms 40-80 cm high, slender, erect, purplish brown at
the base. Sheaths smooth, tight; blades 3-10 mm wide, flat, thin. Inflorescence
to 30 cm long, with the terminal spike gynaecandrous, 2-3 cm long; pistillate
spikes 3-5 cm long, usually 3-5, long-peduncled, remote, the lower ones sepa-
rated by as much as 15 cm, spreading or drooping; scales half to nearly as long
as the perigynia, hyaline with green midrib; perigynia 2.5-4 mm long, dis-
tinctly nerved, green. Uncommon; moist woods; southeastern Parklands,
Boreal forest.

Carex granulans Muhl. granular sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 30-80 cm high, tufted. Sheaths loose,
glabrous; blades 4-10 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long, with the ter-
minal spike staminate, often exceeded by the pistillate spikes, 1-2 cm long;
pistillate spikes 15-20 mm long, usually 2-4, the upper ones subsessile, the
lower ones progressively longer peduncled; bracts leaf-like, the upper ones
exceeding the spikes; scales shorter than the perigynia, hyaline with a green

210

mmmrw of tm miKmcn

X?T CViKSESiT SAM.

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Fig. 72. Slender sedge, Qzre.x gracillima Schw.

211

midrib; perigynia 2.5-4 mm long, green, strongly ribbed, with a short bent
beak. Damp meadows, springy areas; southeastern Parklands, Boreal forest.

Carex gravida Bailey heavy sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-60 cm high, scabrous at the summit.
Sheaths scabrous; blades 4-8 mm wide. Inflorescence 1-3 cm long, dense,
oblong-ovoid, with 4-7 spikes; bracts shorter than the head; scales slightly
shorter than the perigynia, brown; perigynia 4-5 mm long, yellowish brown,
with the beak about one-third as long as the body. Rare; dry grasslands;
Prairies.

Carex gynocrates Wormsk. (Fig. 73) northern bog sedge

Plants with slender, creeping rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, erect, soli-
tary or a few tufted. Sheaths smooth; blades 0.5 mm wide, involute.
Inflorescence a single spike, usually either staminate or pistillate, occasionally
androgynous; scales shorter than the perigynia, brown, with hyaline margins
and midrib; perigynia 3-3.5 mm long. Bogs, marshes, and muskeg; Boreal
forest.

Carex heleonastes L. f. Hudson bay sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, tufted, slender. Sheaths
smooth; blades 2 mm wide, flat, with the margins revolute. Inflorescence 3-5
cm long, with 1-4 spikes, approximate; spikes gynaecandrous, 3-5 mm long;
scales shorter than the perigynia, with the center yellowish brown, the margins
hyaline; perigynia 2-3.5 mm long, greenish, white punctate. Muskeg, mead-
ows, and swamps; Boreal forest.

Carex hoodii Boott hood's sedge

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 20-80 cm high, slender, sharply
3-sided. Sheaths glabrous, tight; blades 1.5^4 mm wide, flat or channeled.
Inflorescence 1-2 cm long, ovoid to orbicular, with 4-8 spikes, crowded; spikes
androgynous; scales hiding the perigynia or nearly so, shiny brown, with green
midrib and hyaline margins; perigynia 3.5-5 mm long, broadly winged, with
the beak about one-third as long as the body. Meadows and slopes; Rocky
Mountains.

Carex hookerana Dewey HOOKER'S sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, erect, slender. Sheaths
tight, glabrous; leaves 1-2.5 mm wide, flat, thin. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long,
with 5-8 spikes, distant to approximate; spikes androgynous, each with a short
bract; scales hiding the perigynia, pale brown, distinctly awned; perigynia
2.5-3.5 mm long, brownish. Rare; dry grasslands, openings, and clearings;
Prairies, Parklands.

Carex houghtonii Torr. sand sedge

Plants with long-creeping, thick rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, loosely
tufted. Sheaths glabrous, loose; blades 4-10 mm wide. Inflorescence 5-15 cm
long; staminate spike terminal, usually solitary, occasionally with 1 or 2 small
staminate spikes or 1 or 2 perigynia at the base; pistillate spikes 1-3, 1-4 cm

212

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Fig. 73. Northern bog sedge, Carex gynocrates Wormsk.

213

long, remote, sessile or short-peduncled, erect; perigynia 5-7 mm long,
strongly many nerved, finely pubescent, with the beak about 2 mm long,
bidentate. Sandy or rocky soils and open forests; Boreal forest.

Carex hystricina Muhl. porcupine sedge

Plants densely tufted, with erect culms 20-70 cm high. Sheaths smooth,
loose; blades 2-10 mm wide; sheaths and blades often conspicuously cross-
veined. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 2-A cm
long, occasionally gynaecandrous; 1-4 pistillate spikes, 10-40 mm long, the
upper ones approximate, the lowest one often 6 or 7 cm distant, peduncled,
erect to spreading; perigynia 5-8 mm long, substipitate, ascending to spread-
ing above, somewhat reflexed below, with the beak 2-2.5 mm long, slender,
bidentate. Not common; swamps and wet meadows; Boreal forest.

Carex intumescens Rudge swollen sedge

Plants in large tufts, with culms 30-70 cm high, erect to spreading, sharply
triangular. Sheaths smooth; blades 3-8 mm wide. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long,
with the terminal spike staminate, 15-25 mm long; pistillate spikes 1-3, glo-
bose, 10-20 mm in diam, crowded; perigynia 10-15 mm long, tapering into the
bidentate beak. Rare; damp woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Carex kelloggii Boott kellogcs sedge

Plants with slender, short rhizomes; culms 10-60 cm high, more or less
densely tufted. Sheaths smooth, brownish at the base; blades 1-3 mm wide,
equaling to exceeding the culms. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, with the terminal
spike staminate, 20-30 mm long, occasionally gynaecandrous; 3-5 pistillate
spikes, 1-7 cm long, the upper ones sessile or subsessile, the lower ones short-
peduncled; perigynia 1.5-3 mm long, flattened, light green; scales smaller than
the perigynia, with the center dark reddish brown. Moist, springy areas;
Rocky Mountains.

Carex lacustris Willd. lakeshore sedge

Plants with long rhizomes; culms tufted, 50-125 cm high, stout, sharply
triangular, rough on the edges. Sheaths reddish below, with the inner mem-
brane disintegrating to the appearance of a ladder; blades 6-15 mm wide;
sheaths and blades usually cross-veined. Inflorescence 15-35 cm long, with the
terminal 2-4 spikes staminate, 1-8 cm long; pistillate spikes 2-4, usually dis-
tant, 3-10 cm long, erect, sessile or short-peduncled; perigynia 5-8 mm long,
dull green, tapering into the beak. Occasionally staminate and pistillate spikes
are compound, with 3-5 flowers on the rachillae. Marshes, swamps, and lake-
shores; Boreal forest.

Carex laeviconica Dewey SMOOTH-FRUITED SEDGE

Plants with rhizomes; culms 50-70 cm high, stout, loosely tufted. Sheaths
glabrous, with the inner membrane disintegrating and laddering; blades 3-6
mm wide, flat. Inflorescence to 25 cm long, with the upper 2-6 spikes stami-
nate, 2-10 cm long; pistillate spikes 2-4, distant, 3-7 cm long, erect, sessile or
short-peduncled. Perigynia 5-8 mm long, strongly many nerved, tapering into
the beak, with the teeth 1-2.5 mm long, straight. Swampy areas, slough mar-
gins; Prairies, Parklands.

214

Car ex lanuginosa Michx. woolly sedge

Plants with slender, long-creeping rhizomes; culms 30-70 cm high, usu-
ally in small tufts, sharply triangular. Sheaths glabrous, reddish at the base,
with the inner membrane laddering; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat or involute,
often exceeding the culms. Inflorescence 5-20 cm long, with the terminal 1 or 2
spikes staminate, 1-5 cm long; pistillate spikes 1-3, distant, 15-40 mm long,
erect, sessile or the lower spikes short-peduncled. Perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long,
densely pubescent, abruptly beaked, with the teeth about 0.5 mm long, erect.
Slough margins, marshes, and wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.
Syn.: C lasiocarpa Ehrh. var. latifolia (Bock.) Gl.

Car ex lasiocarpa Ehrh. hairy-fruited sedge

Plants with stout long-creeping rhizomes, 2-3 mm thick; culms 50-120 cm
high, tufted, bluntly triangular, scabrous above. Sheaths glabrous, loose, cross-
veined, with the inner membrane laddering; blades 1-2 mm wide, folded or
convolute, those of sterile shoots exceeding the flowering culms. Inflorescence
6-35 cm long, with the terminal 1-3 spikes staminate, 1-7 cm long, occasion-
ally with a few perigynia at the base; pistillate spikes 2 or 3, distant, 1-3 cm
long, often with a few staminate flowers at the tip, sessile or short-peduncled;
perigynia 4-5 mm long, densely pubescent, tapering into the beak, with the
teeth about 1 mm long. Bogs, lakeshores, and riverbanks; Boreal forest.

Carex laxiflora Lam. var. varians Bailey pleasing sedge

Plants tufted, with culms 20-50 cm high, somewhat winged. Sheaths glab-
rous, loose, expanded at the throat; blades 3-7 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence
5-15 cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 1-2 cm long; pistillate spikes
2-4, the upper ones approximate to the pistillate spike, the lower distant by up
to 10 cm; perigynia 2.5-4 mm long, nerveless to obscurely or distinctly 10- to
12-nerved, with the body abruptly contracted into an oblique short beak;
scales hyaline with a green midrib, obtuse or with a short awn. Apparently
very rare; moist woods; Boreal forest.

Carex lenticularis Michx. lens-fruited sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, densely tufted. Sheaths
glabrous, brown at the base; blades 2-3 mm wide, as long as or exceeding the
culms. Inflorescence 5-12 cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 1-3 cm
long, occasionally gynaecandrous; pistillate spikes 3-5, crowded, 15^40 mm
long; perigynia 2-3 mm long, glaucous green; scales smaller than the perigyn-
ia, with the midrib green, the margins purple brown. Rare; riverbanks, lake-
shores, and marshes; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex leptalea Wahl. bristle-stalked sedge

Plants with slender creeping rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, very slender,
densely tufted. Sheaths smooth, tight; blades about 0.5 mm wide, shorter than
to as long as the culms. Inflorescence a single spike, 5-15 cm long, androgy-
nous; staminate scales blunt, with the margins overlapping around the rachis;
perigynia 2.5-6 mm long, green, finely many nerved. Bogs and marshes;
Boreal forests, Parklands.

215

Carex limosa L. mud sedge

Plants with stout creeping rhizomes, to 3 mm thick; rootlets clothed with
a yellow to gray or brownish felt-like layer; culms 30-50 cm high, sharply 3-
angled. Sheaths glabrous, fibrillose; blades 1-1.5 mm wide, stiff, channeled or
folded. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, with the terminal spikelet staminate, 1-2 cm
long, erect; pistillate spikes 1 or 2, 10-15 mm long, on filiform pedicels, 10-25
mm long, spreading to drooping; perigynia 2.5—4 mm long, grayish green, dis-
tinctly 8- to 10-nerved; scales about as long as the perigynia, light or dark
brown, with green midrib. Not common; in bogs, marshes, and muskeg;
Boreal forest.

Carex livida (Wahl.) Willd. livid sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, solitary. Sheaths
glabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, equaling or surpassing the leaves, strongly
glaucous. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, rarely
gynaecandrous 10-30 mm long; pistillate spikes 1-3, 5-15 mm long, sessile or
short-peduncled; perigynium 3-5 mm long, glaucous green, finely many
nerved; scales purplish with green midrib. Rare; bogs, marshes, and muskeg;
Boreal forest.

Carex loliacea L. rye-grass sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, weak, tufted, bluntly
3-angled. Sheaths glabrous, tight; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat or channeled,
shorter than to as long as the culms. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long, with 2-6
gynaecandrous spikelets, 3-5 mm long, at least the lower ones distant; peri-
gynia 2-3 mm long, distinctly many veined; scales white hyaline, with midrib
green, smaller than the perigynia. Bogs, wet places; Boreal forests.

Carex mackenziei Krecz. Mackenzie sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; erect culms 15^0 cm high. Sheaths scab-
rous; blades 1-3 mm wide. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long; spikes 3-6, about 1 cm
long, distant, with the terminal spike gynaecandrous, about one-half stami-
nate; perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, stipitate; scales as long as the perigynia, red-
dish brown. Brackish marshes; Hudson Bay.

Carex macloviana d'Urv. THICK-SPIKE SEDGE

Plants more or less densely tufted from short rhizomes, with erect culms
10-40 cm high. Sheaths glabrous, open; blades 2-6 mm wide. Inflorescence
5-20 mm long, with 3-8 spikes crowded into a head; perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm
long, brown, finely nerved; scales shorter than the perigynia. Moist areas;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. A large species in which several small species
have been distinguished.

1. Perigynia much flattened, thin, scale-like

except over the achene 2

Perigynia not very thin and scale-like,

with the front convex, the back flat 6

2. Scales and perigynia copper brown; peri-

gynia obscurely veined C. macloviana

216

Scales and perigynia light, chestnut, or

dull brown 3

3. Perigynia veinless on the front 4

Perigynia veined on the front, at least

toward the base 5

4. Perigynia 4.5-6 mm long, light brown or

greenish brown C. haydeniana Olney

Perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, olive brown to

blackish brown C. limnophila Hermann

5. Spikes distinguishable in the head; peri-

gynia appressed, with the tip inconspi-
cuous, margins rather wide C.festivella Mack.

Spikes hardly distinguishable in the head;
perigynia spreading to ascending, with
the tip conspicuous, margins narrow C. microptera Mack.

6. Scales with distinct hyaline margins 7

Scales without distinct hyaline margins C. pachystachya Cham.

7. Perigynia 3-3.5 mm long, with corky tis-

sue around the achene C. incondita Hermann

Perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm long, no corky

tissue C. macloviana

Carex magellanica Lam. (Fig. 74) bog sedge

Plants with long slender rhizomes; the rootlets covered with a yellow,
grayish, or brownish felt-like layer; culms 30-60 cm high, very slender.
Sheaths glabrous, mostly brownish at the base; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat.
Inflorescence 5-12 cm long, with the terminal spike staminate, 5-15 mm long;
pistillate spikes 2-4, the lower ones distant, the upper approximate, 8-20 mm
long, on slender peduncles 1-4 cm long, spreading to drooping; perigynia
3-3.5 mm long, glaucous green to dull brown, veinless to finely veined; scales
equaling or exceeding, but narrower than, the perigynia, brown with green
midrib, or all brown. Bogs and muskeg; Boreal forests. Syn.: C. paupercula
Michx.

Carex maritima Gunn. SEASIDE sedge

Plants with extensively creeping, tough, slender rhizomes; culms 5-15 cm
high, mostly solitary, often curved at the summit. Sheaths glabrous, loose;
blades 1-2 mm wide, flat or involute, often exceeding the culms, curved or
curled. Inflorescence 5-20 mm long, with spikes 3-5, densely packed in a head,
androgynous; perigynia 3.5-5 mm long, greenish to golden brown, finely
veined or veinless; scales smaller than the perigynia, brown. Rare; gravelly or
rocky areas; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex mertensii Prescott purple sedge

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 30-100 cm high, densely tufted,
sharply 3-angled, winged, erect. Sheaths glabrous, loose, purplish red below;
blades 4—8 mm wide, flat or the margins revolute. Inflorescence 5-12 cm long,
with the terminal spike staminate or gynaecandrous, lateral spikes gynaecand-

217

Fig. 74. Bog sedge, Carex magellaniea Lam.

218

rous, with a few staminate flowers, 1-4 cm long, drooping on slender pedun-
cles; perigynia 4.5-5 mm long, light green to pale brown, often purplish spot-
ted; scales purplish brown, with light midrib and hyaline margins, smaller than
the perigynia. Open slopes and forests; Rocky Mountains.

Carex michauxiana Bock. long-fruited sedge

Plants rather densely tufted, with erect culms 20-60 cm high. Sheaths
glabrous, loose; blades 2-A mm wide. Inflorescence 2-10 cm long, with the ter-
minal spike staminate, 5-15 mm long, often hidden by the upper pistillate
spike; pistillate spikes 2-4, ovoid to suborbicular, 15-25 mm long, the lower
ones distant; bracts exceeding the culms; perigynia 8-12 mm long, very slen-
der, sharply veined; scales much smaller than the perigynia, brown. Bogs and
wet meadows; southeastern Boreal forest.

Carex microglochin Wahl. short-awned sedge

Plants with slender creeping rhizomes; culms 8-25 cm high, erect, tufted.
Sheaths glabrous, tight, brown below; blades about 0.5 mm wide, involute,
stiffly erect. Inflorescence a solitary spike, 5-15 mm long, androgynous; peri-
gynia 3-5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, light green to brownish, at first ascend-
ing, later spreading to reflexed; scales wider but shorter than the perigynia,
early deciduous. Rare; alpine meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Carex misandra R. Br. nodding sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, densely tufted, slender,
erect. Sheaths glabrous, brownish below; blades 1-3 mm wide, densely clus-
tered at base of culms. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, nodding, with the terminal
spike gynaecandrous, 5-10 mm long; pistillate spikes 2 or 3, approximate,
5-20 mm long, erect to nodding on slender peduncles; perigynia 3.5-5 mm
long, purplish black above, straw-colored below; narrowly lanceolate; scales
wider but shorter than the perigynia, blackish with hyaline margin and apex.
Rare; tundra and alpine meadows; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex muricata L. inland sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 20-70 cm high, slender, erect. Sheaths
glabrous, tight; blades \-A mm wide. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, with 3-7
spikes in an interrupted oblong head; the terminal spike gynaecandrous, lat-
eral spikes pistillate or gynaecandrous; perigynia 2.5-5.0 mm long, tapering
into a more or less distinctly bidentate beak; scales shorter than to about as
long as the perigynium, pale brown with green midrib. Moist woods, meadows,
and bogs; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains. Includes C interior Bailey and C.
angustior Mack.

Carex nardina Fries fragrant sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 30-50 cm high, slender, erect. Sheaths
smooth, tight, with the old sheaths persisting; blades 0.5-1 mm wide, stiff,
shorter to longer than the culms. Inflorescence a single androgynous spike,
5-15 mm long; perigynia 3-4.5 mm long, striate, short-stipitate; scales about
equaling the perigynia, brown, with greenish or straw-colored center. Not
common; dry slopes, rocky areas; Rocky Mountains. Plants with culms mostly
15-30 cm high have been distinguished as var. hepburnii (Boott) Kiik.

219

Carex nebraskensis Dewey Nebraska sedge

Plants with long creeping rhizomes; culms 20-100 cm high, tufted, coarse.
Sheaths smooth; blades 3-8 mm wide, flat, usually cross-veined, glaucous
green. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, the upper 1 or 2 spikes staminate, 15-40
mm long; pistillate spikes 2-5, sessile or nearly so, 1-6 cm long, approximate;
lowest bract commonly exceeding the inflorescence; perigynia 3-3.5 mm long,
straw-colored, red-dotted, strongly veined; scales much smaller than the peri-
gynia. Very rare; marshy ground; Prairies (Alberta).

Carex nigricans C. A. Mey. blackening sedge

Plants with stout, long-creeping rhizomes; culms 5-20 cm high, stiff.
Sheaths smooth, the old ones persisting; blades 1-2.5 mm wide, flat or chan-
neled. Inflorescence a single androgynous spike, 8-15 mm long; perigynia
3.5-4.5 mm long, at first appressed, later spreading to reflexed; stipitate, vein-
less; scales much shorter than the perigynia, dark brown. Exposed alpine
meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Carex nigromarginata Schw. var. elliptica (Boott) Gl. black-margined sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 5-50 cm high, tufted, very slender.
Sheaths glabrous, tight; blades 1.5-3 mm wide, flat, soft, mostly shorter than
the culms. Inflorescence 1-3 cm long, with the spikes approximate or crowded;
terminal spike staminate, 5-10 mm long; pistillate spikes 1-4, with the lowest
bract often exceeding the inflorescence; perigynia 3-4 mm long, pubescent,
with the beak 0.5-1 mm, distinctly bidentate; scales much smaller than the
perigynia, reddish brown with hyaline margins. Not common; open woods,
margins of woods, and riverbanks; Parklands, Boreal forest.

Carex norvegica Retz. Norway sedge

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, erect or arched,
loosely tufted. Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, soft, flat. Inflorescence
10-35 mm long, usually with 3 spikes, crowded or the lower ones approximate,
with the terminal spike pistillate or gynaecandrous, the lateral ones pistillate,
1-3 cm long, sessile or nearly so; perigynia 2-3.5 mm long, glaucous green,
finely veined; scales deep purplish brown with white hyaline margins. Moist
woods, lakeshores, and swamps; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex obtusata\A\). blunt sedge

Plants with slender, long-creeping, purplish black rhizomes; culms 6-20
cm high, slender, solitary or few together. Sheaths glabrous, usually reddish
brown below; blades 1-1.5 mm wide, involute or flat. Inflorescence a single
androgynous spike, 5-12 mm long, with 1-6 perigynia, 3-4 mm long, dark
chestnut or blackish brown at maturity; scales smaller than the perigynia, pale
brown. Locally common; dry to moist grassland; Prairies, Parklands.

Carex oligosperma Michx. few-fruited sedge

Plants with long creeping rhizomes; culms 40-100 cm high, slender, stiffly
erect. Sheaths glabrous, loose; blades 1-2 mm wide, involute, stiff, to 80 cm
long. Inflorescence 6-10 cm long; the lowest bract exceeding the inflorescence;
the terminal spike staminate, 1-5 cm long; the lateral spikes 1-3, pistillate, 1-2

220

cm long, ovoid or subcylindric, with 2-15 perigynia, 4-7 mm long, with the
beak 1-2 mm long, bearing short teeth; scales smaller than the perigynia, pale
brown to hyaline. Not common; bogs and sedge meadows; Boreal forest.

Carex paleacea Wahl. chaffy sedge

Plants with long stolons; culms 10-60 cm high, forming small tussocks.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 3-8 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 6-15 cm long, the
terminal spikes 1-3 staminate, 2-5 cm long; the lateral spikes 2-4, pistillate or
gynaecandrous, 2-5 cm long, drooping on slender peduncles; perigynia 2.5-3
mm long, glaucous green, short-beaked; scales snorter than the perigynia,
brown, with the pale midrib prolonged into an awn, up to 1 cm long. Very
rare; salt marshes; Boreal forest.

Carex parryana Dewey parry's sedge

Plants with slender, long creeping rhizomes; culms 15—40 cm high, erect.
Sheaths glabrous, brown to reddish below; blades 2-3 mm wide, flat or the
margins revolute, erect. Inflorescence 4-8 cm long; the terminal spike gynae-
candrous or staminate; the lateral spikes 2-A, pistillate, 1-3 cm long, approxi-
mate to crowded; perigynia 1.5-2.5 mm long, straw-colored or greenish, punc-
tulate; scales equaling the perigynia, dark reddish brown, with green midrib.
Rare; moist grasslands; Prairies, Parklands.

Carex pauciflora Lightf. few-flowered sedge

Plants with long, slender rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, few together or
solitary. Sheaths glabrous; blades 1-2 mm wide, stiff, involute, shorter than the
culm. Inflorescence a single androgynous spike, to 1 cm long; perigynia 6-7
mm long, narrowly lanceolate, long-tapering into a beak, spreading or
reflexed; scales smaller than the perigynia, pale brown. Bogs and muskeg;
Boreal forest.

Carex pedunculata Muhl. stalked sedge

Plants with short, thick rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, often barely
exceeding the leaves. Sheaths glabrous, the lowest ones with a very short, stiff
leaf, brownish; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat, thick. Inflorescence 4-10 cm long,
with the terminal spike androgynous or staminate, 5-15 mm long; the lateral
spikes 2 or 3, pistillate or sometimes androgynous, 1-3 cm long, with the upper
ones ascending on short pedicels, the lower ones long-pediceled, spreading or
ascending; perigynia 3.5-5 mm long, thinly pubescent, sharply angled, pale
green; scales smaller than the perigynia, purplish brown, with the green midrib
prolonged into a short awn. Rich woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Carex pensylvanica Lam. sun-loving sedge

Plants with extensively creeping slender rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high,
usually exceeding the leaves, tufted. Sheaths glabrous, disintegrating; blades
1-3 mm wide, flat, erect. Inflorescence 15-50 mm long, with the terminal spike
staminate, the lateral spikes 2 or 3, pistillate, 5-10 mm long, sessile or short-pe-
duncled; perigynia 2-4 mm long, finely pubescent, abruptly narrowed to a
bidentate beak, stipitate. Dry to moist grassland, open woods, and thickets;

221

throughout Prairies and Parkland. A variable species, the following varieties
are present:

1. Perigynia 3-3.5 mm long, round; leaves

stiff and scabrous var. digyna Bock.

Perigynia 2-4 mm long, angled; leaves

soft, not scabrous 2

2. Perigynia 2-3 mm long, with the beak

about 0.5 mm long \M.pensylvanica

Perigynia 3-4 long, with the beak more

than 1 mm long var. distans Peck

The var. pensylvanica occurs in southeastern Parklands and in a few locations
in Boreal forest; var. digyna Bock. (C. heliophila Mack.) is the common form in
grassland of Prairies and Parklands; var. distans Peck occurs occasionally in
openings in Boreal forest.

Carex petasata Dewey pasture sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-80 cm high, densely tufted, smooth,
mostly nodding at the top. Sheaths glabrous, tight; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat.
Inflorescence 2-5 cm long, with 3-6 gynaecandrous spikes, approximate;
spikes about 1 cm long; perigynia 4-8 mm long, oblong to lanceolate; scales
equaling the perigynia, reddish brown with white hyaline margins. Meadows,
open woods, and clearings; Parklands, Boreal forest. A large species, including
the following:

1. Perigynia 4—4.5 mm long; blades 3-5 mm

wide C. platylepis Mack.

Perigynia 4.5-8 mm long; blades 2-3 mm

wide 2

2. Perigynia 6-8 mm long, prominently

veined C. petasata

Perigynia 4.5-6 mm long, obscurely

veined C. praticola Rydb.

Carex petricosa Dewey stone sedge

Plants with slender, long rhizomes; erect culms 10-30 cm high. Sheaths
glabrous; blades 1-3 mm wide, stiff. Inflorescence 4-8 cm long, with 3-8
spikes; uppermost spikes androgynous or staminate, 7-20 mm long; lateral
spikes 2 or 3, pistillate or androgynous, 10-30 mm long; perigynia 4—6 mm
long, ciliate on the margins, yellowish brown to dark brown; scales shorter
than the perigynia, reddish brown. Riverbanks, slopes, and alpine tundra;
Rocky Mountains. Plants of the lower altitudes are usually larger, to 90 cm
high, and have broad yellowish brown perigynia, 2-2.5 mm wide. These have
been distinguished as \M.franklinii (Boott) Boiv.

Carex phaeocephala Piper HEAD-LIKE SEDGE

Plants with short, matted rhizomes, forming large clumps; culms 10-30
cm high, slender, scabrous above, stiff. Sheaths smooth, tight; blades 3-6 mm

222

wide, mostly basal. Inflorescence 10-25 mm long, with 2-5 gynaecandrous
spikes, approximate to crowded; perigynia 4-6 mm long, oblong-ovate, straw-
colored to dark brown; scales equaling the perigynia, dark brown with a light
center and hyaline margins. Slopes and alpine meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Carex podocarpa R. Br. alpine sedge

Plants with slender creeping rhizomes; culms 10-50 cm high, loosely tuft-
ed, bluntly triangular, more or less nodding above. Sheaths glabrous, reddish
brown below; blades 2-4 mm wide, flat, deep green. Inflorescence 4-7 cm
long, with the terminal spike staminate, 5-20 mm long; lateral spikes 2-4, pis-
tillate or somewhat androgynous, 1-2 cm long, approximate, short peduncu-
late, ascending or spreading; perigynia 3.5—4.5 mm long, blackish brown;
scales much smaller than the perigynia, brownish black. Alpine meadows,
riverbanks; Rocky Mountains.

Carex praegracilis W. Boott GRACEFUL SEDGE

Plants with blackish, long-creeping rhizomes; culms 15-60 cm high,
sharply triangular, scabrous above. Sheaths scabrous, loose; blades 1-3 mm
wide, flat or channeled, mostly basal. Inflorescence 1-5 cm long, with 5-10
androgynous spikes crowded into a dense head, or the lower ones approxi-
mate; spikes 5-10 mm long; perigynia 3-4 mm long, dull brownish black;
scales larger than the perigynia, with the center chestnut brown, the margins
hyaline. In marshes, around sloughs, wet meadows; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Carex prairea Dewey prairie sedge

Plants with short stout rhizomes; culms 50-100 cm high, erect. Sheaths
smooth, brown below, the lower ones with short blades, the membrane contin-
ued 2-3 mm beyond base of blades, copper-colored; principal blades 2-3 mm
wide, to 40 cm long. Inflorescence 3-8 cm long, compound, with the branches,
at least the lower ones, bearing 2-4 androgynous spikes; perigynia 2.5-3 mm
long, dull dark brown, tapering to a beak with serrulate margins; scales equal-
ing the perigynia, reddish brown. Swamps and wet meadows; Parklands,
Boreal forest.

Carex preslii Steud. presl sedge

Plants with thick, corm-like, short rhizomes; culms 20-70 cm high, slen-
der, scabrous, densely tufted. Sheaths smooth, very thin, with the membrane
white hyaline, loose; blades 1-4 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 10-20 mm long,
with 2-4 gynaecandrous spikes aggregated into a head; perigynia 3^4.5 mm
long, yellowish to greenish brown; scales smaller than the perigynia, olive
brown to chestnut. Alpine slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Carex pseudo-cyperus L. CYPERUS-LIKE sedge

Plants with short rhizomes, densely sod-forming; culms to 1 m high, often
nodding at the top, sharply 3-angled, very scabrous. Sheaths scabrous, loose;
blades 5-15 mm wide, light green, flat, scabrous. Inflorescence 10-20 cm long;
the terminal spike staminate, 2-5 cm long; pistillate spikes 3-5, the upper ones
approximate, the lower distant, 3-7 cm long, spreading or drooping on slender

223

peduncles, 3-10 cm long; perigynia 5-6 mm long, spreading to reflexed at
maturity, with the beak 0.5-2 mm long, bidentate; scales 2-3 mm long, ovoid,
with the midrib prolonged into an awn, 3-4 mm long. Swamps and bogs;
Boreal forests.

Car ex pyrenaica Wahl. spiked sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 5-25 cm high, equaling or exceeding the
leaves. Sheaths smooth, whitish, tight; blades 0.3-1.5 mm wide, folded.
Inflorescence a single androgynous spike, 5-20 mm long; perigynia 3^4.5 mm
long, glossy dark brown, stipitate, tapering into a hyaline beak; scales shorter
but wider than the perigynia, brown to dark brown. Rocky or grassy alpine
slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Carex rariflora (Wahl.) Smith SCANT SEDGE

Plants with slender rhizomes, the rootlets covered with a yellow or grayish
felt-like layer; culms 20-30 cm high, bluntly 3-angled. Sheaths glabrous;
blades 1-3 mm wide. Inflorescence 4-8 cm long; the terminal spike staminate
or somewhat gynaecandrous, 6-15 mm long; pistillate spikes 1-3, approxi-
mate, 10-15 mm long, short-peduncled; perigynia 3-4 mm long, glaucous
green, beakless; scales about equaling the perigynia, dark purple. Bogs and
muskeg; southeastern Boreal forest.

Carex raynoldsii Dewey (Fig. 75) raynolds sedge

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 20-80 cm high, erect, sharply 3-
angled. Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat, to 50 cm long.
Inflorescence 4-8 cm long; the terminal spike staminate, 1-2 cm long; pistil-
late spikes 2-A, approximate or the lower one somewhat distant, 1-2 cm long;
perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm long, yellowish green or brown, distinctly several-
veined; scales shorter than the perigynia, dark reddish brown or black. Mead-
ows and open woods; Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Carex retrorsa Schw. (Fig. 76) turned sedge

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 40-100 cm high, densely tufted,
stout, obtusely 3-angled. Sheaths glabrous, often cross-veined; blades 3-12
mm wide, to 40 cm long, flat, soft. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long; the upper 1 or 2
spikes staminate, 10-25 mm long, often hidden among the 3-8 pistillate spikes,
15-60 mm long, all aggregated, or the lower ones approximate; perigynia 7-10
mm long, tapering into a long bidentate beak, shiny, with many distinct veins,
light green or straw-colored; scales smaller than the perigynia. Swampy areas,
lakeshores, and wet meadows; Boreal forest.

Carex richardsonii R. Br. RICHARDSON'S SEDGE

Plants with long rhizomes; culms 10-25 cm high, tufted, short pubescent.
Sheaths glabrous, open; blades 1.5-2.5 mm wide, stiff, short, mostly basal. Ter-
minal spike staminate, 10-25 mm long, peduncled; lateral 2 or 3 spikes pistil-
late, 1-2 cm long, short-peduncled, erect, approximate or somewhat distant;
perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, pubescent, green; scales larger than the perigynia,
purplish brown, with the margins hyaline. Dry woods, open areas; Boreal
forest, Rocky Mountains.

224

,V "

*"\'

Fig. 75. Raynold's sedge, Carex raynoldsii Dewey.

225

Fig. 76. Turned sedge, Carex retrorsa Schw.

226

Carex rossii Boott ROSS' sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 10-30 cm high, erect, often exceeded
by the leaves. Sheaths smooth, purplish brown below; blades 1-3 mm wide,
stiffly erect or curly. Inflorescence about 2 cm long; the terminal spike stami-
nate, to 15 mm long; lateral spikes pistillate, 5-10 mm long; basal spikes abun-
dant; perigynia 3-4 mm long, green to light brown, pubescent, with the beak
1-2 mm long; scales equaling the perigynia, keeled. Dry slopes, rocky areas,
and clearings; throughout Prairies, Parklands, Rocky Mountains, Boreal for-
est.

Carex rostrata Stokes beaked sedge

Plants with short rhizomes, and long stolons; culms 50-100 cm high,
stout, erect, usually exceeded by the leaves. Sheaths smooth, strongly cross-
veined; blades 5-10 mm wide, usually cross-veined, flat. Inflorescence 10-30
cm long; the upper spikes 2-4, staminate, 15-50 mm long, well separated from
the 2-5 pistillate spikes, 4-10 cm long, short-peduncled to sessile; perigynia
4-8 mm long, narrowed to a bidentate beak; scales narrower than the perigyn-
ia, light brown. Swamps, marshes, lakeshores, riverbanks; throughout Park-
lands, Boreal forest.

Carex rotundata Wahl. round sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, sharply 3-angled, erect.
Sheaths smooth, reddish brown below; blades 1-3 mm wide, involute.
Inflorescence 5-15 cm long; the terminal spikes 2 or 3, staminate, 10-20 mm
long; the lateral spikes 3 or 4, pistillate, 20-40 mm long, sessile or short pedun-
culate; perigynia 3-3.5 mm long, tapering to the bidentate beak, obscurely
veined; scales smaller than the perigynia, purplish black. Peat marsh and tun-
dra; eastern Boreal forest.

Carex rufina Drejer reddish sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 10-25 cm high, loosely tufted.
Sheaths glabrous, short; leaves 1-3 mm wide, often surpassing the culms.
Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, with bracts long-sheathing; the terminal spike
gynaecandrous, 5-10 mm long; the lateral spikes 2 or 3, pistillate, 5-15 mm
long, ascending on elongate peduncles; perigynia 2-3 mm long, brownish
green, serrulate above, with a beak 0.1-0.2 mm long; scales smaller than the
perigynia, purplish brown. Very rare; arctic and Boreal tundra; Nueltin Lake,
Manitoba.

Carex rupestris All. rock sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 8-15 cm high, solitary or few togeth-
er. Sheaths reddish brown below; blades 1-2 mm wide, to 15 cm long, usually
curved, exceeding the culms. Inflorescence a single androgynous spike, 1-2 cm
long; perigynia about 3 mm long; scales dark chestnut brown with hyaline
margins, somewhat shorter but broader than, and partly enveloping, the peri-
gynia. Rare; open, usually calcareous soils; Boreal forest.

Carex salina Wahl. salt sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 5-60 cm high, curving or erect.
Sheaths glabrous; blades to 9 mm wide, flat or involute. Inflorescence 5-12 cm

227

long; the upper spikes 1-3, staminate, 2-3 cm long; the 1-3 pistillate spikes
5-80 mm long, short-peduncled to subsessile; perigynia 2-3.5 mm long, pale
green; scales somewhat longer than the perigynia, purple brown, with the
green midrib prolonged into an awn. Salt marshes; Hudson Bay. Three forms
are recognized:

1. Culms 5-15 cm high, slender, obtusely

angled; blades 1-2.5 mm wide; pistil-
late spikes 5-15 mm long, 3-4 mm
thick var. subspathacea (Wormsk.) Tuck.

Culms 10-60 cm high, stiff; blades 2-9
mm wide; pistillate spikes 1-8 cm long,
3-10 mm thick 2

2. Culms 10-30 cm high, obtusely angled;

blades 2-4 mm wide, with the margins
revolute; pistillate spikes 1-3 cm long,

3-4 mm thick var. salina

Culms 15-60 cm high, rather sharply
angled; blades 2-9 mm wide, flat; pis-
tillate spikes 2-8 cm long, 4-10 mm
thick var. kattegatensis (Fries) Almq.

Carex sartwellii Dewey sartwell'S sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 40-80 cm high, sharply triangular,
stiff. Sheaths with a green, clearly veined membrane; blades 2-4 mm wide.
Inflorescence 2-6 cm long, with 6-20 androgynous spikes 5-10 mm long; peri-
gynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, brown, finely veined; scales smaller than the perigynia,
reddish brown, with the midrib green, margin hyaline. Wet meadows, bogs,
and margins of woods; Boreal forest.

Carex saxatilis L. rocky-ground sedge

Plants with creeping purplish rhizomes; culms 20-80 cm high, decumbent
at the base, leafy. Sheaths smooth; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat, scabrous toward
the tip. Inflorescence 3-10 cm long; the upper 1 or 2 spikes staminate, 1-3 cm
long; the 1-3 pistillate spikes 5-20 mm long; perigynia 3-5 mm long, purplish
black; scales smaller than the perigynia, reddish black. Gravelly soil and
muskeg; Boreal forest. Two varieties can be distinguished:

Culms 20^0 cm high; pistillate spikes subses-
sile or short-peduncled, approximate var. saxatilis

Culms to 80 cm high; pistillate spikes long-pe-
duncled, drooping, distant var. major Olney

Carex scirpoidea Michx. RUSH-LIKE SEDGE

Plants with long, creeping rhizomes; culms 20-50 cm high, solitary or few
together. Sheaths glabrous, loose, the lower ones reddish brown; blades 1-3
mm wide. Inflorescence a single spike, staminate or pistillate, 1-3 cm long;
perigynia 2.5-3 mm long, densely pubescent, green; scales smaller than the
perigynia, deep brown. Marshy areas, slopes, and meadows; throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

228

Carex scoparia Schk. BROOM SEDGE

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-100 cm high, loosely to densely tuft-
ed, sharply 3-angled. Sheaths smooth; blades 1-3 mm wide, 15-60 cm long.
Inflorescence 25-40 mm long, with 3-12 gynaecandrous spikes 6-12 mm long,
approximate or crowded into a head; perigynia 4-7 mm long, lanceolate, flat,
greenish or straw-colored; scales smaller than the perigynia, light brown, with
green midrib. Moist areas, swamp, muskeg; Boreal forest, a few locations in
Parklands.

Carex siccata Dewey (Fig. 77) hay sedge

Plants with long, tough rhizomes; culms 15-80 cm high, solitary or few
together. Sheaths smooth; blades 1-3 mm wide, often almost as long as the
culms. Inflorescence 2-4 cm long, with 4-12 spikes; the uppermost spike
androgynous, the middle spikes staminate, the lower ones pistillate; perigynia
3-6 mm long, nerved on both sides, winged in the upper half, narrowing into a
bidentate beak; scales shorter than the perigynia, light brown with hyaline
margins. Common; sandy areas, open pine woods, sometimes covering large
areas; Boreal forest. Syn.: C.foenea Willd.

Carex sprengelii Dewey sprengel'S sedge

Plants with long, creeping rhizomes; culms 15-80 cm high, tufted. Sheaths
smooth, loose; blades 2-A mm wide, flat, soft. Inflorescence 10-20 cm long;
the upper 1-3 spikes staminate, 1-2 cm long; the lateral 2-4 spikes pistillate,
2-A cm long, distant, on long slender ascending or drooping peduncles; peri-
gynia 5-6 mm long, with the body subglobose, contracted into a bidentate
beak as long as, or longer than, the body; scales narrower than the perigynia,
greenish white. Open woods, shrubbery, and moist semiopen areas; through-
out the Prairie Provinces.

Carex stenophylla Wahl. ssp. eleocharis (Bailey) Hulten low sedge

Plants with slender, long creeping rhizomes; culms 3-20 cm high, solitary
or tufted. Sheaths glabrous, loose; blades 1-2 mm wide, channeled to involute.
Inflorescence 5-20 mm long, with 3-5 androgynous spikes, closely aggregated
in a head; perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, dark brown at maturity; scales wider
than the perigynia. Often very abundant; dry grasslands; Prairies.

Carex stipata Muhl. awl-fruited sedge

Plants with short, thick rhizomes; culms 10-100 cm high, erect, soft,
winged on the angles. Sheaths glabrous, loose; blades 2-8 mm wide, often
equaling or surpassing the culms. Inflorescence 1.5-10 cm long, compound,
with 5-15 spikes aggregated into a head, the lower spikes sometimes approxi-
mate, the upper ones crowded; perigynia 4-6 mm long, yellowish, sharply
nerved on both sides; scales smaller than the perigynia, brownish. Moist
woods, swamps, and bogs; Parklands, Boreal forest.

Carex straminea Willd. straw-colored sedge

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 30-80 cm high, densely tufted.
Sheaths glabrous, brownish; blades 2-6 mm wide. Inflorescence 1-6 cm long,

229

Fig. 77. Hay sedge, Carex siccata Dewey.

230

with 3-10 gynaecandrous spikes 7-10 mm long, approximate to somewhat dis-
tant; perigynia 3.5-7 mm long, suborbicular; scales smaller than the perigynia.
Meadows, grasslands, open forest; Parklands, Boreal forest. A large species,
which has been divided as follows:

1. Perigynia broadest above the middle;

leaves 3-6 mm wide; sheaths loose C. cumulata (Bailey) Mack.

Perigynia broadest below the middle;

leaves 2-4 mm wide; sheaths tight 2

2. Perigynia thin, 5-7 mm long, 3-5 mm

broad, distinctly veined on both sides C. bicknellii Britt.

Perigynia thick, firm, 3.5-5 mm long,
2-3.5 mm broad, obscurely veined or
veinless on the inside 3

3. Perigynia 4-5 mm long, strongly veined

on the back, obscurely veined inside;
wings thick; scales almost reaching tip
of beak C. brevior (Dewey) Mack.

Perigynia 3.5-4 mm long, obscurely
veined on both sides; wings thin; scales
reaching to base of beak 4

4. Heads 1-3 cm long; spikes crowded;

leaves 2-3 mm wide C. molesta Mack.

Heads to 8 cm long; spikes more or less

separated; leaves 3^4 mm wide C. merritt-fernaldii Mack.

Carex stricta Lam. erect sedge

Plants with long, scaly, rather stout rhizomes; culms 40-100 cm high,
loose-tufted into large clumps. Sheaths brown or reddish below, tight; blades
3-5 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long; the upper 1-3 spikes staminate,
1-4 cm long; the \~4 lateral spikes pistillate, or sometimes androgynous, 2-6
cm long, erect, sessile or the lower ones short-peduncled, approximate or
somewhat distant; perigynia 1.5-3 mm long, light green to straw-colored;
scales variable, from narrower and shorter to broader and longer than the
perigynia, reddish brown to purple brown. Marshy areas; southeastern Boreal
forest.

Carex supina Wahl. ssp. spaniocarpa (Steud.) Hulten weak sedge

Plants with slender brown rhizomes; culms 8-30 cm high, sharply 3-
angled, slender. Sheaths glabrous; blades 0.5-2 mm wide, channeled, crowded,
often almost as high as the culms. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long; the terminal
spike staminate, 10—15 mm long, pale; the 1-3 lateral spikes pistillate, 5 mm
long, with 3-5 perigynia, approximate; perigynia 2.5-3 mm long, plump, lus-
trous, with a short beak; scales equaling the perigynia, light reddish brown.
Rare; stony areas, beaches; southeastern Boreal forest, Parklands.

Carex sychnocephala Carey long-beaked sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-50 cm high, erect or spreading.
Sheaths smooth, tight; blades 2-5 mm wide, often exceeding the inflorescence,

231

flat. Inflorescence without the bracteal leaves 2-3 cm long; perigynia 5-6 mm
long, lanceolate, green; scales smaller than the perigynia, hyaline with a green
midrib. Wet meadows and lakeshores; Parklands, Boreal forest.

Carex tenuiflora Wahl. thin-flowered sedge

Plants with very slender rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, slender. Sheaths
smooth, loose; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 5-15 mm long, with 2-A
gynaecandrous spikes approximate to crowded; perigynia 3-3.5 mm long,
greenish; scales equaling the perigynia, white hyaline with green midrib. Rare;
wet wood, bogs, and muskeg; Boreal forest.

Carex tetanica Schk. rigid sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, tufted. Sheaths glab-
rous; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long; the terminal spike
staminate, 1-2 cm long, with the peduncle to 10 cm long; the 1-3 lateral spikes
pistillate, 1-3 cm long, slender-peduncled, ascending; perigynia 3-4 mm long,
light brown, finely veined; scales shorter than the perigynia, dark reddish
brown with green midrib. Open grassland; southeastern Parklands, Boreal for-
est. Two varieties are represented:

Perigynia 2-ranked; the pistillate spikes 3-5
mm thick var. woodii (Dewey) Wood

Perigynia 6-ranked; the pistillate spikes 5-7
mm thick var. meadii (Dewey) Bailey

Carex tincta Fern. tinged sedge

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 40-80 cm high, slender, sharply trian-
gular, tufted. Sheaths somewhat cross-veined, with the membrane wrinkled;
blades 2-4 mm wide, flat, firm. Inflorescence \~4 cm long, with 4-10 gynae-
candrous spikes, approximate to closely crowded into a head; perigynia 3.5-4
mm long, brownish, sharply many nerved on the back, tapering into a serrate
beak; scales about equaling the perigynia, reddish brown with green midrib
and hyaline margins. Meadows and open woods; Parklands, Boreal forest.
Presumably a hybrid of species in the C. festucacea group.

Carex tonsa (Fern.) Bickn. bald sedge

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms poorly developed, hidden among
the basal leaves. Sheaths reddish brown; blades 2-A mm wide, spreading,
curved. Inflorescence 10-15 mm long, hidden among the leaves; perigynia
1.5-3 mm long, glabrous or nearly so, yellowish brown, with the beak about
1.0-1.5 mm long, curved, bidentate; scales equaling the perigynia, pale brown
with green midrib. Open woods, sandy areas; Boreal forest.

Carex torreyi Tuck. TORREY'S SEDGE

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 25-50 cm high, slender, weak, sharply
triangular, somewhat pubescent below the inflorescence. Sheaths soft pubes-
cent, tight; blades 1.5-4 mm wide, flat, pilose. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long; the
terminal spike staminate, 5-15 mm long; the 1-3 lateral spikes pistillate, 5-15
mm long, sessile or short-peduncled; perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long, yellowish

232

green, strongly nerved, abruptly short-beaked; scales smaller than the perigyn-
ia, light brown with broad hyaline margins. Rare; in meadows and moist
woods; Prairies, Parklands.

Carex thbuloides Wahl. prickly sedge

Plants tufted, with culms 30-70 cm high, stout. Sheaths glabrous, tight;
blades 3-7 mm wide. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long, with 7-12 spikes 6-12 mm
long, approximate or crowded; perigynia 3-5 mm long, straw-colored,
obscurely veined on both sides; scales smaller than the perigynia, pale brown
with hyaline margins. Wet areas, marshes, and shores; southeastern Boreal
forest. Includes C. projecta Mack., C cristatella Britt.

Carex trisperma Dewey three-seeded sedge

Plants with slender rhizomes; culms 20-70 cm high, very slender and
weak, often straggling. Sheaths glabrous, tight; blades to 30 cm long, 1-3 mm
wide, flat. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, with 1-3, but commonly 2, spikes 2-4 cm
apart; the lower bract 2-4 cm long; spikes 3-5 mm long, gynaecandrous, with
1-5 perigynia 2.5^4.0 mm long, greenish brown; scales shorter than to equal-
ing the perigynia, with the center green and margins hyaline. Wet woods, bogs,
and marshes; Boreal forest.

Carex umbellata Schk. umbellate sedge

Plants with stout rhizomes; culms 3-20 cm high. Sheaths purplish or red-
dish brown below; blades 1-3 mm wide, stiff, usually exceeding the culms.
Inflorescence of two kinds: 1 culm with 1 terminal spike staminate, 5-10 mm
long, sometimes with a pistillate spike below it; and 1-3 very short culms bear-
ing 1 pistillate spike 4-10 mm long; perigynia 1.5-3 mm long, pubescent, yel-
lowish green, with a prominent, often curved, beak; scales equaling the peri-
gynia, with the center green and the margins hyaline. Open woods on sandy or
stony soils; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Carex vaginata Tausch sheathed sedge

Plants with long, slender, creeping rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, soli-
tary or few together. Sheaths glabrous, tight; blades 2-5 mm wide, flat.
Inflorescence 10-15 cm long; the terminal spike staminate, 1-2 cm long,
peduncled; lateral spikes 1-3, often androgynous, 10-25 mm long, short-
peduncled, loosely spreading, or the lower ones drooping; perigynia 3-4 mm
long, light brown, beaked; scales smaller than the perigynia, purplish brown.
Wet woods, bogs, and muskeg; Boreal forest.

Carex vesicaria L. blister sedge

Plants with stout, creeping rhizomes; culms 50-100 cm high, tufted.
Sheaths glabrous, cross-veined; blades 3-7 mm wide, equaling the culms, or
those of sterile shoots exceeding them. Inflorescence 10-20 cm long; the \-A
upper spikes staminate, 2-6 cm long; the lower spikes 1-3, but usually 2, pistil-
late, 3-5 cm long; perigynia 7-9 mm long, yellow green to light brown,
inflated, strongly veined, with the beak about 2 mm long and having divergent
teeth; scales smaller than the perigynia, light brown. Very rare; marshes and
lakeshores; southeastern Boreal forest.

233

Carex viridula Michx. green sedge

Plants more or less densely tufted, with erect culms 5^0 cm high. Sheaths
glabrous, loose; blades 1-3 mm wide, usually yellowish green. Inflorescence
1-5 cm long; the terminal spike staminate, 5—15 mm long, peduncled, often
barely exceeding the 2-6 pistillate spikes 5-10 mm long, crowded to approxi-
mate; the lowest bract much exceeding the inflorescence; perigynia 2-3.5 mm
long, green or brownish green; scales about equaling the perigynia, yellowish
brown. Wet areas, particularly calcareous or slightly alkali lakeshores;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Carex vulpinoidea Michx. FOX SEDGE

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 30-80 cm high, densely tufted.
Sheaths glabrous, with the membrane greenish, clearly veined, and cross-wrin-
kled; blades 2-4 mm wide, commonly exceeding the leaves. Inflorescence 4—8
cm long, compound, with many densely crowded spikes; bracts up to 5 cm
long, mostly well exserted; perigynia 2-3 mm long, yellowish green; scales
about equaling the perigynia. Wet areas, meadows, and bogs; Boreal forest.

Carex xerantica Bailey white-scaled sedge

Plants with short, thick rhizomes; culms 30-60 cm high, densely tufted.
Sheaths glabrous; blades 2-3 mm wide, flat, stiff. Inflorescence 3-8 cm long,
with 3-8 spikes 6-12 mm long, crowded toward the tip, approximate to distant
below; perigynia 4—6 mm long, straw-colored to light brown; scales about
equaling the perigynia, light brown, with the midrib green and the margins
hyaline. Open woods, meadows, disturbed areas; Parklands, southern Boreal
forest, Cypress Hills.

Cyperus nut-grass

Triangular-stemmed plants with long grass-like leaves, mostly basal.
Flowers perfect and borne in spikelets or in an umbel-like inflorescence at the
summit of the stem. Fruit a 3-angled achene.

1. Tip of the scales slender, recurved; spike-

lets greenish to pale brown, 2-10 mm

long; annual with fibrous roots C. inflexus

Tip of the scales not recurved; spikelets
yellowish to brownish, to 20 mm long;
perennials with corm-like thickened
roots 2

2. Joints of the rachilla with conspicuous

hyaline wings; scales 3.5-6 mm long,

acute or mucronate G strigosus

Joints of the rachilla sharp-edged, not
winged; scales 2-4 mm long, awned or
mucronate 3

3. Upper scales with an awn 0.5-1 mm long;

achenes 2-3 mm long, about 1 mm

thick C. schweinitzii

234

Upper scales obtuse or short mucronate;
achenes 1.5-2 mm long, about 1.2 mm
thick C. houghtonii

Cyperus houghtonii Torr. houghtows nut-grass

Plants with short rhizomes; culms 20-70 cm high, obtusely angled,
smooth; leaves 2-4 mm wide. Heads loosely fan-shaped; bracts 2-A, exceeding
the inflorescence; spikelets 5-20 mm long; scales almost orbicular, 2-3 mm
long; achene 1-1.5 mm long, ellipsoid, dark brown. Rare; sandy areas; south-
eastern Parklands, Boreal forest.

Cyperus inflexus Muhl. awned nut-grass

Plants annual, low, tufted, fragrant when bruised or dried; culms 1-15 cm
high, very slender; leaves 1-2 mm wide. Heads dense; bracts 2-4, much
exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets 5-10 mm long; scales 1.5-3 mm long,
oblong, strongly nerved, narrowed to a long, recurving, slender tip; achene
0.6-1 mm long, 3-sided obovoid, pale brown. Rare; slough margins, Prairies.

Cyperus schweinitzii Torr. sand nut-grass

Plants with hard, short, scaly rhizomes, with corm-like branches; culms
10-70 cm high, sharply angled; leaves 2-6 mm wide, firm. Heads mostly ob-
ovoid; bracts 3-6, exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets 6-15 mm long; scales
3.5-4.5 mm long, ovate, strongly nerved, with the midrib prolonged into a
short awn; achene 2.5-3.5 mm long, 3-sided ellipsoid, light brown. Rare; sand-
hills; Parklands.

Cyperus strigosus L. STRAW-COLORED NUT-GRASS

Plants with a hard, short, corm-like rhizome; culms tufted, 10-60 cm high,
stout; leaves 2-12 mm wide, flat, soft. Heads compound, condensed to some-
what open; bracts 2-6 or 7, exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets compressed,
5-10 mm long, yellowish; scales 3-4.5 mm long, oblong, strongly nerved;
achene 1.5-2 mm, 3-sided, linear. Rare; moist meadows and swamps; eastern
Parklands, southeastern Boreal forest.

Eleocharis spike-rush

Perennial, sedge-like, slough margin plants, from coarse, creeping roots,
or annuals with fibrous roots. Leaves generally reduced to sheaths without
blades and all basal. Flowers perfect and borne in a spike at summit of stem.

1. Achenes lenticular or biconvex; stigmas

2 2

Achenes triangular; stigmas 3 6

2. Plants annual; the root system fibrous E. engelmannii

Plants perennial; the root system

rhizomatous 3

3. Sterile basal scale 1 encircling the culm at

base of spikelet 4

Sterile basal scales 2 or 3 at base of

spikelet 5

235

4. Tubercle narrowly conical, the base less

than half as wide as the achene; spike-
lets closely many-flowered E. calva

Tubercle deltoid-conical, the base more
than half as wide as the achene; spike-
lets loosely few-flowered E. uniglumis

5. Tubercle as broad as long; scales firm,

stiffly acuminate E. smallii

Tubercle much longer than broad; scales

soft, scarious at the tip E. palustris

6. Tubercle confluent with the achene, form-

ing a beak 7

Tubercle distinctly jointed to the achene,

forming a cap 8

7. Spikelets to 20 mm long, many-flowered,

fusiform E. rostellata

Spikelets to 7 mm long, 2- to 8-flowered,

ovoid E. pauci flora

8. Culms to 2 dm high, loosely tufted, form-

ing mats from slender rhizomes E. acicularis

Culms 2-10 dm high, not matted, arising

from stout rhizomes 9

9. Culms 4- to 8-angled; achene 0.6-1.1 mm

long, including the tubercle E. elliptica

Culms flattened; achene 1-1.5 mm long,

including the tubercle E. compressa

Eleocharis acicularis (L.) R. & S. needle SPIKE-RUSH

Plants with very slender rhizomes, tufted, forming dense mats; culms slen-
der, 2-15 cm high; sheaths loose. Spikelets flattened, 2-7 mm long, 3- to 15-
flowered; scales 1-2.5 mm long, membranous, with a green midrib; achenes
0.7-1.2 mm long, whitish, ellipsoid. Common; around sloughs, in mud flats,
along shores, and other wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Eleocharis calva Torr. bald spike-rush

Plants with slender, reddish rhizomes; culms 10-50 cm high, solitary or
loosely tufted; sheaths reddish, tight. Spikelets 10-20 mm long, lanceolate,
densely flowered; scales 2-3 mm long, oblong-ovate, membranous, pale
brown; achenes 1-1.5 mm long, narrowly obovoid, light brown. Not common;
marshes, lakeshores, mud flats; southeastern Parklands.

Eleocharis compressa Sulliv. flattened spike-rush

Plants with thick, hard rhizomes, 2-A mm thick; culms 15-50 cm high,
flat, wiry; sheaths tight. Spikelets 5-15 mm long, ovoid to ellipsoid; scales 2-3
mm long, ovate, brown or purplish; achenes 1-1.5 mm long, bluntly 3-sided,
golden brown. Marshy areas, sandy shores; Parklands.

236

Eleocharis elliptica Kunth slender spike-rush

Plants with slender purplish rhizomes, 1-2 mm thick; culms 5-50 cm high,
scattered or in small tufts; sheaths tight, reddish below. Spikelets 3-10 mm
long, loosely flowered; scales 2-3.5 long, ovate, reddish brown; achenes about
1 mm long, yellow or orange, prominently cross-ridged. Wet areas, sand
dunes, shores, meadows; southeastern Parklands.

Eleocharis engelmannii Steud. engelm ANN'S spike-rush

Plants annual, with culms 10-50 cm high, densely tufted; sheaths loose.
Spikelets 4-15 mm long, ovoid-cylindric; scales 1-1.5 mm long, elliptic-
obovate, brownish; achenes 1-2 mm long, lustrous brown when ripe. Wet
areas; Prairies, Parklands.

Eleocharis palustris (L.) R. & S. (Fig. 78) creeping spike-rush

Plants with slender, long, creeping, reddish rhizomes; culms 10-60 cm
high, firm; sheaths loose, red or brownish. Spikelets 5-20 mm long; scales 3-4
mm long, oblong-ovate, reddish brown; achenes 1-1.5 mm long, obovoid, light
brown. Common; in shallow water, mud flats, and lakeshores; throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

Eleocharis pauciflor a (Lightf.) Link var. fernaldii Svenson

FEW-FLOWERED SPIKE-RUSH

Plants with long, creeping rhizomes, often with scaly tubers; culms 10-30
cm high, in small tufts. Spikelets 3-6 mm long; scales 3-5 mm long, ovate, lus-
trous brown; achenes 2-2.5 mm long, net-veined, gray brown. Calcareous wet
soils; Boreal forest.

Eleocharis rostellata Torr. beaked spike-rush

Plants with short caudex; culms 10-60 cm high, tufted; sheaths loose.
Spikelets 6-12 mm long; scales 2-3 mm long, ovate, green with brown midrib;
achenes 2-3 mm long, oblong-obovoid, olive brown. Wet soils; northwestern
Boreal forest.

Eleocharis smallii Britt. SMALL'S SPIKE-RUSH

Plants with long-creeping rhizomes; culms 10-60 cm high; sheaths loose,
reddish. Spikelets 5-20 mm long, loosely flowered; scales 3-5 mm long, lan-
ceolate to narrowly ovate; achenes 1-1.5 mm long, obovoid, brown. Mud flats,
peaty swamps, and shores; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Eleocharis uniglumis (Link) Schultes one-glumed spike-rush

Plants with slender reddish rhizomes; culms 10-50 cm high, loosely tuft-
ed, very slender; sheaths tight, reddish. Spikelets 1-1.5 cm long, loosely
flowered; scales 2-3 mm long, thin; achenes 1-1.5 mm long, ellipsoid to ob-
ovoid. Wet areas, lakeshores; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

237

A.Q. Budd

Fig. 78. Creeping spike-rush, Eleocharis palustris (L.) R. & S.

238

Eriophorum cotton-grass

1. Spikelets several, spreading or pendulous

on peduncles; the involucre of one or

more leafy bracts 2

Spikelets solitary at the tip of the stem;

the involucre lacking 4

2. Involucre a single bract, shorter than the

inflorescence; leaf blades 1-2 mm

wide E. gracile

Involucre 2 or more bracts, about as long
as the inflorescence; leaf blades 2-8
mm wide 3

3. Midrib of scales prominent, reaching the

tip of the scales; upper leaf sheaths not

dark at the collar E. viridi-carinatum

Midrib of scales not prominent, not
reaching the tip of the scales; upper
leaf sheaths dark at the collar E. angustifolium

4. Plants stoloniferous; the culms solitary or

few together 5

Plants not stoloniferous; the culms more

or less densely tufted 6

5. Scales lead gray to black, with narrow

pale margins; bristles bright white E. scheuchzeri

Scales brownish to black, with wide hya-
line margins; bristles pale reddish
brown E. chamissonis

6. Scales with broad, whitish or hyaline mar-

gins, the basal ones reflexed; bristles

bright white E. vaginatum

Scales without broad margins, the basal

ones not reflexed 7

7. Bristles light brownish; upper sheaths

scarcely inflated E. brachyantherum

Bristles bright white; upper sheaths

strongly inflated E. callitrix

Eriophorum angustifolium Honck. tall cotton -grass

Plants with short, stout rhizomes; culms 20-60 cm high, mostly solitary,
soft blunt-angled. Sheaths smooth, reddish below, with blades 3-6 mm wide,
flat to convolute, scabrous. Inflorescence with 2-10 spikelets; bracts 2-3, dark
purple at the base; spikelets 1-2 cm long, divergent or drooping, with bristles
2-5 cm long, white; scales lead gray to brownish; achenes 2.5-3.5 mm long.
Muskeg, swamps, wet meadows; Boreal forest.

Eriophorum brachyantherum Trautv. close-sheathed cotton-grass

Plants tufted, with culms 20-60 cm high, terete, slender. Sheaths smooth,
with blades 1-2 mm wide, filiform, the upper sheaths without blades.

239

Inflorescence a solitary spikelet 1-1.5 cm long, with bristles 2-3 cm long,
cream-colored; scales lead gray; achenes 2-2.5 mm long. Bogs and swamps;
Boreal forest.

Eriophorum callitrix Cham. beautiful COTTON-GRASS

Plants tufted, with culms 10-25 cm high, stiff, stout. Sheaths smooth, with
blades 2-4 mm wide, coarse; cauline sheaths with a short blade, the upper
ones inflated. Inflorescence a single spikelet about 1 cm long, with bristles 2-3
cm long, bright white; scales grayish; achenes 2-2.5 mm long. Bogs and
swamps; southern Boreal forest.

Eriophorum chamissonis C. A. Mey. RUSSET COTTON-GRASS

Plants with short rhizomes and somewhat stoloniferous; culms 10-35 cm
high, solitary or few together. Sheaths loose, the lower ones with blades 1-3
mm wide, channeled or involute; the upper sheath bladeless, tight.
Inflorescence a single spikelet 1-1.5 cm long, with bristles 2.5-3 cm long, red-
dish brown; scales brownish to blackish, with white margins; achenes 2-2.5
mm long. A form with white bristles is f. albidum (Nyl.) Fern. Muskeg and
swampy areas; Boreal forest.

Eriophorum gracile Koch SLENDER COTTON-GRASS

Plants in small tufts, with culms 20-40 cm high, very slender, weak,
mostly without basal leaves. Sheath of upper culm leaf 3-6 cm long, with the
blade 1-3 cm long, 1-1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence with 2-5 spikelets, with a sin-
gle bract 1-2 cm long, lead gray or blackish; spikelets spreading or nodding,
7-10 mm long, with bristles 1-1.5 cm long, bright white; scales lead gray to
blackish; achenes 1.5-2 mm long. Muskeg, swamps, and bogs; Boreal forest.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri Hoppe ONE-SPIKE COTTON-GRASS

Plants with rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, solitary, somewhat leafy at
the base. Sheaths loose, the upper ones bladeless, black-tipped; the lower
sheaths with blades 2-5 mm wide, channeled or involute. Inflorescence a soli-
tary spikelet about 1 cm long, with bristles 1-1.5 cm long, bright white; scales
lead gray to blackish, with narrow pale margins; achenes 1.5-2 mm long.
Muskeg areas, sedge swamps; Boreal forest.

Eriophorum vaginatum L. sheathed cotton-grass

Plants densely tufted, forming large clumps, with culms 20-60 cm high,
stiff, 3-sided. Sheaths glabrous, with blades stiff, filiform; culm leaves consist-
ing of one or two inflated bladeless sheaths. Inflorescence a solitary spikelet
1-1.5 cm long, with bristles 2-2.5 cm long, bright white; scales lead gray to
blackish, divergent or reflexed; achenes 2.5-3.5 mm long. In the Prairie Prov-
inces, our plants are ssp. spissum (Fern.) Hulten, differing from the typical
Eurasian plants in having longer and more inflated upper sheaths, larger
anthers, and narrower achenes. Bogs and marshes; Boreal forest.

Eriophorum viridi-carinatum (Engelm.) Fern. thin-leaved cotton-grass

Plants in small tufts, with culms 20-70 cm high, 3-sided, slender. Sheaths
smooth; basal leaves numerous, with blades 2-6 mm wide, flat to channeled;

240

cauline leaves 2 or 3, short. Inflorescence with 3-15 spikelets; bracts 2-4, green
or with a brownish base; spikelets 5-10 mm long, with bristles 1-2 cm long,
cream-colored to grayish; scales olive green to lead gray, with the midrib
prominent, reaching the tip, sometimes protruding; achenes 1.5-2 mm long.
Muskeg, bogs, and marshes; Boreal forest.

Kobresia bog-sedge

Spikes linear, undivided; glumes 3-3.5 mm
long; achenes about 2.5 mm long K. myosuroides

Spikes ovoid, compound; glumes 2.5-3 mm
long; achenes about 3 mm long K. simpliciuscula

Kobresia myosuroides (Vill.) F. & P. BOG-SEDGE

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-30 cm high, erect. Sheaths brown,
becoming fibrillose and very conspicuous, with blades about 1 mm wide, fili-
form, erect, about equaling the culms. Inflorescence 1-3 cm long, linear, sim-
ple; upper spikelets staminate, the lower ones androgynous; scales 2-3 mm
long; glumes 3-3.5 mm long, light brown, shiny, tightly enclosing the achenes,
these 2.5 mm long, short stipitate, light brown. Rare; mountain slopes; Rocky
Mountains.

Kobresia simpliciuscula (Wahl.) Mack. simple bog-sedge

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-30 cm high, erect. Sheaths cinnamon
brown, with blades about 1 mm wide, filiform, involute; old sheaths and
blades very conspicuous. Inflorescence 1^4 cm long, compound; the terminal
spike staminate, the lateral ones androgynous or pistillate, 3-8 mm long; scales
small, reddish brown; glumes 2.5-3 mm long, reddish brown, shiny, enclosing
the achene. Rare; slopes and calcareous bogs; Rocky Mountains, Hudson
Bay.

Rhynchospora beak-rush

Glomerules turbinate; uppermost bract about

as long as the glomerules; bristles 10-12 R. alba

Glomerules ovoid or oblong; uppermost bract

much longer than the glomerules; bristles 6 R. capillacea

Rhynchospora alba (L.) Vahl white beak-rush

Plants densely tufted, with stems 15-30 cm high, slender. Leaves 0.5-2.5
mm wide, short, mostly basal. Inflorescence 8-15 mm long, at first white, later
brownish; spikelets 3.5-5 mm long, usually 2-flowered; bristles 10-12, re-
trorsely barbed. Rare; bogs, wet places, muskeg; Boreal forest.

Rhynchospora capillacea Torr. SLENDER beak-rush

Plants tufted, with stems 10-40 cm high, very slender. Leaves about 1 mm
wide, the upper ones commonly exceeding the inflorescence. Inflorescence
8-10 mm long, with up to 10 spikelets 5-7 mm long; bristles 6, retrorsely
barbed. Rare; bogs, swamps, and wet sands; Boreal forest.

241

Scirpus bulrush

1. Involucre consisting of 1 scale-like bract;

inflorescence appearing terminal 2

Involucre green, with the bract or bracts
erect or leaf-like, spreading; inflores-
cence appearing lateral or terminal 6

2. Culms round, smooth 3

Culms triangular, scabrous 4

3. Plants densely cespitose; spikelet lanceo-

late; bristles 6 S. caespitosus

Plants in small tufts, rhizomatous; spike-
let ovate; bristles none S. pumilus

4. Inflorescence of several spikelets S. rufus

Inflorescence a single spikelet 5

5. Bristles 20-30 mm long S. hudsonianus

Bristles 2-3 mm long S. clintonii

6. Involucre a single erect bract, appearing

as a continuation of the stem; the

inflorescence appearing lateral 7

Involucre of several leaf-like bracts,
spreading; the inflorescence appearing
terminal 12

7. Culms terete; sheaths bladeless 8

Culms triangular; sheaths with blades 9

8. Scales almost as long as the achenes,

broadly ovate; culms spongy S. validus

Scales much longer than the achenes, nar-
rowly ovate; culms firm S. acutus

9. Spikelets arranged in a short spike S. rufus

Spikelets sessile, clustered at one point on

the stem 10

10. Achenes triangular; stigmas 3 S. torreyi

Achenes plano-convex; stigmas 2 1 1

11. Achene reticulate, blunt at the tip; leaves

stiffly erect S. nevadensis

Achene smooth, minutely beaked; leaves

usually spreading S. americanus

12. Spikelets 10-50 mm long, short-pedun-

cled or subsessile, not very numerous 13

Spikelets 3-10 mm long, long-peduncled
in a much branched inflorescence, very
numerous 14

13. Spikelets in part sessile or subsessile, in

part 1-4 at the tip of peduncles to 10

cm long; stigmas 3 S.fluviatilis

242

Spikelets all sessile or subsessile, or in
part sessile, in part on peduncles to 5
cm long; stigmas 2 S. paludosus

14. Bristles much longer than the scales,

protruding S. cypehnus

Bristles shorter than the scales 15

15. Achene triangular; stigmas 3; sheaths

green S. atrovirens

Achene lenticular; stigmas 2; sheaths usu-
ally reddish purple S. microcarpus

Scirpus acutus Muhl. viscid great bulrush

Plants with extensive rhizomes; culms 50-200 cm high, round, olive green,
hard, and firm; sheaths firm, often with a short blade. Panicle 5-15 cm long,
with branches ascending or spreading, rarely pendulous; spikelets 1-2 cm
long; scales red-dotted, viscid-pubescent above; achene shiny black at maturi-
ty. Sloughs, riverbanks, and lakeshores; Prairies, Parklands.

Scirpus americanus Pers. THREE-SQUARE BULRUSH

Plants with long creeping, stout rhizomes; culms 20-100 cm high, solitary
or few together, sharply 3-angled; leaves 2-8 mm wide, linear, channeled.
Inflorescence 1-5 cm long, with 1-8 spikelets; bract 2-15 cm long; spikelets
5-20 mm long, ovoid to almost cylindric, reddish brown. Wet, often brackish
to moderately saline areas; Prairies, Parklands.

Scirpus atrovirens Willd. green bulrush

Plants tufted, with culms 30-100 cm high, bluntly 3-angled; leaves 5-15
mm wide. Inflorescence 5-20 cm long, umbelliform, with forked branches;
spikelets 2-8 mm long, greenish brown; bracts 3-5, leafy, with the longest one
much longer than the inflorescence. Bogs and marshes; Prairies, Parklands.

Scirpus caespitosus L. var. callosus Bigel. tufted bulrush

Plants densely tufted, forming hard tussocks, with culms 10-30 cm high,
wiry, filiform, round; basal sheaths bearing a blade to 15 mm long.
Inflorescence a single spikelet 3.5-6 mm long, ovoid to lanceolate. Bogs,
marshes, and tundra; Boreal forest.

Scirpus clintonii Gray Clinton's bulrush

Plants densely tufted, with culms 10-30 cm high, very slender, sharply 3-
angled; leaves 0.5-1 mm wide, short. Inflorescence a single spikelet 3-6 mm
long, lanceolate to ovoid, pale brown; the outer scales with the midrib pro-
longed into an awn. Rocky Mountains.

Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth wool-grass

Plants tufted, with culms 50-100 cm high, obscurely 3-angled; leaves 2-5
mm wide, to 30 cm long. Inflorescence 5-20 cm long, with branches 3-10 cm
long, ascending or spreading to drooping; spikelets 3-6 mm long, very numer-
ous, ovoid, with the bristles exceeding the scale, elongating at maturity; bracts
of the involucre 5-30 cm long. Wet meadows, swamps, and lakeshores; Boreal
forests, rarely in Parklands.

243

Scirpus fluviatilis (Torr.) Gray river bulrush

Plants with long rhizomes having corm-like thickenings; culms 50-150 cm
high, sharply 3-angled, leafy to near the inflorescence; leaves 5-15 mm wide,
pale green, flat. Inflorescence 6-10 cm long, with 1-5 spikelets; bracts to 15 cm
long; spikelets 15^40 mm long, brown. Along streams, lakeshores; Boreal
forest.

Scirpus hudsonianus (Michx.) Fern. alpine cotton-grass

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 10-45 cm high, in small tufts,
sharply angled. Inflorescence a single spikelet 4-7 mm long; the lowest scale
with an awn 2-4 mm long, the other scales awnless; bristles 6, exserted in
flowering, elongating to 1-3 cm at maturity, barbless. Marshes and boggy
places; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Scirpus microcarpus Pers. small-fruited, bulrush

Plants with a thick rhizome; culms 30-80 cm high, stout; leaves 4-15 mm
wide, firm, flat. Inflorescence 5-20 cm long, with .branches 3-15 cm long, the
shorter ones ascending, the longer ones drooping; spikelets 3-6 mm long,
numerous, dark green; bracts usually 3, the lower one exceeding the
inflorescence. Damp areas, swamps, and bogs; Boreal forest, Parklands.

Scirpus nevadensis Wats. Nevada bulrush

Plants with creeping rhizomes; culms 30-50 cm high, solitary or few tuft-
ed, blunt-angled or almost terete. Inflorescence 1-5 cm long, with 2-10 spike-
lets; the bract 3-12 cm long; spikelets 5-20 mm long, ovoid to lanceolate, red-
dish brown. Not common; lakeshores and riverflats, often brackish; western
Prairies, Parklands.

Scirpus paludosus Nels. prairie bulrush

Plants with stout rhizomes, corm-like thickened internodes; culms 30-120
cm high, 5-20 mm thick at the base; leaves 5-15 mm wide, channeled.
Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, with spikelets 10-25 mm long, sessile or more or
less long-peduncled, ovoid, usually pale brown; the bracts 5-20 cm long. Com-
mon; in alkaline marshes and lakeshores; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Scirpus pumilus Vahl dwarf bulrush

Plants densely tufted on short rhizomes, with culms 10-20 cm high,
sharply angled, wiry. Inflorescence a solitary spikelet, 3-5 mm long, ovoid,
light brown. Bogs and marshes; Boreal forest, Parklands.

Scirpus rufus (Huds.) Schrad. red bulrush

Plants with extensively creeping rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, tufted,
bluntly angled; leaves 1-3 mm wide, erect. Inflorescence a spike, 10-20 mm
long, with two rows of spikelets, involucre a single bract, to 5 cm long; spike-
lets 5-10 mm long, 2- to 5-flowered, lustrous reddish brown; bristles lacking or
small. Saline or brackish marshes; Boreal forest, Parklands. Syn.: Blysmus
rufus (Huds.) Link.

244

Scirpus torreyi Olney torrevs bulrush

Plants with a slender, lax, creeping rhizome; culms 40-100 cm high, 3-
angled, solitary; leaves 5-10 mm wide, channeled, firm or lax. Inflorescence
3-5 cm long, spikelets 10-15 mm long, ovoid to cylindric; bracts 3-15 cm long.
Lakeshores and ponds; southeastern Boreal forest, Parklands.

Scirpus validus Vahl great bulrush

Plants with stout, extensively creeping, reddish rhizomes; culms 50-300
cm high, to 20 mm thick at the base, round, soft, easily compressed; sheaths
usually bladeless. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, with branches 1-7 cm long, the
longer ones repeatedly branching, drooping; spikelets 3-7 mm long, brown.
Very common; often forming extensive borders along sloughs and lakeshores;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

LEMNACEAE — duckweed family

Aquatic perennials with small disk-like, leafy fronds floating on or in the
water, with one or several rootlets hanging from the lower surface of the frond.
Flowers unisexual, minute, and borne on the surface of the fronds; fruit a min-
ute achene with a thin-walled covering. Duckweeds are found in still water
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Rootlets solitary, one to a frond Lemna

Rootlets several to a frond Spirodela

Lemna duckweed

Fronds short-stalked or stalkless, floating L. minor

Fronds long-stalked, usually submerged L. trisulca

Lemna minor L. lesser duckweed

Small, floating fronds 3-5 mm across, found floating in large quantities in
still water. Common; throughout the Prairie Provinces in suitable locations.

Lemna trisulca L. ivy-leaved duckweed

Small oblong or lanceolate fronds tapering to a narrow stalk, and found
floating at various depths in the water. Fairly common; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Spirodela larger duckweed

Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. LARGER duckweed

Found floating solitary or in small groups on the surface of water. Has
5-11 rootlets hanging from beneath fronds. Fairly common; in Parklands,
Boreal forest.

245

ARACEAE — arum family

Plants with flowers closely borne in a dense spike called a spadix and with
a large leaf-like bract called a spathe at the back of, or sometimes partly
enclosing, the spadix.

Leaf blades linear; spathe green and leaf-like Acorus

Leaf blades ovate and cordate; spathe white
and petal-like Calla

Acorus calamus

Acorus calamus L. sweet flag

Perennial herbs growing from stout rhizomes to 40-100 cm high with
long, narrow sword-like leaves. Inflorescence a spike-like spadix 4-10 cm long,
borne at an angle with the stem and with a leaf-like spathe projecting 3-10 cm
beyond the inflorescence. Plant has a peculiar taste and odor. Found in
swamps and along water courses; Boreal forest.

Calla water-arum

Calla palustr is L. water calla

Low-growing perennial herb from long rhizomes, rooting at the nodes.
The long-stalked leaves are usually broadly ovate, cordate-based, 5-10 cm
long on stalks 7-20 cm long. Inflorescence, borne on a long stalk, a spike-like
spadix 1.5-2.5 cm long, backed by an oval white spathe 2.5-7.0 cm long. Fruits
red berries, each containing a few seeds. Found in swamps and shallow water;
Boreal forest.

COMMELINACEAE — spiderwort family

Tradescantia spiderwort

Tradescantia occidentalis (Britt.) Smyth. western spiderwort

Plants with slender stems, 20-60 cm high; the leaves linear, less than 1 cm
wide, involute. Cymes solitary, terminal; sepals 6-10 mm long; petals 10-15
mm long, rose to blue; pedicels and sepals glandular pubescent. Very rare; dry
grassland; southeastern Parkland.

JUNCACEAE — rush family

Grass-like plants growing from either fibrous roots or rhizomes, and
sometimes bearing round or stem-like leaves. Flowers perfect, regular, with 3
sepals and 3 petals, both very similar and scale-like. Flowers borne on top of
the stem, but the projecting stem-like bract often makes the flowers appear to
be on the side of the stem. The fruit, a capsule, splitting at maturity.

246

Capsule containing many small seeds; plants

glabrous Juncus

Capsule containing 3 large seeds; plants with

pubescent leaves Luzula

Juncus rush

1. Bract of the inflorescence terete, appear-

ing as a continuation of the stem;

inflorescence appearing lateral Group 1

Bract of the inflorescence flat or chan-
neled; inflorescence appearing terminal
or lateral 2

2. Leaves not septate, terete, or flat with the

flat side toward the stem Group 2

Leaves septate, terete, or flat with the

edge of the leaf toward the stem Group 3

Group 1

1. Inflorescence few-flowered, usually only 2

or 3 flowers; seeds with tail-like

appendages 2

Inflorescence usually with several to
many flowers; seeds without tail-like
appendages 3

2. Blade of the uppermost leaf sheath well-

developed; capsule acute J. parry i

Blade of the uppermost leaf sheath greatly

reduced; capsule retuse J. drummondii

3. Seeds about 0.5 mm long; flowers green-

ish; rhizomes slender J.filiformis

Seeds about 1 mm long; flowers brown to

blackish; rhizomes stout 4

4. Inflorescence many-flowered; anthers 2-4

times as long as the filament J. balticus

Inflorescence few-flowered; anthers about

as long as the filaments J. arcticus

Group 2

Flowers borne singly in the inflorescence,

each one with a pair of bractlets 2

Flowers borne in heads with several

flowers 7

Plants annual; inflorescence diffuse,

about half the height of the plant J. bufonius

Plants perennial; inflorescence much less

than half the height of the plant 3

247

3. Sepals obtuse, the tips curved inward; leaf

sheaths extending halfway up the

culm; rhizomes spreading J. compressus

Sepals acute, the tips not curved inward;
leaf sheaths confined to the lower one-
third of the culm; rhizomes erect 4

4. Seeds with a tail-like appendage at each

end; leaves somewhat channeled J. vaseyi

Seeds without appendages; leaves flat or

involute 5

5. Capsule completely 3-celled J. eonfusus

Capsule not completely 3-celled, with the

partitions reaching less than halfway 6

6. Perianth 4-6 mm long; leaf blades mostly

less than half as long as the culm; auri-
cles short, yellowish J. dudleyi

Perianth 3-4.5 mm long; leaf blades
mostly more than half as long as the
culm; auricles long, whitish J. tenuis

7. Seeds without tail-like appendages J. longistylis

Seeds with tail-like appendages 8

8. Plants rhizomatous; heads 1-3, each with

6-8 flowers J. castaneus

Plants tufted; heads solitary, with 1-6

flowers 9

9. Perianth dark brown to blackish; the

bract leaf-like, as long as or slightly

longer than the inflorescence J. biglumis

Perianth whitish to pinkish or light

brown; the bract scale-like /. albescens

Group 3

1. Leaves flat, with the edge toward the

stem; the septa incomplete 2

Leaves terete or occasionally somewhat

flattened; the septa complete 4

2. Seeds with tail-like appendages J. tracyi

Seeds without tail-like appendages 3

3. Stamens 3; stems strongly flattened;

sheaths not auricled J. ensifolius

Stamens 6; stems not strongly flattened;

sheaths mostly auricled J. saximontanus

4. Heads spherical, short-peduncled; sta-

mens 6; capsules lanceolate 5

Heads at most hemispherical, long-
peduncled; stamens 3 or 6; capsules
oblong 6

248

5. Sepals longer than the petals; heads 10-15

mm in diam with 25-80 flowers J. torreyi

Sepals as long as the petals; heads 7-10

mm in diam with 10-20 flowers J. nodosus

6. Seeds with tail-like appendages 7

Seeds without tail-like appendages 9

7. Heads usually solitary, densely many-

flowered; perianth about 4 mm long,

dark brown J. mertensianus

Heads few to many in a more or less
diffuse inflorescence; perianth 2.5-5
mm long, color various 8

8. Perianth about 2.5 mm long; seeds short-

tailed, 0.7-1.2 mm long, the body

longer than the tails J. brevicaudatus

Perianth 4-5 mm long; seeds long-tailed,
1.2-2 mm long, the body shorter than
the tails J. canadensis

9. Branches of inflorescence erect or stiffly

ascending; plants in small tufts from
slender rhizomes; capsule straw-col-
ored or light brown J. alpinus

Branches of inflorescence loosely ascend-
ing or spreading; plants densely tufted
from short rhizomes; capsule dark
shiny brown J. articulatus

J uncus albescens (Lange) Fern. white rush

Plants loosely tufted, with stems 5-15 cm high, very slender; leaves 1-5
cm long, narrow. Inflorescence a single head, 1- to 5-flowered; lower bract
long-acuminate or awned as long as or longer than the first flower; perianth
whitish or pinkish; sepals 3^ mm long; capsule about 3.5 mm long; seeds
1.5-2 mm long, smooth, brown, with tails shorter than the body. Moist areas;
Rocky Mountains.

Juncus alpinus Vill. alpine rush

Plants with creeping rhizomes; stems 15-50 cm high, in small tufts; stem
leaves 1 or 2, seldom reaching the inflorescence, narrow. Inflorescence a cyme
5-15 cm long; glomerules 3- to 12-flowered, obpyramidal; perianth segments
2-3 mm long; capsule 2.5-3.5 mm long. Wet meadows, bogs, and lakeshores;
Parklands, Boreal forest.

Juncus arcticus Willd. arctic rush

Plants with stout rhizomes; stems 10-50 cm high, stout. Inflorescence a
cyme, few-flowered, with branches mostly simple; the bract appearing like a
continuation of the stem; perianth segments 2.5-3.5 mm long, dark brown;
capsule about 3 mm long; seeds about 1 mm long. Sedge tundra; Boreal forest.

249

Juncus articulatus L. JOINTED RUSH

Plants tufted, with slender stems 20-60 cm high; stem leaves usually 2-4,
mostly 3-8 cm long, strongly septate. Inflorescence a cyme 3-10 cm long, with
branches ascending to divergent; glomerules 3- to 11 -flowered; perianth seg-
ments 2-3 mm long, brown; capsule 2.5^ mm long, chestnut or purple brown.
Bogs, wet meadows, lakeshores; Boreal forest.

Juncus balticus Willd. BALTIC RUSH

Plants with long-creeping, thick rhizomes; stems 20-60 cm high, in more
or less regular rows from the rhizomes, or singly; basal sheath 8-15 cm long,
bladeless. Inflorescence appearing lateral, cymose or densely head-like, mostly
2-8 cm long, occasionally to 12 cm long; perianth 4-5 mm long, purplish
brown; capsule about 5 mm long, chestnut brown; seeds 0.8-1 mm long. Wet
meadows, slough margins, sandhills, lakeshores, often in great abundance. A
variable species in which several varieties have been distinguished. Slender
plants with a small dense inflorescence have been named var. montanus
Engelm. (Fig. 79); stout plants with a more open inflorescence, 4-8 or 12 cm
long, are var. littoralis Engelm. Both varieties occur throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Juncus biglumis L. two-glumed rush

Plants tufted, with stems 5-20 cm high; leaves basal, filiform.
Inflorescence a single head; the lowest bract mostly well-developed; perianth
3-3.5 mm long; capsule 3.5 mm long, purplish black; seeds about 1.5 mm long,
with white tails. Tundra; Hudson Bay, Boreal forest.

Juncus brevicaudatus (Engelm.) Fern. short-tail rush

Plants densely tufted, with stems 10-50 cm high, slender; leaves 1-2 mm
in diam, erect. Inflorescence 3-12 cm long, narrow, with branches ascending to
erect; glomerules few to many, each 2- to 7-flowered; perianth segments 2.5-3
mm long, 3-nerved; capsule 3.5-4.5 mm long; seeds about 1 mm long, with
short tails. Marshes and lakeshores; Boreal forest, Parklands.

Juncus bufonius L. toad rush

Plants annual, with stems 3-20 cm high, tufted, erect or spreading; leaves
about 1 mm wide. Inflorescence 2-10 cm long, spreading, freely branching;
flowers singly or in twos or threes; perianth segments unequal, with sepals
3.5-6.5 mm long, petals 3-5.5 mm long. Common in low, wet ground; through-
out the Prairie Provinces.

Juncus canadensis J. Gay Canada rush

Plants tufted, with stems 40-100 cm high, stout and rigid; leaves 1.5-2.5
mm in diam, erect. Inflorescence 2-20 cm long, varying from compact to
loosely branching; glomerules few to many, 2- to 10-flowered; perianth seg-
ments 2.5^4- mm long; capsule 3.5-5 mm long, brown; seeds about 1 mm long,
with white tails. Rare; marshes and wet meadows; northeastern Parkland and
Boreal forest.

250

Fig. 79. Baltic rush, Juncus balticus Willd. var. montanus Engelm.

251

Juncus castaneus Sm. chestnut rush

Plants with slender rhizomes; stems 20-40 cm high, erect; leaves 1-2 mm
wide, basal. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long; the involucral leaf 2-8 cm long; glom-
erules 1-3, the lowest ones sessile or nearly so, the upper one peduncled, 10—18
mm in diam; perianth segments 5-7 mm long, chestnut brown; capsule 6-9
mm long, with a conspicuous beak; seeds 2.5^ mm long, with long slender
tails. Arctic and alpine meadows and tundra; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Juncus compressus Jacq. flattened rush

Plants with slender rhizomes; stems 20-60 cm high, erect, tufted; leaves 1
mm wide, erect. Inflorescence 2-10 cm long, cymose, with branches ascending,
bearing many-flowered glomerules; perianth segments 2-2.5 mm long, purple
brown; capsule 2-3 mm long; seeds about 1 mm long. Introduced; wet
ground, salt marshes; Manitoba.

Juncus confusus Cov. few-flowered rush

Plants tufted, with stems 30-50 cm high, slender; leaves filiform.
Inflorescence 5-20 mm long, compact, pale; perianth segments 3.5-4 mm long,
brown with a yellowish midrib and narrow margins; capsule 3-3.5 mm long;
seeds about 1 mm long. Moist grassland, open woods, and meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Juncus drummondii E. Mey. drummond'S rush

Plants densely tufted, with the base matted, persistent; stems 10-30 cm
high, erect; sheaths short, bladeless, or the blade bristle-like. Inflorescence 1-
to 5-flowered; the bract appearing like a continuation of the stem; perianth
segments 5-7 mm long, brown with a light midrib; capsule 5-7 mm long, trian-
gular; seeds about 2 mm long, tailed at both ends. Moist places; Rocky Moun-
tains.

Juncus dudleyi Wieg. DUDLEY'S RUSH

Plants densely or loosely tufted, with stems 30-60 cm high; leaves basal,
flat, 10-30 cm long; auricles of sheaths rounded, papery, yellowish.
Inflorescence 2-5 cm long, with the few branches loosely ascending; perianth
segments 3.5-5.5 mm long; capsule 3^t mm long; seeds about 0.4 mm long.
Moist or dry soil, waste areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: J. tenuis
Willd. var. dudleyi (Wieg.) Hermann.

Juncus ensifolius Wikstr. equitant-leaved rush

Plants tufted, with stems 30-60 cm high, flattened, sharply 2-keeled;
leaves 2-6 mm wide, flat. Inflorescence 15-70 mm long, with 2-6 heads, about
1 cm thick, many-flowered, brownish; perianth segments about 3 mm long,
dark brown; capsule about 3 mm long; often somewhat exceeding the peri-
anth, dark brown; seeds about 0.3 mm long. Riverbanks, lakeshores; Rocky
Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Juncus filiformis L. thread RUSH

Plants with slender rhizomes; stems 10-40 cm high, arising from the rhi-
zomes in rows, or in small tufts; leaves short, thick. Inflorescence 2-4 cm long,

252

sparingly branched, few-flowered; involucral leaf erect, to 20 cm long; peri-
anth segments 2.5^.5 mm long, greenish, with hyaline margins; capsules 2.5-4
mm long; seeds about 0.3 mm long. Lakeshores, bogs, and alpine meadows;
Boreal forest, rare in northeastern Parkland.

J uncus longistylis Torr. long-styled rush

Plants with slender rhizomes; stems solitary, 20-60 cm high; leaves
mostly basal, 1^4 mm wide, flat; stem leaves short, flat or involute.
Inflorescence 2-3 cm long, with 1-5 heads 8-15 mm across, 2- to 8-flowered;
perianth segments 4.5-6 mm long, greenish brown; capsule 4-5 mm long,
brownish; seed about 0.5 mm long, tailed at both ends. Fairly common; wet
meadows, lakeshores, and riverbanks; Prairies, Parklands, Boreal forest.

Juncus mertensianus Bong. slender-stemmed rush

Plants with matted rhizomes; stems 10-40 cm high, densely tufted; leaves
1-2 mm wide, compressed, septate. Inflorescence usually a solitary head, occa-
sionally 2 or 3 heads, dark brown, almost spherical; perianth segments 3.5^.5
mm long, dark brown; capsule 3.5^4.5 mm long, dark brown; seeds 1 mm
long, reticulate. Rare; wet ground, meadows, and slopes; Rocky Mountains,
Cypress Hills.

Juncus nodosus L. knotted rush

Plants with slender rhizomes; stems 20-60 cm high, erect; leaves to 10 cm
long, and 1.5 mm thick, septate. Inflorescence a cyme 2-5 cm long, contracted
or more or less open with 2-20 globose heads, 7-12 mm in diam, 10- to 25-
flowered; perianth segments 2.5-4 mm long, reddish brown; capsule 3.5^.5
mm long; seeds 1.5 mm long. Bogs, marshes, and lakeshores; Prairies, Park-
lands, Boreal forest.

Juncus parryi Engelm. PARRY'S RUSH

Plants densely tufted, with stems 10-30 cm high, slender; leaves only from
the upper sheaths. Inflorescence a single head, 1- to 3-flowered; perianth seg-
ments 6-7 mm long; capsule about 7 mm long; seeds about 0.5 mm long,
tailed at both ends. Mountain slopes and meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Juncus saximontanus A. Nels. rocky mountain rush

Plants with stout creeping rhizomes; stems 20-50 cm high, compressed;
leaves 2-A mm wide, flat, with the edge toward the stem, 10-20 cm long.
Inflorescence 6-10 cm long, with 2-12 heads, 4-6 mm across, few- to many-
flowered; perianth segments 2.5-3.5 mm long, dark brown; capsule about 3
mm long; seeds 0.5 mm long, reticulate. Marshes and wet areas; Rocky Moun-
tains, Cypress Hills.

Juncus tenuis Willd. slender rush

Plants loosely or densely tufted, with stems 10-60 cm high, mostly erect;
leaves mostly basal, 10-25 cm long, flat or involute; the sheaths conspicuously
long auricled. Inflorescence a cyme 2-8 cm long, commonly exceeded by the
involucral leaf, compact to open; perianth segments 3-5 mm long; capsule 3-4
mm long, straw-colored; seeds about 0.5 mm long. Moist to wet areas; Prai-
ries, Parklands, Boreal forest.

253

Juncus torreyi Cov. torrevs rush

Plants with slender tuberous-thickened rhizomes; stems 40-80 cm high,
stout, rigid, erect; leaves 1-3 mm thick, 10-30 cm long; sheaths with auricles
2.5-3.5 mm long. Inflorescence 2-4 cm long, with 2 to many heads, usually
crowded; heads 10-15 mm in diam, globose; 25- to 100-flowered; perianth seg-
ments unequal, with the petals 4.5-5 mm long, the sepals 3.5-5 mm, linear-lan-
ceolate; capsule 4.5-5.5 mm long, narrowly lanceolate; seeds about 0.3 mm
long. Wet areas; Prairies, Parklands.

Juncus tracyi Rydb. MUD RUSH

Plants with stout rhizomes; stems 30-60 cm high, stout, compressed;
leaves 5-20 cm long, 2-4 mm wide. Inflorescence 4-8 cm long, with 5-9 heads,
8-10 mm in diam; perianth segments 3-4 mm long, light brown; capsule about
3-3.5 mm long, brown; seeds 0.5 mm long, reticulate. Rare; wet areas; north-
ern Rocky Mountains.

Juncus vaseyi Engelm. big-head rush

Plants with short rhizomes; stems 30-80 cm high, erect, tufted; basal
leaves to 30 cm long, terete or nearly so. Inflorescence \-4 cm long, compact;
perianth segments 3.5-4.5 mm long, brown; capsule 4-5.5 mm long, truncate,
straw-colored; seeds 0.5-0.8 mm long, conspicuously tailed at both ends.
Moist soil, meadows, and lakeshores; Prairies, Parklands, Boreal forest.

Luzula wood-rush

Similar to Juncus but capsule 1 -celled with 3 seeds; foliage more or less
pilose.

1. Flowers solitary or in pairs at the end of

branches of the inflorescence 2

Flowers few to many in glomerules 5

2. Seeds with a tail-like appendage about as

long as the body L. pilosa

Seeds without a tail-like appendage 3

3. Perianth about 3 mm long; panicle

branches ascending ,.. L. glabrata

Perianth about 1-2 mm long; panicle

branches spreading to drooping 4

4. Leaves 4-10 mm wide; usually 3-6 leaves

on the plant, shiny green L. parviflora

Leaves 2-5 mm wide; usually 1 or 2

leaves on the plant, dull green L. wahlenbergii

5. Seeds without a tail-like appendage, but

with a tuft of minute hairs L. confusa

Seeds with a tail-like appendage, without

hairs 6

6. Appendage well-developed; perianth seg-

ments 2.5-3.5 mm long L. campestris

254

Appendage of seeds small; perianth seg-
ments 2-2.5 mm long 7

7. Sepals ciliate on the margins; leaves 1-4

mm wide, subulate at the tip L. spicata

Sepals with entire or lacerate margins;
leaves 2-6 mm wide, blunt,
callus-tipped L. groenlandica

Luzula campestris (L.) DC. field wood-rush

Plants tufted, with stems 20-40 cm high; leaves 2-6 mm wide, flat; cauline
leaves 2 or 3, short. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, with slender ascending pedun-
cles, and one or more sessile glomerules; perianth segments 2.5-3.5 mm long;
capsule 3.5 mm long; seeds 1-1.3 mm long, with the appendage 0.4—0.5 mm.
Dry to moist woods; Boreal forest, Cypress Hills.

Luzula confusa Lindeb. northern wood-rush

Plants densely tufted, with stems 10-30 cm high; leaves 1-3 mm wide;
stem leaves 2 or 3, short. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, with 2-5 glomerules on
slender peduncles, or occasionally the glomerules crowded into a short spike;
perianth segments 2.5-3 mm long, brown; capsule 3 mm long, red brown;
seeds 1-1.2 mm long, with a tuft of minute hairs. Gravel ridges and barrens;
Hudson Bay, Boreal forest, also reported from Rocky Mountains.

Luzula glabrata (Hoppe) Desv. smooth wood-rush

Plants with scaly rhizomes; stems 20-50 cm high; leaves 4-10 mm wide,
with stem leaves well-developed. Inflorescence 6-10 cm long, with the
branches ascending or spreading; perianth segments 3-3.5 mm long, dark
brown; capsule about 3 mm long, almost black; seeds 1-1.3 mm long, with a
tuft of hairs. Meadows and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Luzula groenlandica Boecher Greenland wood-rush

Plants tufted; stems 20-50 cm high; leaves 3-7 mm wide, flat, with stem
leaves 2 or 3, short. Inflorescence 3-5 cm long; perianth segments 2-2.5 mm
long; capsule 2.5-3 mm long, dark brown; seeds about 1 mm long, with the
appendage short. Tundra; Hudson Bay.

Luzula parviflora (Ehrh.) Desv. small-flowered wood-rush

Plants with creeping rhizomes; stems 20-60 cm high, erect; leaves 5-10
mm wide. Inflorescence 5-12 cm long, with branches loosely spreading to
drooping; perianth segments 1.5-2.5 mm long, pale brown; capsule 2-2.5 mm
long, dark brown; seeds 1-1.4 mm long, with a tuft of long hairs. Infertile soil,
open forests; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Luzula pilosa (L.) Willd. var. saltuensis (Fern.) Boiv. hairy wood-rush

Plants tufted from short rhizomes; stems 10^40 cm high; leaves 3-10 mm
wide, and up to 30 cm long, with stem leaves 2-\, shorter and narrower than
the basal leaves. Inflorescence 3-6 cm long, with branches loosely spreading;
perianth segments 2.5^.5 mm long, the center chestnut brown, with narrow
margins; capsule 3-4.5 mm long, brown; seeds about 1 mm long, with the
appendage about equaling the body. Open woods; Boreal forest.

255

Luzula spicata (L.) DC. spiked wood-rush

Plants densely tufted, with stems 10-30 cm high, slender; leaves 1-^4 mm
wide; stem leaves 1-3, short. Inflorescence 1-3 cm long, spike-like, often nod-
ding, with the glomerules dense, sessile; perianth segments 2-2.5 mm, bristle-
pointed, brown; capsule 2.5 mm long, red brown; seeds 1-1.2 mm long, with a
short appendage. Arctic and alpine meadows; Boreal forest, Rocky Moun-
tains.

Luzula wahlenbergii Rupr. mountain wood-rush

Plants with rhizomes; stems 20-60 cm high, erect; leaves 3-8 mm wide;
stem leaves well-developed, thick, dull. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, with the
slender branches spreading and drooping; perianth segments 1.5-2.5 mm long,
pale; capsule 2-2.5 mm long, dark brown; seeds 1-1.3 mm long, gray brown to
yellow with a tuft of long hairs. Meadows and open forests; southern Rocky
Mountains.

LILIACEAE — lily family

Perennial herbs growing from bulbs, corms, or rootstocks. With a few
exceptions, the leaves are parallel-veined. Except in the Maianthemum genus,
the flowers have 3 sepals and 3 petals, all colored, and 6 stamens in 2 whorls.
The fruit is a capsule or a berry.

1. Leaves reduced to thin, dry scales;

branchlets filiform; flowers small,

greenish Asparagus

Leaves normal, not reduced to scales 2

2. Plants climbing with tendrils; leaves

roundish, net-veined, flowers in axillary

umbels Smilax

Plants not climbing 3

3. Leaves linear, many times as long as wide 4

Leaves variously shaped, not more than

five times as long as wide 12

4. Flowers orange, large, 5-7 cm long Lilium

Flowers not orange, smaller 5

5. Inflorescence an umbel, head-like cluster,

or few-flowered 6

Inflorescence a many-flowered raceme 7

6. Inflorescence few-flowered; flowers yel-

lowish white, large, to 25 mm long Calochortus

Inflorescence an umbel or head-like clus-
ter; flowers 5-15 mm long Allium

7. Flowers purplish blue, to 2 cm long Camassia

Flowers not purplish blue 8

256

8. Flowers greenish or reddish brown, 10-15

mm long, nodding on slender pedicels Stenanthium

Flowers some shade of white, in erect

racemes 9

9. Flowers large, 3-5 cm long; leaves with a

rigid point at the tip Yucca

Flowers smaller, to 1.5 cm long; leaves

not with a rigid point 10

10. Racemes large, densely flowered; leaves

rough; stems to 1.2 m high Xerophyllum

Racemes slender, loosely flowered; leaves
smooth; plants not more than about
0.6 m high 1 1

1 1. Leaves keeled, V-shaped in cross section;

flowers 5-15 mm long Zygadenus

Leaves flat; flowers to 5 mm long Tofieldia

12. Flowers solitary or in umbels, terminal 13

Flowers axillary, in panicles or in

racemes 17

13. Stems leafy 14

Stems leafless 16

14. Flowers white or pinkish Trillium

Flowers orange yellow or straw yellow 15

15. Flowers nodding; plants with a deep-

seated bulb Fhtillaha

Flowers erect or nodding; plants with

rhizomes Uvulaha

16. Flowers bright yellow, nodding; fruit a

capsule; leaves glabrous Erythronium

Flowers white or greenish white; fruit a

bluish berry; leaves pilose beneath Clintonia

17. Flowers in a large, diffuse panicle Veratrum

Flowers axillary or in racemes, or at tips

of branches 18

18. Flowers \^\ at the tip of the stem or

branches; fruit a red or orange berry Disporum

Flowers axillary or in racemes 19

19. Flowers axillary 20

Flowers in racemes 21

20. Perianth segments free at the tip only Polygonatum

Perianth segments free to the base Streptopus

21. Plants small, usually with only 2 or 3

leaves; raceme small Maianthemum

Plants large, with leafy stems; racemes

simple or paniculate Smilacina

257

Allium onion

Strong-scented herbs growing from a bulbous root, which is generally
covered with a fibrous coat. Leaves linear and narrow, flowers brightly colored
and borne in umbels. Fruit a capsule containing dark seeds.

1. Flower stalks shorter than individual

flowers; leaves circular in cross section

and hollow A. schoenoprasum

Flower stalks longer than individual

flowers; leaves not hollow 2

2. Umbel nodding or drooping A. cernuum

Umbel erect 3

3. Flowers rose-colored A. stellatum

Flowers white or pale pink A. textile

Allium cernuum Roth nodding onion

Growing from coarse-necked bulbs, usually on a short rhizome; flower
heads rose or rarely white. Found occasionally; in grassy openings; Parklands.

Allium schoenoprasum L. var. sibiricum (L.) Hartm. wild chives

Perennial from small bulbs, 20-50 cm high, with many hollow leaves up
to 3 mm thick and circular in cross section. Inflorescence a dense, compact
umbel 2-5 cm across; flower stalks very short and flowers bright rose pink.
Not common; moist areas, meadows, and coulees; Rocky Mountains, Boreal
forests.

Allium stellatum Fraser pink-flowered onion

Erect umbels of pink or rose flowers from a membranous-coated bulb.
Fairly common; in wooded lands; throughout Parklands.

Allium textile Nels. & Macbr. (Fig. 80) prairie onion

A low plant, from an onion-like bulb having a net-like coating and a very
pungent odor. From 8-25 cm high, with umbels of white or pale pink flowers,
which blossom early in season. Common; on dry prairie; throughout Prairies,
Parklands.

Asparagus asparagus

Asparagus officinalis L. asparagus

Plants with succulent rhizomes; stems 60-150 cm high; branches filiform;
leaves scaly. Flowers small, yellowish green, axillary, with the pedicels jointed;
fruit a red berry. Introduced, occasionally escaped from cultivation.

Calochortus mariposa lily

Calochortus apiculatus Baker mariposa lily

Plants with ovoid bulbs and membranous scales; stems 10-30 cm high;
leaf solitary, basal, 5-15 mm wide. Flowers 1^4, yellowish white, 3-5 cm
across; the sepals shorter than the petals; stamens 6; stigmas 3; fruit a
3-angled capsule. Dry slopes, open woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

258

Fig. 80. Prairie onion, Allium textile Nels. & Macbr.

259

Camassia camas

Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene COMMON camas

Herbaceous perennial plants from an ovoid bulb 1-3 cm broad, the leaves
mostly basal, narrow, and grass-like, 20-40 cm long. Blue flowers with 6 petal-
like segments 10-25 mm long, borne in a raceme at the summit of scapose
stems 30-60 cm high. Moist meadows; in southern Rocky Mountains.

Clintonia

Flowers white, usually solitary C. uniflora

Flowers yellowish green, in 3- to 8-flowered
umbel C. borealis

Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf. bluebead lily

Plants with slender rootstocks; scapes 15-40 cm high; leaves 2-5, to 30
cm long, obovate to oblong-elliptic, glossy green. Flowers on pedicels 1-3 cm
long; perianth segments 15-18 mm long, greenish yellow, nodding; fruit a blue
berry, 8 mm in diam. Moist woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Clintonia uniflora (Schult.) Kunth CORN LILY

Plants with slender rootstocks; scapes 6-20 cm high; leaves 2-5, to 20 cm
long, oblanceolate, pubescent below. Flowers showy; perianth segments about
1 cm long, white, villose; fruit a deep blue berry 8-10 mm in diam. Moist
woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Disporum fairybells

Stigma 3-lobed; flowers solitary or in pairs D. trachycarpum

Stigma entire; flowers in clusters of \-A D. hookeri

Disporum hookeri (Torr.) Britt. var. oreganum (Wats.) Q. Jones

OREGON FAIRYBELLS

Plants 30-80 cm high, with leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 3-9 cm
long, 2-6 cm wide, cordate-based. Flowers \-4 in a cluster, 10-12 mm long,
creamy white or tinged with green; stigma entire; berry ovoid, 8-16 mm in
diam, 6-seeded. Moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) B. & H. (Fig. S\A) fairybells

Plants 30-60 cm high, with leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 3-8 cm
long, 2-5 cm wide, short pubescent, rounded or subcordate at the base. Flow-
ers solitary or in pairs, occasionally 3 together, 8-14 mm long, creamy white;
stigma 3-lobed; berry depressed globose, 8-10 mm in diam, 4- to 18-seeded.
Moist woods, ravines, and coulees; throughout Prairies, Parklands, southern
parts of Boreal forest.

260

Fig. 81. A, Fairybells, Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) B. & H.; B, two-
leaved Solomon's-seal, Maianthemum canadense Desf. var. interius Fern.; C,
clasping-leaved twistedstalk, Streptopus amplexifolius (L.) DC.

261

Erythronium fawn lily

Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh (Fig. 82) GLACIER LILY

Plants with deep-seated corm, arising from a rootstock; scape 20-30 cm
high. Leaves 7-15 cm long, oblong-lanceolate. Flowers solitary or in a 2- to 6-
flowered raceme; perianth segments 3-5 cm long, bright yellow, recurved; cap-
sule 3-5 cm long. Open forests, hillsides, and grassy slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Fritillaria fritillary

Fritillaria pudica (Pursh) Spreng. yellowbell

A short plant, 10-30 cm high, from a very scaly bulb. Leaves about 8 cm
long and up to 6 mm wide, somewhat whorled about halfway up the stem.
Flower, nodding and single, bell-shaped, yellow or orange, on the summit of
the stem, about 15-20 mm high. Very rare; on moist banks; southern Rocky
Mountains. Syn.: Ochrocodon pudicus (Pursh) Rydb.

Lilium lily

Lilium philadelphicum L. wood lily

Very showy, erect plants 20-60 cm high, from whitish, scaly bulblets.
Leaves linear, in whorls. Flowers showy, 8 cm long, sepals and petals red or
orange with black spots, 1-5 flowers on a plant. Found in the eastern part of
the Prairie Provinces, but westward giving place to the western red lily, L.
philadelphicum L. var. andinum (Nutt.) Ker (Fig. 83), having the lower leaves
alternate and the upper ones whorled. The variety is found in moist meadows
throughout the entire area, but is becoming scarcer with the advance of settle-
ment and overpicking. Plants found in the Foothills region have wider, lanceo-
late leaves and were formerly considered a separate species.

Maianthemum wild lily-of-the-valley

Maianthemum canadense Desf. var. interius Fern. (Fig. 815)

TWO-LEAVED SOLOMON'S-SEAL

Low, erect plant, 5-15 cm high, with 2, sometimes 3, ovate leaves, cor-
date-based, borne alternately on the stem. Flowers small, white, in a rather
dense raceme. Berries pale red, speckled, about 5 mm in diam. Fairly com-
mon; in rich, moist woods; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Polygonatum Solomon's-seal

Polygonatum canaliculatum (Muhl.) Pursh common solomon'S-seal

Coarse plants, from jointed rootstocks, 30-100 cm high. Leaves large,
alternate, up to 15 cm long and to 10 cm wide. White, cylindric flowers sus-
pended in little bunches below the stem, about 15 mm long. Berries dark blue,
8-12 mm in diam. Fairly common; in open woodlands in the eastern part.
Syn.: P. commutatum (R. & S.) Dietr.

262

* p. 1

Fig. 82. Glacier lily, Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh.

263

Fig. 83. Western red lily, Lilium philadelphicum L. var. andinum (Nutt.) Ker.

264

Smilacina false spikenard

Plants from rootstocks, with alternate, ovate to lanceolate leaves, and
small, perfect, greenish white flowers borne in racemes or panicles. Fruits
small berries.

1. Inflorescence a branched, dense panicle S. racemosa

Inflorescence an unbranched raceme 2

2. Leaves 6-12; berries green S. stellata

Leaves 2-4; berries dark red S. trifolia

Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf.

Large-leaved plants, 30-90 cm high. Leaves elliptic or oval, up to 15 cm
long and to 7 cm wide, parallel-veined, without stalks, except lower ones,
which may have very short stalks. White flowers in a densely branched panicle
at the end of the stem. Berries red, purple-specked, up to 6 mm across. Not
common; found in moist woods; throughout southeastern Boreal forest, Rid-
ing Mountain. Replaced in western Boreal forest, Parklands, Rocky Moun-
tains, and Cypress Hills by S. racemosa (L.) Desf. var. amplexicaulis (Nutt.) S.
Wats., having all leaves sessile and clasping.

Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf. star-flowered solomon'S-seal

Erect, low plants, 15-50 cm high. Leaves arranged on opposite sides of the
stem, folded at the base, overlapping each other in early stages, but spreading
and flattening out later. Flowers small, white, in a spike-like raceme on the
stem. Fruits green berries, each with 6 black stripes. Very common; in moist
soil, meadows, woods, and low areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Read-
ily eaten by livestock.

Smilacina trifolia (L.) Desf. three-leaved solomon'S-seal

Short, slender plants from a thin rootstock, growing to 5-30 cm high and
usually bearing 3 alternate, oblong-lanceolate leaves without stalks, but often
sheathing the stem at their base. Flowers few, in a terminal raceme. Berries
dark red, up to 6 mm in diam. Wet woods and bogs; Boreal forest.

Smilax carrionflower

Unlike most monocotyledons, this genus has netted-veined leaves. The
parallel veins, however, are much more distinct and conspicuous than the
others.

Smilax herbacea L. var. lasioneura (Hook.) DC. carrionflower

Plants climbing by tendrils, up to 1.5 m long. Leaves alternate, long-
stalked, oval to ovate, cordate-based, up to 8 cm long and to 6 cm across.
Flowers small, greenish, in many-flowered umbels. Fruits purplish berries.
These plants derive their common name from the carrion-like odor of the
flowers, which attracts flies that aid in fertilization. Fairly common; in shady,
moist woodlands; throughout Prairies, Parklands.

265

Stenanthium stenanthium

Stenanthium occidentale A. Gray bronzebells

Bulbous-rooted herbs, with grass-like, linear, mostly basal leaves, 15-30
cm long. Flowers greenish purple, drooping, 10-15 mm long, in a raceme on a
stem 30-50 cm high. Moist woods and slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Streptopus twistedstalk

Leaves clasping the stem; flowers greenish

white S. ample xifolius

Leaves sessile, not clasping the stem; flowers

pink or rose S. roseus var. per spec tus

Streptopus amplexifolius (L.) DC. (Fig. 8 1 Q clasping-leaved twistedstalk

Herbs, from rootstock, 30-100 cm high. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, 5-10
cm long and 3-6 cm wide, clasping the stem at their bases. Greenish white
flowers, 8-12 mm long, on long twisted stalks, usually in pairs beneath the
axils of the leaves. Fruits red berries, 10-15 mm long, on a long twisted stalk.
Represented by var. americanus Schultes, as described. Moist woods, ravines,
and thickets; Parklands, Boreal forest. Locally, var. denticulatus Fassett, with
the leaf margins finely denticulate, has been found.

Streptopus roseus Michx. var. perspectus Fassett rose mandarin

Herbs with matted rootstocks; stems 30-80 cm high, simple or branched,
finely pubescent. Leaves lanceolate, broadly rounded at the base, sessile, 5-9
cm long, 2-4 cm wide. Flowers about 1 cm long, rose or purplish, nodding.
Not common; moist woods and thickets; southeastern Parklands, Boreal for-
est.

Tofieldia asphodel

Stem not hairy; flowers single in a short
raceme T. pusilla

Stem slightly hairy near top and with sticky
glands; flowers in bunches of 3 in a short
raceme T. glutinosa

Tofieldia glutinosa (Michx.) Pers. sticky asphodel

Plants with slender rootstocks; stems 10-50 cm high, viscid above; basal
leaves 5-20 cm long, 3-8 mm wide. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long; flowers white,
with segments about 4 mm long; capsules 5-6 mm long, ovoid. Marshes, bogs,
and riverbanks; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Tofieldia pusilla (Michx.) Pers. bog asphodel

Plants with short rootstocks; stems 5-20 cm high, slender, smooth; basal
leaves 2-6 cm long, 1-3 mm wide. Inflorescence 5-20 mm long; flowers green-
ish white 1.5-2.5 mm long; capsules 2.5-3 mm long. Marshes, bogs, and river-
banks; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

266

Trillium wakerobin

Flowers on recurved peduncles, to below the

leaves T. cernuum var. marcranthum

Flowers on erect peduncles, above the leaves T. ovatum

Trillium cernuum L. var. macranthum Earn. & Wieg. nodding wakerobin

Plants with short rootstocks; stems 20-40 cm high, slender; leaves rhom-
bic-ovate, 6-10 cm long, 5-12 cm broad; flowers on peduncles \~4 cm long,
reflexed to below the leaves; perianth segment 15-25 mm long; petals white.
Rare; moist woods; eastern Boreal forest.

Trillium ovatum Pursh western wakerobin

Plants with short, stout rootstocks; stems 30-50 cm high; leaves rhombic-
ovate, 6-10 cm long, 5-9 cm wide. Flowers on an erect peduncle 25-75 mm
long; perianth segments 25-50 mm long; petals white, turning deep rose. Very
rare; moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Uvularia bellwort

Uvularia sessilifolia L. small bellwort

Slender, smooth-stemmed herbs, 15-30 cm high, with stalkless, lanceo-
late-oblong leaves, 3-8 cm long. Flowers borne singly 12-30 mm long, pale
greenish yellow. Fruit sharply 3-angled, a capsule about 25 mm long. Very
rare; in shady woodlands; southeastern Boreal forest.

Veratrum false hellebore

Veratrum eschscholtzii Gray green false hellebore

Plants with a short, thick rootstock; stems stout, very leafy, somewhat
pubescent, 1-2 m high. Leaves oval to elliptic, 10-30 cm long, acute, short-pet-
ioled to sessile or clasping, strongly veined, and often plaited. Flowers numer-
ous in a panicle 20-50 cm long; perianth greenish or yellowish green, 15-20
mm across; capsule ovoid, 20-25 mm long, to 12 mm thick, with many large
flat seeds. Moist forests and wet places; southern Rocky Mountains.

Xerophyllum turkey-beard

Xerophyllum tenax (Pursh) Nutt. bear-grass

Plants in dense clumps; stems slender 20-150 cm high, with scattered
ascending leaves; basal leaves 50-80 cm long, 3-6 mm wide, rigid, flat, with
rough margins. Inflorescence a dense raceme 30 cm or more long; flowers
creamy white, with the segments 6-9 mm long; fruit a small capsule 5-7 mm
long. Rare; dry mountain slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Yucca yucca

Yucca glauca Nutt. yucca, soapweed

Coarse plants with short, woody stems and stiff, narrow basal leaves with
sharp, hard tips. Flowers cream-colored or greenish white, with petals and se-

267

pals 25-50 mm long, in a raceme surmounting a stem 20-60 cm high. Fruits
capsules containing numerous black seeds in layers. This plant is fertilized
only by the yucca moth, which feeds on it, thereby making the insect and the
plant interdependent. Very rare; on dry slopes; Prairies.

Zygadenus camas

Plants with an onion-like bulbous root and long, linear, grass-like leaves,
somewhat flattened in cross section. Flowers perfect, with sepals and petals
very similar, in racemes or panicles. Fruit an ovoid capsule containing many
seeds.

Flowers pale yellow, about 5 mm long Z. gramineus

Flowers greenish yellow or straw-colored,
about 10 mm long Z. elegans

Zygadenus elegans Pursh smooth camas

Grows 30-60 cm high; leaves pale green; flowers grayish white to green-
ish, in an open raceme. Very common; in moist places, saline meadows;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Anticlea elegans (Pursh) Rydb.

Zygadenus gramineus Rydb. (Fig. 84) death camas

A low-growing early herb from an onion-like bulb, which is usually 6-15
cm below the soil surface. Leaves linear and grass-like, 10-20 cm high. Very
poisonous to sheep and somewhat poisonous to cattle. Common; in draws,
around grassy sloughs and uplands; throughout the south central and south-
western Prairies. Because of its very early spring growth, it is sought after by
livestock, and, wherever dense stands occur, poisoning may result. Syn.:
Toxicoscordion gramineum Rydb.

AMARYLLIDACEAE — amaryllis family

Hypoxis star-grass

Hypoxis hirsuta (L.) Coville yellow star-grass

Plants 10-20 cm high, from a bulbous root. Leaves very narrow, grass-
like, slightly hairy. Flowers perfect, 3 or 4 to an umbel, with 3 sepals and 3 pet-
als, greenish outside and yellow inside. Flowers 5-10 mm long; fruit a narrow
capsule. Not common; found growing among grass in eastern Parklands.

IRIDACEAE — iris family

Flowers large, irregular; leaves to 3 cm wide;

plants with stout rootstocks Ms

Flowers small, regular or nearly so; leaves to 5

mm wide; plants with fibrous roots Sisyrinchium

268

Fig. 84. Death camas,
Zygadenus gramineus
Rydb.

Iris flag

Flowers yellow I. pseudacorus

Flowers blue violet , /. versicolor

Iris pseudacorus L. water flag

Stems 50-60 cm high, with leaves stiff, erect, 1-2 cm broad, equaling or
exceeding the stems. Perianth 7-9 cm across, bright yellow to cream. Capsule
5-8 cm long, 6-angled. Introduced, occasionally escaped; southeastern Park-
lands, Boreal forest.

Iris versicolor L.

BLUE FLAG

Stems 20-80 cm high, arising from a thick, creeping rhizome; leaves erect,
arching, 1-2 cm broad, shorter than to equaling the stems. Perianth 6-8 cm
across, pale to dark blue or violet. Capsule 3-6 cm long, 3-angled. Marshes,
swamps, and lakeshores; southeastern Parklands, Boreal forest.

269

Sisyrinchium blue-eyed grass

Perennial plants from rootstocks, with 2-edged stems. Leaves narrowly
linear or grass-like and borne on two sides of the stem. The flowers perfect,
with 3 sepals and 3 petals, all alike, blue, and with sharp-pointed tips. Fruit a
round capsule.

Sisyrinchium montanum Greene COMMON BLUE-EYED grass

Stems 10-30 cm high with narrow-winged edges. Flowers bright blue,
with petals 3 mm long. Common, often found in large colonies; in meadows
and moist places; throughout Prairies and Parklands. This, the commonest of
the species, was formerly called Sisyrinchium angustifolium Miller.

ORCHIDACEAE — orchis family

Perennial herbs, with roots often fleshy. Leaves entire, usually sheathing
the stems. Flowers irregular, usually with a large lip. Cypripedium has 2 sta-
mens but the other genera have a single stamen, with the pollen grains united
into 4-8 masses called pollinia. A difficult, widely distributed family with
pretty flowers.

1. Flowers large, to 8 cm long; lip inflated

and mocassin-shaped; fertile anthers

2 Cypripedium

Flowers mostly smaller; lip concave or
flat, not mocassin-shaped; fertile
anther 1 2

2. Flower solitary; plants with a single basal

leaf; scape with sheathing bracts 3

Flowers 2 to many, in racemes or spikes 4

3. Flower purplish, 15-20 mm long; leaf

oval to round-ovate, 2-6 cm long Calypso

Flower rose purplish, 20-30 mm long;

leaf linear, 10-20 cm long Arethusa

4. Plants without chlorophyll; leaves

reduced to scales Corallorhiza

Plants with chlorophyll; leaves normal 5

5. Flowers distinctly spurred 6

Flowers not spurred 7

6. Leaves 2, oval, basal; lip white, spotted

with purple; sepals and petals roseate Orchis

Leaves 1 to several; flowers uniformly

greenish or white Habenaria

7. Leaves 2, sessile near the middle of the

stem Listera

Leaves 1 to several, basal or scattered 8

8. Plants with a subbasal, solitary leaf. 9

Plants with 2 to several leaves 10

270

9. Leaf linear to narrowly oblong; flowers

25-50 mm long, pink purple Calopogon

Leaf oval to elliptic; flowers small, 2-3

mm long, greenish Malaxis

10. Leaves somewhat fleshy, strongly reticu-

late, ovate to obovate, basal Goodyera

Leaves not fleshy, not strongly reticulate,

linear or lanceolate 1 1

11. Leaves 2, strongly keeled, sheathing the

stem at the base; flowers greenish Liparis

Leaves several, not strongly keeled, basal
or scattered on the stem; flowers
creamy white Spiranthes

Arethusa arethusa

Arethusa bulbosa L. dragon'S-mouth

Plants with solid bulbs, 10-30 cm high; the leaf 2-A mm wide, nearly
equaling the scape. Flower with a pair of small bracts at the base; sepals and
petals lanceolate, magenta; lip pinkish white with purple and yellow spots and
streaks. Very rare; bogs and wet meadows; southeastern Boreal forest.

Calopogon grass-pink

Calopogon pulchellus (Salisb.) R. Br. purple grass-pink

Plants with solid bulbs, 30-90 cm high; the leaf to 40 cm long, grass-like.
Inflorescence a loose raceme with 3-15 rose purple flowers, 15-20 mm long.
Very rare; bogs and swamps; southeastern Boreal forest.

Calypso Venus-slipper

Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes (Fig. 85,4) venus-slipper

Growing from bulbous corm, with stem 8-15 cm high. One round-ovate
leaf at base and a single pink flower 15-20 mm long with large pink sac having
purple lines and inner tuft of yellow hairs. An exceedingly delicate and beauti-
ful flower. In cool woods; Boreal forest, Cypress Hills. Syn.: Cytherea bulbosa
(L.) House.

Corallorhiza coralroot

Plants growing on dead and decaying organic matter; therefore, found
only in wooded areas. Lacking green color; stems scaly, pinkish yellow; roots
coral-like.

1. Flowers small, not longer than 10 mm C. trifida

Flowers longer than 10 mm 2

2. Flowers conspicuously striped; lip entire C. striata

Flowers more spotted than striped; lip

3-lobed C. maculata

111

Fig. 85. Orchids: A, Venus-slipper, Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes; B, small
yellow lady's-slipper, Cypripedium calceolus L. var. parviflorum (Salisb.) Fern.;
C, green-flowered bog orchid, Habenaria hyperborea (L.) R. Br.; Z), northern
twayblade, Listera borealis Morong; E, round-leaved orchid, Orchis
rotundifolia Banks.

272

Corallorhiza maculata Raf. large coralroot

Plant with stem 20-50 cm high, purplish, having scaly leaves. Flowers
12-20 mm long, reddish purple; lip white, spotted with red. Not common; in
shady woods; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Corallorhiza striata Lindl. striped coralroot

Plant with coarse, stout stem 20-50 cm high. Flowers dark purple, with
darker purple stripes. Very rare; in shady woodlands; southeastern Boreal for-
est, Cypress Hills.

Corallorhiza trifida Chat. early coralroot

Small species with slender stem 10-30 cm high, and small greenish
flowers. Not common; in shaded woods; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Cypripedium lady's-slipper

Perennial plants with thick fibrous roots and erect stems, bearing two to
several large leaves and 1-3 large flowers. All are rare or very rare; the most
colorful orchids in the Prairie Provinces.

1. Lower sepals separate and spreading C. arietinum

Lower sepals united, usually 2-veined or

2-toothed 2

2. Flowering stem a naked scape, with 2

leaves basal, subopposite C. acaule

Flowering stem leafy, with 2-6 leaves

along the stem 3

3. Sepals and petals white; 25^40 mm long;

lip white with rose purple streaks C. reginae

Sepals greenish, brownish, or yellowish 4

4. Sepals yellowish; petals greenish yellow to

brownish; lip yellow C. calceolus

Sepals greenish or brownish; lip not

yellow 5

5. Flower solitary; sepals and petals green-

ish, crimson-striped C. candidum

Flowers 1-3 on stem; petals brownish or

white 6

6. Sepals and petals greenish or purplish

brown, 40-60 mm long C. montanum

Sepals green, with the lateral petals white,

15-20 mm long C. passerinum

Cypripedium acaule Ait. (Fig. 86) stemless ladvs-slipper

Scape leafless, 20-40 cm high, with 2 basal leaves, 10-20 cm long, elliptic,
thinly pubescent. Flower solitary; sepals and lateral petals yellowish green to
greenish brown, 30-50 mm long, lip 30-60 mm long, pink with reddish veins.
Rare; dry to moist woods, bogs, and swamps; Boreal forest.

273

-.*

-won

Fig. 86. Stemless lady's-slipper, Cypripedium acaule Ait.

274

Cypripedium arietinum R. Br. ram'S-head lady'S-slipper

Stem with 3-5 sessile leaves above and 2 or 3 sheathing scales below,
10-40 cm high; leaves 5-10 cm long, lanceolate, finely ciliate. Flower solitary;
sepals and lateral petals greenish brown, 15-25 mm long; lip whitish, veined
with red, 10-20 mm long. Very rare; moist coniferous woods; southeastern
Boreal forest.

Cypripedium calceolus L. yellow lady'S-slipper

Plants 20-40 cm high, with leafy stems; the leaves more or less sheathing
6-20 cm long, elliptic. Flowers 1-2, with an erect leaf-like bract at the base;
sepals and petals greenish yellow to purplish brown, the lip yellow, usually
more or less purple-veined. Small yellow lady's-slipper, C. calceolus var.
parviflorum (Salisb.) Fern. (Fig. 855), has sepals 3-5 cm long, the lip 20-35 mm
long; moist woods; Boreal forest. C. calceolus var. pubescens (Willd.) Correll
has sepals 5-8 cm long, and the lip 35-60 mm long. Both varieties are becom-
ing increasingly rare; moist woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Cypripedium candidum Muhl. small white lady'S-slipper

A somewhat glandular or sticky-haired plant 10-25 cm high. The ovate to
lanceolate leaves 6-12 cm long. The single flower has a white lip with purplish
stripes inside. Scarce; but has been found in moist spots; southeastern Boreal
forest.

Cypripedium montanum Dougl. MOUNTAIN LADY'S-SLIPPER

Plants 20-50 cm high, more or less glandular pubescent throughout;
leaves 4-6, ovate to lanceolate 5-16 cm long. Flowers with brownish green sep-
als and petals, 4—6 cm long, the lip 2-3 cm long, white, purple-veined. Moist
woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Cypripedium passerinum Richardson northern lady'S-slipper

Differs from other lady's-slippers by having rounded sepals and smaller
flowers, with the lip 15-20 mm long, white or pale lilac with purple spots.
Rare; moist coniferous woods; Cypress Hills, Boreal forest.

Cypripedium reginae Walt. showy lady'S-slipper

A very showy species, 30-60 cm high; leaves oval to elliptic, 8-20 cm
long, covered with soft hairs; flowers white, with a large, inflated sac-like lip
30-40 mm long, with reddish purple stripes. Rare; swampy woodlands; south-
eastern Boreal forest, Riding Mountain.

Goodyera rattlesnake-plantain

Plants with fleshy rootstocks and a basal clump of dark green mottled
leaves and greenish white flowers borne on long stem.

Stem 10-20 cm high; lip of flower decidedly

inflated; flowers to 5 mm long G. repens

Stem 30—45 cm high; lip of flower scarcely

inflated, margins turned inward; flowers to

10 mm long G. oblongifolia

275

Goody era oblongifolia Raf. rattlesnake-plantain

Plants 30-45 cm high, with ovate-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic leaves to
8 cm long, 20-25 mm wide. Raceme 6-12 cm long; flowers 8-10 mm long, with
the lip 6-7 mm long, the body semiglobose. Very rare; dry to moist woods;
Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Goody era repens (L.) Br. lesser rattlesnake-plantain

Plants 10-30 cm high, with ovate to oblong leaves 15-30 mm long, 8-12
mm wide. Raceme 3-6 cm long; flowers 3.5-5 mm long, with the lip 3-3.5 mm
long, the body deeply pouch-like. Rare; dry to moist woods; Boreal forest,
Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills, Riding Mountain. The var. repens has the
leaves reticulate green-veined; plants with the leaves white reticulate distin-
guished as var. ophioides Fern.

Habenaria bog orchid

1. Leaves basal 2

Leaves cauline 5

2. Leaf solitary, 5-15 cm long, 1-5 cm wide;

scape usually bractless H. obtusata

More than one basal leaf. 3

3. Leaves lanceolate or oblanceolate, 6-12

cm long, 1-3 cm wide; spur 5 mm long H. unalascensis

Leaves broadly ovate or rotund, to 15 cm
long, and often as wide; spur longer
than 10 mm 4

4. Stem bractless; spur 10-25 mm long H. hookeri

Stem with several small bracts; spur

25-45 mm long H. orbiculata

5. Lip 3-toothed, with the central tooth

short; spur 2-3 mm long H. viridis var. bracteata

Lip entire; spur 4-8 mm long 6

6. Spur 4-5 mm long, pouch-like, often

purplish H. saccata

Spur 5-8 mm long, cylindrical 7

7. Flowers white, with the lip abruptly wid-

ened at base H. dilatata

Flowers greenish, with the lip gradually

widened toward base H. hyperborea

Habenaria dilatata (Pursh) Hook. white bog orchid

Plant with slender, leafy stem 30-60 cm high; flowers small, white, about
10-15 mm long, in a spike-like raceme. Rare; in bogs; Boreal forest. Syn.:
Limnorchis dilatata (Pursh) Rydb.

Habenaria hookeri Torr. HOOKER'S BOG orchid

Plant with 2 basal leaves, 20-40 cm high; the leaves broadly elliptic to
rotund; flowers yellowish green. Very rare; moist woods; southeastern Boreal
forest.

276

Habenaria hyperborea (L.) R. Br. (Fig. 85C) GREEN-FLOWERED BOG ORCHID

Fairly stout, leafy-stemmed plant 20-60 cm high; flowers greenish, in
spike-like raceme. In moist woodlands, meadows, and stream banks; Boreal
forest, Riding Mountain, Cypress Hills. Syn.: Limnorchis viridiflora (Cham.)
Rydb.

Habenaria obtusata (Pursh) Richardson small northern bog orchid

Slender plant without stem leaves, 10-25 cm high. Solitary, obovate basal
leaf and loose raceme of greenish yellow flowers. Moist woods, marshes, and
bogs; Boreal forest. Syn.: Lysiella obtusata (Pursh) Rydb.

Habenaria orbiculata (Pursh) Torr. round-leaved bog orchid

Plants with 2 basal leaves; scape 30-60 cm high; leaves broadly elliptic to
rotund; flowers greenish white, about 2 cm long, with the spike to 20 cm long.
Rare; moist woods and bogs; Boreal forest.

Habenaria saccata Greene slender bog orchid

Plants with leafy stems 20-50 cm high; leaves 4-12 cm long, lanceolate or
oblanceolate; flowers green, tinged with purple or brown, with the lip 4-7 mm
long, the spur 3-5 mm long, pouch-shaped, green, often purplish-tinged. Rare;
wet meadows, bogs, and forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Habenaria unalascensis (Spreng.) Wats. Alaska bog orchid

Plants with basal leaves; scape 20-60 cm high, with a few scale-like
leaves; basal leaves 1-4, narrowly oblanceolate; flowers green, in a spike 10-30
cm long, with the spur 3-5 mm long. Rare; moist or dry woods and meadows;
Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest.

Habenaria viridis (L.) R. Br. var. bracteata (Muhl.) Gray

LONG-BRACTED ORCHID

Stout, leafy-stemmed plant 15-60 cm high, with very conspicuous green
bracts, the lower ones at least twice as long as the greenish flowers. In moist
meadows and open woods; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: H.
bracteata (Muhl.) R. Br.

Liparis twayblade

Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich. twayblade

Stem strongly ribbed, 5-20 cm high, with 2 lanceolate leaves at the base;
flowers few, small, greenish, in a raceme. Rare; in bogs and moist woods;
Boreal forest.

Listera twayblade

Low-bog or moist-soil plants with 2 almost opposite leaves about halfway
up the stem.

1. Lip cleft to below middle; lobes linear;

leaves cordate to deltoid L. cordata

277

Lip shallowly cleft; lobes oblong to ovate;

leaves ovate to elliptic 2

2. Lip nearly oblong, narrowed at the mid-

dle, auriculate at base L. borealis

Lip widening toward the tip, not auricu-
late at base 3

3. Lip 8-10 mm long, minutely toothed on

the margins near the base L. convallarioides

Lip 4-6 mm long, prominently toothed on

the margins near the base L. caurina

Listera borealis Morong (Fig. 85/)) northern twayblade

Plants 5-25 cm high, with the leaves ovate to elliptic, 1-5 cm long. Flow-
ers pale to yellow green, with deep green veins in sepals and petals. Rare;
mossy woods, moist meadows and slopes; Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills.

Listera caurina Piper western twayblade

Plants 10-20 cm high, with the leaves broadly ovate to orbicular, 3-6 cm
long; stems glandular puberulent above. Flowers greenish or yellowish. Rare;
moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Listera convallarioides (Sw.) Torr. broad-lipped twayblade

Plants 10-20 cm high, with the leaves broadly oval, 3-5 cm long; stems
and inflorescence glandular pubescent. Flowers green or yellow green. Rare;
meadows, bogs, and moist woods; Boreal forest.

Listera cordata (L.) R. Br. heart-leaved twayblade

Plants 10-20 cm high, with the leaves broadly round-ovate, 15-30 mm
long, truncate to cordate at the base. Flowers green, tinged with purple. Very
rare; moist woods and swamps; Boreal forest.

Malaxis adder's-mouth

1. Stem leaves 2 or more; lip erect M.paludosa

Stem leaf solitary; lip deflected 2

2. Lip not lobed, pointed M. monophylla var. brachypoda

Lip deeply lobed M. unifolia

Malaxis monophylla (L.) Sw. var. brachypoda (Gray) Morris & Eames

ADDER'S-MOUTH

A slender bog plant 5-20 cm high, from an ovoid corm or solid bulb-like
base. The single leaf clasping, oval to elliptic, to 8 cm long; greenish yellow
flowers in a raceme, very small, about 3 mm long. Rare; Boreal forest.

Malaxis paludosa (L.) Sw. BOG ADDER'S-MOUTH

Plants 5-15 cm high, with the 2-5 leaves ovate-lanceolate, 1-3 cm long;
flowers yellowish green. Rare; bogs; Boreal forest.

278

Malaxis unifolia Michx. green adder'S-mouth

Scape 10-30 cm high, with the single leaf sessile, oval or elliptic, 3-6 cm
long, 1-3 cm wide; flowers greenish. Rare; damp woods and bogs; southeast-
ern Boreal forest.

Orchis orchid

Orchis rotundifolia Banks (Fig. 85£) round-leaved orchid

An orchid 20-25 cm high, with 1 oval to almost round leaf near the base,
and often with 1 or 2 sheathing scales below it. Leaf 3-8 cm long and 2-5 cm
wide. Flowers on stem 2-5 cm long, rose, 10-15 mm long, with white lips, spot-
ted with purple. In moist woodlands; especially in Boreal forests and in
Cypress Hills.

Spiranthes lady's-tresses

Flowers in 1 spiral S. gracilis

Flowers in 2 or 3 spirals S. romanzoffiana

Spiranthes gracilis (Bigel.) Beck slender lady'S-tresses

An orchid 15^0 cm high. Leaves mostly basal, short-stalked, ovate or
elliptic, and usually withering before the flowers appear. Rare; open woods
and bogs; Boreal forest.

Spiranthes romanzoffiana Cham. hooded ladvs-tresses

An orchid 15-40 cm high, with the lower leaves linear to linear-lanceo-
late; flowers in 3 spirals, delicately fragrant. In swampy places; throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

Class: DICOTYLEDONEAE

Seedings with 2 seedling leaves (cotyledons); stems with a central pith or,
if woody, the wood arranged in annual layers; the leaves netted-veined; and
the flower parts usually in fours and fives, or multiples of four and five.

SALICACEAE — willow family

Deciduous (that is, shedding their leaves in fall, not evergreen) trees or
shrubs. Leaves alternate on stem. Flowers in aments (catkins) without sepals
and petals, these being replaced by glands or a cup-like disk. Male and female
flowers produced on separate plants. The numerous seeds bear a tuft of hairs
at the apex, which aids in dissemination.

Winter buds covered by several scales; bracts
below flowers fringed; stamens usually more
than 10; a cup-shaped disk below each
flower Populus

279

Winter buds covered by one scale; bracts
below flowers entire, not fringed; stamens
2-10; one or more glands below each
flower Salix

Populus poplar

Fairly tall trees with either smooth or furrowed bark and light-colored,
soft, straight-grained wood. Leaves usually broad and pointed, with petioles
sometimes as long as the leaf itself. Flowers unisexual, those of each sex in
long catkins on separate trees. Fruit capsule containing small seeds, each bear-
ing a tuft of white hairs.

The genus Populus consists of species that appear to hybridize freely,
which has resulted in several forms, intermediate between the parents. Because
of the considerable variability in the size and form of the leaves in the species,
many species have been described that are now considered to be varieties or
hybrids.

1. Petioles distinctly flattened 2

Petioles terete 4

2. Leaves coarsely toothed P. grandidentata

Leaves not coarsely toothed 3

3. Leaves roundish in outline, with the mar-

gins finely crenate P. tremuloides

Leaves deltoid in outline, with the mar-
gins coarsely dentate P. deltoides

4. Leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate P. angustifolia

Leaves ovate or roundish 5

5. Leaves roundish, coarsely toothed, white

below P. alba

Leaves ovate, dark green above, light

green or glaucous below P. balsamifera

Populus alba L. white poplar

Trees up to 30 m high, with bark grayish, furrowed; branches brownish;
branchlets coarse, glabrous, grayish brown; leaves 4-6 cm long, 3-4 cm broad,
oval to round in outline, with margins coarsely toothed, green above, white
tomentose below. Aments appearing before the leaves, on leafless peduncles.
Capsules 5-7 mm long, subsessile. Male flowers with 6-10 stamens. Introduced
from Europe, and planted in shelterbelts.

Populus angustifolia James narrow-leaved cottonwood

Trees to 15 m high, with bark greenish; branches greenish brown;
branchlets green, coarse, glabrous; leaves 5-12 cm long, lanceolate to long-
ovate, acute to acuminate, base cuneate to subcordate, with margins finely
crenate, dark green above, pale green below. Aments appearing with the
leaves, drooping. Capsules 5-7 mm long, subsessile. Male flowers with 6-10
stamens. Along rivers in Prairies.

280

Populus balsamifera L. BALSAM POPLAR

Large trees, to 25 m high, with bark at first grayish white, becoming dark
gray and furrowed in age; branches grayish brown; twigs coarse, light gray;
leaves 5-15 cm long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, base
obtuse to cuneate or subcordate, with margins minutely crenulate to subentire,
dark green and somewhat shiny above, light yellow green to rusty below.
Aments appearing before the leaves, on drooping peduncles. Capsules 6-10
mm long. Stamens 12-30. Along rivers and lakes, in coulees and ravines,
throughout the Prairie Provinces, but becoming more common in Boreal for-
est. This species is very variable in leaf shape and size; it includes several
forms and varieties, sometimes described as separate species: Populus
candicans Michx., P. tacamahaca Mill., P. trichocarpa T. & G., and P.
gi leadens is Rouleau.

Populus deltoides Marsh. Cottonwood

Large trees 15-25 m high, with bark greenish gray, furrowed; branches
grayish brown; twigs greenish gray; leaves 5-10 cm long, broadly deltoid, acu-
minate, base often somewhat cordate, with margins coarsely serrate-crenate,
shiny green above, lighter green below. Aments appearing before the leaves,
on drooping peduncles. Capsules 6-10 mm long. Stamens about 60. Along riv-
ers and lakeshores, sand dunes, Prairies. Western plants are classified as var.
occidentalis Rydb. based on the coarser serration; in eastern specimens the
number of teeth on one side of the leaves is about 50-60% higher than that in
the western specimens.

Populus grandidentata Michx. large-toothed aspen

Medium-sized trees with bark greenish gray, becoming brown and fur-
rowed in age; branches gray brown; twigs gray; leaves 6-10 cm long, broadly
ovate; with margins usually having 5-10 large rounded teeth on each side;
densely white tomentose when young, later thinly pubescent. Aments appear-
ing before the leaves. Capsules 5-7 mm long. Male flowers with 5-12 stamens.
Southeastern Boreal forest.

Populus tremuloides Michx. aspen poplar

Slender trees, to 30 m high, with bark grayish white, furrowed in lower
part of stem in age; branches brown; twigs yellow green; leaves 3-10 cm long,
broadly ovate to orbicular, abruptly pointed, base truncate to subcordate, with
margins finely crenate or serrate to subentire, dark green or dark yellow green
above, pale green below. Aments appearing before the leaves, on drooping
peduncles. Capsules 4-6 mm long. Male flowers with 5-12 stamens. Very com-
mon; in depressions and other moist areas; in the Prairies, widespread in the
Parklands and Boreal forest.

Salix willow

The willows are very difficult to identify; the flowers or fruits of both
sexes, and also in many instances the mature leaves, are needed for positive
identification. Even then, several of the diagnostic characters are not constant
as a result of hybridization between species, which may occur quite often.

281

Nevertheless, it is possible to determine typical species with a high degree of
accuracy, and come close with most of the more or less intermediate forms.
Determinations should be made on fertile material using the female plants.
Matching of the male plants is then possible on the basis of the characters
common to both sexes, for example, color of bark, leaf characters, and charac-
ters of the catkins. In the determination of the female plants, the following
characters are used:

position of catkin: sessile or on a leafy branchlet (also for male plants);

capsules: pubescent or glabrous, size, sessile or pedicellate;

length of pedicel: longer or shorter than the bract;

bracts: light or dark in color.
With the use of well-developed material, that is, with mature capsules and, if
possible, expanded leaves also, most specimens can be determined accurately
based on the combinations of these four characters.

Sterile specimens can usually be determined with a fair degree of accu-
racy by anyone who has experience in working with willows. New shoots often
bear leaves that are not typical in size, and therefore it is best always to use
mature leaves in all determinations. In Fig. 87, the main characters of both
fruiting and sterile material, used in the keys, are illustrated.

Key to species of Salix by fruiting characters

1. Capsules pubescent 2

Capsules glabrous 23

2. Bracts of the capsules light in color, yel-

lowish to light brownish or purplish 3

Bracts of the capsules dark in color,

brown to black 8

3. Plants very small, with creeping stems

mostly underground; underside of

leaves reticulate-veined S. reticulata

Plants not creeping, with stem at least

partly upright 4

4. Leaves narrowly linear, the length-to-

width ratio 10:1 or more; leaf margins

remotely dentate S. interior

Leaves not narrowly linear, the length-to-
width ratio seldom more than 5:1 5

5. Capsules on long pedicels; catkins loose 6

Capsules with short pedicels; catkins

compact 7

6. Shrubs with stems to 2 m high; leaves

oblanceolate or ellipsoid, dull green,
mostly somewhat pubescent, rugose-
veiny below S. bebbiana

Shrubs with stems seldom higher than 1
m; leaves narrowly elliptic oblanceo-
late, green above, glaucous below, not
rugose-veiny S. pedicellaris

282

Fig. 87. Main characters of willows. Catkins: a, on leafy branchlet; b, sessile.
Capsules: c, pedicel longer than bract; d, pedicel as long as bract; e, pedicel
shorter than bract. Male flower:/. Leaves: g, acuminate; /z, acute; k, rounded;
/, irregularly veined; m, remotely dentate; n, finely serrate.

283

7. Undersurface of leaves densely silky-pu-

bescent; leaves subsessile; catkins to 2

cm long S. brachycarpa

Undersurface of leaves glaucous, pubes-
cent but becoming glabrous; leaves
petioled; catkins to 7 cm long 5. glauca

8. Leaf margins distinctly toothed 9

Leaf margins entire or indistinctly

toothed 12

9. Leaves deep green and rugose above, sil-

very silky and strongly veined below S. vestita

Leaves not as above 10

10. Leaves shiny green above, glaucous and

silky pubescent below 5". arbusculoides

Leaves glabrous below 1 1

11. Leaves glabrous on both sides, with

underside light green or glaucous,

strongly reticulate-veined S. maccalliana

Leaves pubescent above, glabrous below,

not noticeably reticulate-veined 5. barclayi

12. Leaves lanceolate, densely white tomen-

tose below, dark green and pubescent

above; leaf margins entire, involute 5*. Candida

Leaves not as above 13

13. Shrubs strongly depressed, with stems

partly or entirely underground 14

Shrubs not strongly depressed, with stems

mostly upright 15

14. Capsules silky-villose, grayish; leaves

green above, yellowish below S. arctica

Capsules thinly pubescent, purplish;
leaves shiny green above, glaucous
below S. arctophila

15. Catkins on leafy peduncles 16

Catkins not on leafy peduncles 17

16. Leaves densely pubescent below S. sitchensis

Leaves glabrous below S. petiolahs

17. Leaves pubescent on both sides, more or

less cordate at the base S. barrattiana

Leaves glabrous or nearly so above, not

cordate at base 18

18. Young twigs and branches densely

tomentose S. alaxensis

Young twigs and branches not densely

tomentose 19

284

19. Leaves pubescent below; branchlets yel-

lowish to brown 20

Leaves not pubescent below, mostly glau-
cous; branchlets reddish or yellowish 21

20. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, the length-to-

width ratio about 6: 1 ; capsules 4-6 mm

long S. pellita

Leaves oblanceolate or obovate, the
length-to-width ratio less than 5:1;
capsules 7-9 mm long S. humilis

21. Leaves lanceolate, the length-to- width

ratio about 6:1; capsules 4-6 mm long;

twigs yellow S. pellita var.psila

Leaves elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate,
the length-to-width ratio about 3:1;
capsules 6-12 mm long; twigs reddish 22

22. Lateral veins of leaves regular, parallel;

capsules 6-7 mm long, subsessile S. planifolia

Lateral veins of leaves irregularly spaced;
capsules 7-12 mm long, clearly
pedicellate S. discolor

23. Bracts of the capsules dark brown to

black 24

Bracts of the capsules yellow to light

brown or purplish 31

24. Catkins sessile or subsessile, leafless 25

Catkins on leafy peduncles 26

25. Leaves ovate to orbicular, strongly veined

below, entire to somewhat glandular

dentate S. calcicola

Leaves elliptic-ovate to narrowly ovate,
reticulate-veined and glaucous below,
distinctly serrate S. monticola

26. Leaves pubescent 27

Leaves glabrous 28

27. Leaves green, pubescent on both sides S. commutata

Leaves green, pubescent above, glabrous

and glaucous below S. barclayi

28. Pedicels of capsules much longer than

bracts 29

Pedicels of capsules as long as or shorter

than bracts 30

29. Young twigs dark brown or yellow

brown; leaves lanceolate to obovate,

rounded to cordate at base S. mackenzieana

Young twigs yellow or reddish, shiny;
leaves ovate to lanceolate, fragrant
when crushed S. pyhfolia

285

30. Leaves green and reticulate-veined on

both sides; stipules usually lacking S. myrtillifolia

Leaves yellowish green above, glaucous

below; stipules usually present 5". lutea

31. Shrubs depressed; stems underground

with only leaves and catkins showing 5". herbacea

Shrubs not depressed; stems upright 32

32. Leaves narrowly linear, length-to-width

ratio about 10:1; leaf margins remotely

dentate S. interior

Leaves not narrowly linear, length-to-
width ratio 5: 1 or less 33

33. Foliage fragrant when young or crushed 34

Foliage not fragrant 35

34. Leaves firm, dark glossy green above;

petioles with glands at leaf base; pedi-
cels of capsules shorter than bracts S. pentandra

Leaves thin, dull or slightly shiny above;
petioles without glands; pedicels of
capsules longer than bracts S. pyrifolia

35. Young twigs fragile, breaking off at the

base in strong wind or on touch S.fragilis

Young twigs not fragile 36

36. Leaves pubescent, especially below S. alba

Leaves glabrous 37

37. Petioles with glands at leaf base 38

Petioles glandless 39

38. Catkins appearing at the same time as the

leaves; capsules 4-7 mm long S. lucida

Catkins appearing later than the leaves;

capsules 7-12 mm long S. serissima

39. Leaves usually large, to 12 cm long,

closely and finely serrate. 5". amygdaloides

Leaves usually small, to 6 cm long, often

with revolute margins S. pedicellaris

Key to species of Salix by leaf characters

1. Leaves densely pubescent beneath 2

Leaves glabrous or only sparsely pubes-
cent beneath 15

2. Leaf margins toothed or entire, revolute 3

Leaf margins toothed or entire, not

revolute 6

286

3. Length-to-width ratio of leaves about

3:1 4

Length-to-width ratio of leaves about

6:1 5

4. Young twigs densely felty tomentose; leaf

margins entire or minutely glandular

serrulate S. alaxensis

Young twigs not densely tomentose; leaf
margins entire or coarsely glandular
serrate 5". bebbiana

5. Leaf margins entire; pubescence often

interspersed with brown hairs S. Candida

Leaf margins obscurely glandular serru-
late; pubescence silvery S. pellita

6. Length-to-width ratio of leaves 10:1 or

more S. interior

Length-to-width ratio of leaves usually

not more than about 5:1 7

7. Leaves glabrous or glabrate above 8

Leaves clearly pubescent above 10

8. Leaves obovate, often almost orbicular,

length-to-width ratio about 1.5:1, deep

green and rugose above 5". vestita

Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, length-to-
width ratio about 4:1, not rugose
above 9

9. Length-to-width ratio of leaves usually

about 3:1 S. discolor

Length-to-width ratio of leaves usually

about 5:1 S. humilis

10. Leaf margins finely glandular serrulate S. alba

Leaf margins entire or obscurely dentate 1 1

11. Leaves subsessile, the petiole usually less

than 1 mm long S. brachycarpa

Leaves with well-developed petioles 12

12. Twigs and young branches grayish or

light brown 13

Twigs and young branches dark brown to

black 14

13. Leaf scars on older branches very promi-

nent; young branches yellowish brown S. barrattiana

Leaf scars on older branches not promi-
nent; young branches grayish brown S. glauca

14. Leaves as pubescent above as below,

pubescence tomentose S. commutata

Leaves much less pubescent above than

below, pubescence silky S. sitchensis

287

15. Length-to-width ratio of leaves 10:1 or

more S. interior

Length-to-width ratio of leaves usually

not more than 6:1 16

16. Leaf margins clearly toothed 17

Leaf margins entire or obscurely toothed 31

17. Petioles glandular at leaf base 18

Petioles glandless 21

18. Twigs very fragile, readily breaking in

strong wind or on touch S.fragilis

Twigs not fragile 19

19. Leaves very dark glossy green above,

lighter and bluish green below, acute to

short acuminate; introduced small tree S. pentandra

Leaves not very glossy above 20

20. Leaves green below, long acuminate S. lucida

Leaves glaucous below, short acuminate S. serissima

21. Twigs drooping or arching; leaves long

acuminate S. amygdaloides

Twigs not drooping; leaves not long

acuminate 22

22. Leaves ovate to orbicular; branchlets

stout, with conspicuous leaf scars S. calcicola

Leaves lanceolate to oblong; branchlets
more slender, not with conspicuous
leaf scars 23

23. Length-to-width ratio of leaves about

6:1 24

Length-to-width ratio of leaves less than

5:1 25

24. Leaf margins coarsely serrate; leaves

glabrous below S. petiolaris

Leaf margins closely and shallowly ser-
rate; leaves somewhat silky pubescent
below S. arbusculoides

25. Leaves thin, aromatic when young or

crushed S. pyrifolia

Leaves not thin, not aromatic 26

26. Plants small shrubs, usually less than 1 m

high; stems often decumbent S. myrtillifolia

Plants usually more than 1 m high; stems

usually upright 27

27. Leaves pubescent above, especially on the

veins, glabrous and glaucous below S. barclayi

Leaves glabrous on both sides 28

288

28. Length-to-width ratio of leaves about 4: 1 ;

leaves rather glossy green above,

midrib yellow S. maccalliana

Length-to-width ratio of leaves about

2.5:1 29

29. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, acute S. monticola

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate 30

30. Twigs yellow to yellowish gray; leaves

yellowish green above, glaucous

below S. lutea

Twigs dark brown; leaves dark green

above, pale green below S. mackenzieana

31. Plants low, usually creeping shrubs with

entirely or partly buried stems 32

Plants usually shrubs with mostly upright

stems; 50 cm high or higher 38

32. Leaf petioles short, usually less than 5

mm long 33

Leaf petioles more than 5 mm long 35

33. Plants glabrous throughout; leaves mostly

less than 3 cm long, reticulate below S. herbacea

Plants not glabrous throughout 34

34. Leaves pubescent below, rugose above;

stipules none S. vestita

Leaves glabrous, glaucous and strongly

veined below; stipules often present S. calcicola

35. Leaves conspicuously reticulate-veined,

oval to oblong, 1-3 cm long, usually

glabrous S. reticulata

Leaves not conspicuously reticulate-
veined, obovate to lanceolate, to 6 cm
long, often pubescent 36

36. Leaves dull green above, glaucous below,

often more or less pubescent on both

sides; stems usually upright S. glauca

Leaves somewhat shiny green above, usu-
ally glabrous above; stems usually
creeping 37

37. Leaves mostly obovate, strongly glaucous

below, somewhat rugose above S. arctophila

Leaves mostly oblanceolate, glaucous
below, strongly veined and often
obscurely reticulate, especially below S. arctica

38. Leaves glabrous on both sides 39

Leaves more or less pubescent 44

39. Leaves linear-lanceolate, the tips acute 40

Leaves elliptic to ovate 41

289

40. Leaves obscurely veined below S. pellita

Leaves clearly reticulate-veined below S. pedicellaris

41. Leaves yellowish green above, pale green

or glaucous below; usually some leaves

serrate or undulate S. lutea

Leaves not yellowish green; leaf margins
entire or obscurely and remotely
crenate 42

42. Lateral veins regular, parallel, rather

closely spaced S. planifolia

Lateral veins irregular, not closely spaced 43

43. Stipules usually present, large, clasping

most of the stem S. monticola

Stipules usually absent, when present,
small, hardly exceeding width of
petiole base 5". discolor

44. Leaves usually more or less pubescent on

both sides 45

Leaves glabrous above, more or less
pubescent below, particularly on the
veins S. discolor

45. Leaves rugose below, glaucous S. bebbiana

Leaves glaucous below, clearly veined but

not rugose S. glauca

Salix alaxensis (Anderss.) Cov. Alaska willow

A shrub to 4 m high; bark dark to chestnut brown, more or less persist-
ently gray villous tomentose; branchlets densely white or yellow tomentose.
Leaves 5-11 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm broad, narrowly ovate to oblong, acute, with
base cuneate; margins revolute, entire; bright green above, densely white
pubescent below. Catkins appearing before the leaves; sessile. Capsules 4-5
mm long, densely puberulent; scales black; pedicels shorter than the scales.
Male flowers with 2 stamens. Along streams and lakeshores; in the Rocky
Mountains south to Jasper National Park.

Salix alba L. white willow

A tree up to 20 m high; bark grayish; branches ascending, appearing sil-
very gray. Leaves 5-10 cm long, 1-1.5 cm broad, lanceolate, acuminate, with
base cuneate; margins finely serrate; appressed white silky pubescent on both
sides. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating short leafy
peduncles. Capsules 3-5 mm long, glabrous; scales yellowish green; pedicels
shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. A Eurasian species, often
planted in shelterbelts.

Salix amygdaloides Anderss. peach-leaved willow

A shrub or tree 3-15 m high; bark rough, dark reddish brown; branches
gray brown; twigs yellowish to reddish brown, drooping. Leaves 5-12 cm long,

290

1.5-3 cm broad, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, tapering to base; margins closely
serrate; light to yellowish green above, glaucous below, glabrous on both sides.
Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating short leafy
peduncles. Capsules 4-7 mm long, glabrous; scales yellow, deciduous; pedicels
2-3 mm long. Male flowers with 4-7 stamens. Not common; along rivers and
streams; Prairies.

Salix arbusculoides Anderss. shrubby willow

Shrubs or occasionally small trees 1-6 m high; bark reddish brown;
branches reddish brown; bark peeling; branchlets velvety. Leaves 5-8 cm
long, 1-2 cm broad, narrowly ovate to elliptic, acute, with base acute; margins
glandular serrulate; glossy and glabrous above, sparsely pubescent to almost
glabrous below. Catkins appearing shortly before or at the same time as the
leaves; subsessile, with bract-like leaves at base. Capsules 4-5 mm long,
sparsely pubescent; scales dark brown; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male
flowers with 2 stamens. Along rivers and in muskeg areas; Boreal forest.

Salix arctica Pall. arctic willow

Dwarf shrubs, usually prostrate, occasionally to 50 cm high; branches
stout to long, rooting at some nodes, yellowish to chestnut brown; branchlets
yellowish green to brown, often villous when young. Leaves 2-7 cm long, 1-2.5
cm broad, oblanceolate to elliptic, acute to obtuse, with base acute; margins
entire; mostly glabrous above, glabrous or very sparsely pubescent, somewhat
reticulately veined below. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves;
terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 6-9 mm long, sparsely to densely pubes-
cent; scales black; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 2 sta-
mens. Alpine tundra and alpine meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Salix arctophila Cock. trailing willow

Dwarf shrubs, usually trailing along the ground; branches chestnut brown
to greenish gray brown; branchlets yellowish green. Leaves 2-4 cm long, 1-2
cm broad, obovate to broadly elliptic, obtuse to acute, with base acute; mar-
gins entire to shallowly crenulate, glandular; glabrous, often glossy green
above, very sparsely pubescent or glabrous, glaucous below. Catkins appear-
ing at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 5-6
mm long, thinly pubescent to subglabrous; scales black; pedicels shorter than
the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Tundra; Boreal forest.

Salix barclayi Anderss. Barclay's willow

Shrubs 1-3 m high; branches dark brown; branchlets yellowish green at
first villous, later subglabrous. Leaves 3-8 cm long, 1.5-4 cm broad, acuminate
to acute, with base acute to subcordate; margins glandular serrulate to suben-
tire; the upper side pubescent along the midrib, glabrous and glaucous below.
Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles.
Capsules 5-7 mm long, glabrous; scales dark brown or brown only in the
upper half; pedicels shorter than to as long as the scales. Male flowers with 2
stamens. Along creeks, rivers, and lakeshores; Rocky Mountains.

291

Salix barrattiana Hook. BARRATT'S willow

Low shrub to 1 m high; branches reddish brown, usually pubescent with
conspicuous leaf scars; branchlets short, with short internodes, villous. Leaves
4-8 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, elliptic, acute, with base acute; margins entire to
obscurely serrulate; sparsely pubescent above, densely white pubescent below.
Catkins appearing before the leaves; sessile. Capsules 4-6 mm long, densely
pubescent; scales black; pedicels shorter than scales. Male flowers with 2 sta-
mens. Alpine meadows and slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Salix bebbiana Sarg. beaked willow

Shrubs to small trees 1-10 m high; branches reddish brown; branchlets
light brown, at first densely pubescent. Leaves 2-7 cm long, 1-2.5 cm broad,
acute to obtuse, with base acute to obtuse; margins entire to crenate, some-
what revolute; thinly pubescent to subglabrous above; glaucous, rugose, sub-
glabrous to pubescent below. Catkins appearing shortly before or at the same
time as the leaves; terminating short leafy peduncles. Capsules 5-9 mm long,
pubescent to subglabrous; scales yellow, in part deciduous; pedicels as long as
or longer than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. One of the most com-
mon willows; around sloughs, along rivers and lakeshores, and in woods;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Salix brachycarpa Nutt. (Fig. 88) short-capsuled willow

Small shrubs, usually 0.5-1.0 m high, occasionally to 3 m high; branches
stout, grayish to reddish brown, the outer layers of bark peeling; branchlets
pubescent. Leaves 1-3 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad, obovate to elliptic, obtuse
to acute, with base acute; petioles very short. Catkins appearing at the same
time as the leaves; terminating short leafy peduncles; seldom more than 2 cm
long. Capsules 3-5 mm long, pubescent; bracts yellowish; pedicels shorter
than the bracts. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Sand dunes, gravel bars, and
marsh areas; in various parts of the Prairie Provinces, and in the Rocky
Mountains.

Salix calcicola Fern. & Wieg. lime willow

Shrubs 0.5-2 m high; branches pubescent, becoming glabra te with age;
branchlets stout with inconspicuous leaf scars, pubescent. Leaves 2-5 cm long,
1.5-3.5 cm broad, ovate to almost orbicular, with base rounded to cordate;
margins subentire to glandular denticulate, acute; rugose green above, glau-
cous below. Catkins appearing before the leaves; sessile. Capsules 7-9 mm
long, glabrous; scales dark brown to black; pedicels shorter than the scales.
Male flowers with 2 stamens. Tundra; Hudson Bay; rare in Rocky Mountains.

Salix Candida Fluegge hoary willow

Shrubs to 3 m high; branches dark brown; branchlets densely tomentose
to sparsely pubescent. Leaves 5-8 cm long, 0.7-2 cm broad, narrowly elliptic;
margins entire to subentire, revolute; dull green, somewhat tomentose, with
sunken veins above; densely white tomentose below; acute; base acute. Cat-
kins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating short leafy pedun-
cles. Capsules 6-8 mm long, white tomentose; scales brown; pedicels shorter
than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. In wet, usually somewhat saline,
swampy areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

292

Fig. 88. Short-capsuled willow, Salix brachycarpa Nutt.

293

Salix commutata Bebb changeable willow

Low shrub 0.2-1.2 m high; branches dark brown, usually pubescent;
branchlets densely white tomentose. Leaves 2.5-5.5 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm
broad, elliptic to ovate-elliptic; margin subentire or entire to serrulate; pubes-
cent on both sides. Catkins appearing after the leaves; terminating leafy
peduncles. Capsules 4-6 mm long, glabrous; scales brown to dark brown, or
brown only in upper half; pedicel shorter than to as long as the scales. Male
flowers with 2 stamens. Gravel beds along rivers and lakes; in Rocky Moun-
tains.

Salix discolor Muhl. pussy willow, diamond willow

Large shrubs or small trees up to 6-7 m high; bark grayish brown;
branches reddish brown; branchlets rather stout yellowish to reddish brown,
at first pubescent, later glabrous. Leaves 5-8 cm long, 2-3.5 cm broad, acute to
short acuminate, with base acute to obtuse; margin entire to undulate-crenate;
dark green, often somewhat glossy above, glaucous, with strongly raised veins
below; somewhat pubescent to glabrous on both sides; veins branching before
reaching margin. Catkins appearing long before the leaves; subsessile, often
with 2 or 3 small bracts. Capsules 6-10 mm long, densely puberulent; scales
black; pedicels shorter than to as long as the scales. Male flowers with 2 sta-
mens. One of the most common and earliest flowering willows; around sloughs
and lakes, along riverbanks, and in woods and swamps; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Salix fragi lis L. BRITTLE willow

Tree up to 20 m high; bark rough and fissured on old trees; branches
grayish brown; branchlets yellow to reddish, easily breaking at base. Leaves
7-15 cm long, 2-4 cm broad, lanceolate; margin glandular serrate; dark green
above, glaucous below. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; ter-
minating leafy peduncle. Capsules 4-6 mm long, glabrous; scales yellow, de-
ciduous; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Intro-
duced from Eurasia, and planted in shelterbelts.

Salix glauca L. smooth willow

Shrubs to about 1 m or occasionally 2 m high; branches dull grayish;
branchlets grayish tomentose. Leaves 2.5-10 cm long, 1-3.5 cm broad, obovate
to elliptic; margins entire; dark green, pubescent to glabrous above, glaucous
and usually villous below; acute to acuminate or obtuse, with base acute to
obtuse. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy
peduncles. Capsules 3-5 mm long, pubescent; scales yellow to light brown;
pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Along rivers, in
muskeg; Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest.

Salix herbacea L.

Small, creeping shrubs; stems and branches buried, glabrous; branchlets
chestnut brown, glabrous. Leaves 1-3 cm long, 1-2.5 cm broad, oval to subor-
bicular; margins serrate or crenate-serrate; glabrous on both sides. Catkins
appearing later than the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 3-6 mm
long, glabrous; scales brown to dark brown; pedicels shorter than the scales.
Male flowers with 2 stamens. Tundra; Hudson Bay.

294

Salix humilis Marsh. gray willow

Shrubs 1-3 m high; branches grayish brown; branchlets pubescent to sub-
glabrous, yellowish. Leaves 3-12 cm long, 1-3 cm broad, oblanceolate to ob-
ovate; margins entire to sparsely dentate; acute to short acuminate; base
acute; dark green above, glaucous; somewhat rugose and pubescent below.
Catkins appearing before the leaves; sessile to subsessile. Capsules 7-9 mm
long, pubescent; scales black; pedicels shorter than to as long as the scales.
Male flowers with 2 stamens. Openings around sloughs and meadows; Boreal
forest.

Salix interior Rowlee sandbar willow

Shrubs 0.5-4 m high, with extensively creeping root systems; stems and
branches grayish brown; branchlets reddish, at first sparsely pubescent,
becoming glabrous. Leaves very variable, 3-15 cm long, 0.3-1 cm broad, nar-
rowly oblong to linear; margins distantly denticulate to subentire, with teeth
0.5-1 cm apart; green and glabrous above, pale green, pubescent to subglab-
rous below. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating
leafy peduncles. Capsules 5-8 mm long, glabrous to somewhat pubescent;
scales yellowish, deciduous; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with
2 stamens. This species belongs to the group Longifoliae, which has several
highly variable species. S. interior is also highly variable, and has been subdi-
vided into several varieties and species on the basis of leaf length and width,
pubescence, and other characters. The form with very narrow leaves, 3-4 mm
broad, is var. pedicellata (Anderss.) Ball; the form with small, permanently
pubescent leaves is var. wheeled Rowlee (S. exigua Nutt.). The species is also
considered to be S. fluviatalis Nutt. with the two previously mentioned vari-
eties then named var. sericans (Nees) Boiv. with the forma hindsiana (Berth.)
Boiv.

The "typical" plants occur around sloughs and lakes, along creeks, rivers,
and canals throughout the Prairie Provinces; war. pedicellata and var. wheeleri
appear to be more restricted to drier locations and sand dune areas.

Salix lucida Muhl. shining willow

Shrubs or small trees 1-6 m high; bark brown; branches brown, some-
times sparsely pubescent; branchlets reddish brown, sparsely pubescent.
Leaves 5-15 cm long, 1.5-4 cm broad, usually ovate, long acuminate; base
acute to obtuse or cordate, with several glands at apex of petiole; margin glan-
dular serrate; dark green and often glossy above, pale green to glaucous below.
Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles.
Capsules 5-7 mm long, glabrous; scales yellow, deciduous; pedicels shorter
than the scales. Western specimens usually have the leaves glaucous below (S.
lasiandra Berth.), eastern ones have the leaves light green. Along rivers and in
meadows; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Salix lutea Nutt. yellow willow

Shrubs 2-5 m high; branches grayish brown; branchlets reddish brown.
Leaves 4-10 cm long, 1 .5 — 4 cm broad, lanceolate, acute to short acuminate,
with base obtuse to somewhat cordate; margins serrulate to entire; yellowish

295

green above, glaucous below. Catkins appearing at the same time as or shortly
before the leaves; subsessile on a short leafy peduncle. Capsules 4-5 mm long,
glabrous; scales brown; pedicels as long as or longer than the scales. Male
flowers with 2 stamens. Along streams and lakeshores; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Salix maccalliana Rowlee velvet-fruited willow

Shrubs 1-3 m high; branches reddish to dark brown; branchlets reddish
brown. Leaves 4.5-7 cm long, 0.6-2 cm broad, elliptic to oblong; margins
entire to glandular serrate or crenulate; acute to short acuminate; base acute
to obtuse; dark green and glossy above, pale green, somewhat reticulate-
veined below. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating
leafy peduncles. Capsules 7-10 mm long, pubescent; scales brown, occasion-
ally only in the upper half; pedicels shorter than to as long as the scales. Male
flowers with 2 stamens. Lakeshores and muskeg; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces.

Salix mackenzieana (Hook.) Barratt Mackenzie willow

Shrubs or small trees 2-5 m high; branches grayish brown; branchlets
chestnut brown. Leaves 6-10 cm long, 2-3.5 cm broad, ovate-lanceolate; mar-
gins glandular serrulate; acute to long acuminate; base obtuse to cordate;
somewhat glossy green above, glaucous and reticulate below. Catkins appear-
ing shortly before the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 4-6 mm
long, glabrous; scales brown; pedicel longer than the scales. Male flowers with
2 stamens. Along creeks and rivers, on lakeshores; Boreal forest.

Salix monticola Bebb mountain willow

Shrubs 1-3 m high; branches dark reddish brown; branchlets yellowish.
Leaves 4-6 cm long, 1.5-3 cm broad, elliptic to ovate-elliptic; margins glandu-
lar serrulate to crenate; acute to short acuminate; base obtuse to subcordate;
green above, glaucous below. Catkins appearing before the leaves; sessile to
subsessile; sometimes with one or two small bracts at base. Capsules 6-8 mm
long, glabrous; scales dark brown; pedicels smaller than to as long as the
scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Lakeshores, muskeg, and marshy areas;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Salix myrtillifolia Anderss. myrtle-lea ved willow

Low shrubs usually less than 1 m high; branches grayish brown; branch-
lets greenish to reddish brown. Leaves 2-6 cm long, 0.8-2.5 cm broad, elliptic
to obovate; margins fine glandular serrulate to crenate; green, often glossy
above, pale green, often somewhat reticulate below. Catkins appearing at the
same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 4.5-7 mm long,
glabrous; scales black or black-tipped only; pedicels shorter than to as long as
the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. In muskeg, along wet lakeshores, and
riverbanks; throughout Boreal forest.

Salix pedicellaris Pursh bog willow

Low shrubs 0.2-1.5 m high; branches grayish brown; branchlets reddish
yellow to brownish. Leaves 2-6 cm long, 5-15 mm broad, elliptic to narrowly

296

obovate; margins entire often revolute; acute to obtuse; base obtuse to acute;
dull green and somewhat glaucous above, glaucous below. Catkins appearing
at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 5-6.5
mm long, glabrous; scales light brown; pedicels longer than scales. Male
flowers with 2 stamens. In var. athabascensis (Raup) Boiv. the capsules and
leaves are somewhat pubescent. Muskeg and marshy areas; in Boreal forest.

Salixpellita Anderss. satin willow

Shrubs or small trees 3-5 m high; branches brown; branchlets yellowish
or greenish brown, brittle. Leaves 4-12 cm long, 0.8-2.0 cm broad, linear-lan-
ceolate; acuminate; base acute to obtuse; margins entire to obscurely serrate,
revolute; glabrous above, densely silky pubescent below. Catkins appearing
shortly before or at the same time as the leaves; subsessile, often with 2 or 3
bracts at base. Capsules 4-6 mm long, pubescent; scales black; pedicels
shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Lakeshores, riverbanks,
swamps, and muskeg; in Boreal forest. In forma psila Schn., the leaves are gla-
brescent and glaucous below. Local in the area where the species occurs. In
Alberta specimens occur in which the pubescence is shorter and more uni-
form; these have been named var. angustifolia (Bebb) Boiv., but are considered
to be a distinct species, S. drummondiana Barr., by some taxonomists.

Salix pentandra L. bay-leaved willow

Usually small trees up to 7 m high; branches brown; branchlets reddish
brown, shiny. Leaves 4-12 cm long, 2-A cm broad, ovate to elliptic; long acu-
minate; base obtuse; dark green and usually very glossy above, pale green
below; margins glandular serrulate. Catkins appearing at the same time as the
leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 5-7 mm long, glabrous; scales
yellow, deciduous; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 5 sta-
mens. A Eurasian species, introduced and planted as an ornamental.

Salix petiolaris Sm. BASKET willow

Shrubs or small trees 2-7 m high; branches reddish brown; branchlets at
first yellowish, later reddish. Leaves 4-12 cm long, 0.8-2.5 cm broad, narrowly
lanceolate; acute to acuminate; base acute; margins subentire to rather closely
glandular serrulate; dark green above, glaucous below. Catkins appearing at
the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 6-8 mm
long, pubescent; scales brown; pedicels as long as or longer than the scales.
Male flowers with 2 stamens. Meadows, lakeshores, and along streams;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Salix planifolia Pursh flat-leaved willow

Shrubs \-4 m high; branches dark grayish to reddish brown; branchlets
greenish brown, often at first pubescent, later glabrous. Leaves 3-6 cm long,
1-2 cm broad, elliptic to lanceolate; acute; base acute; margins subentire to
glandular serrulate; glossy green with somewhat sunken veins above; glaucous
below. Catkins appearing before the leaves; sessile, sometimes with 2 or 3
small bracts at the base. Capsules 5-6 mm long, pubescent; bracts dark brown
or black; pedicels shorter than the bracts. Male flowers with 2 stamens. One of
the most common species; around sloughs and lakes, along streams, in

297

swampy areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces. This species is considered to
be S. phylicifolia L. or S. phylicifolia ssp. planifolia (Pursh) Hiitonen by some
authors. S. phylicifolia, however, has catkins terminating leafy peduncles.

Salix pyrifolia Anderss. balsam willow

Shrubs usually to 4 m high; branches brown; branchlets greenish yellow
when young, becoming reddish brown. Leaves 4-12 cm long, 2-A cm broad;
ovate to lanceolate-oblong; margins glandular serrulate to crenate; acute to
acuminate, with the apex often asymmetric; base obtuse to cordate; dull green
above, glaucous and finely reticulate below; leaves thin and somewhat translu-
cent; often purplish when young, fragrant, especially when crushed. Catkins
appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Cap-
sules 5-9 mm long, glabrous; scales light brown or purplish; pedicels longer
than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Sloughs and lakeshores, muskeg,
swamps, and riverbanks; Boreal forest.

Salix reticulata L. SNOW willow

Dwarf shrubs, with stem buried; branches short, light brown; branchlets
greenish yellow to light brown. Leaves 1-6 cm long, 0.8-5 cm broad; orbicular
to suborbicular; obtuse to somewhat retuse; base obtuse to cordate; margins
subentire to somewhat crenate, revolute; glossy dark green above, with the
veins sunken; pale green, conspicuously reticulately veined, thinly pubescent
to glabrous below. Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminat-
ing leafy peduncles. Capsules 4-5 mm long, pubescent; scales yellowish to red-
dish; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 2 stamens. Tundra; in
the Boreal forest of northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A somewhat
smaller plant with only the branchlets clearly above ground occurs in alpine
tundra in the Rocky Mountains; this plant is considered as var. nivalis (Hook.)
Anderss. or S. nivalis Hook, by some authors.

Salix serissima (Bailey) Fern. autumn willow

Shrubs to 4 or 5 m high; stems grayish brown; branches brown to olive
brown; branchlets yellowish brown, shiny. Leaves 4-8 cm long, 1-3 cm broad,
lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate; acute to short acuminate; base acute; margins
fine glandular serrulate; green and often glossy above, lighter green and sub-
glaucous below. Catkins appearing after the leaves, maturing in late summer;
terminating leafy peduncles. Capsules 7-12 mm long, glabrous; scales yellow,
deciduous; pedicels shorter than to as long as the scales. Male flowers with 5
stamens. Swampy areas; Boreal forest.

Salix sitchensis Sanson sitka willow

Shrubs 0.5-3 m high; stems grayish; branches dark to grayish brown;
branchlets densely pubescent when young, later glabrescent. Leaves 3-10 cm
long, 1.5-5 cm broad, narrowly elliptic to obovate; obtuse, often with an
asymmetric acuminate tip; base acute; margins subentire, distantly glandular;
dull green, sparsely pubescent above, densely silky pubescent below. Catkins
appearing at the same time as the leaves; terminating leafy peduncles. Cap-
sules 3-5.5 mm long, pubescent; scales dark brown, or with a dark brown apex
only; pedicels shorter than the scales. Male flowers with 1 stamen. Banks of
streams and lakeshores; Rocky Mountains.

298

Salix vestita Pursh rock willow

Depressed shrubs 0.25-0.75 m high. Branches brown with conspicuous
leaf scars; branchlets brown, pubescent. Leaves 2-6 cm long, 1.5-5 cm broad,
oval to broadly oblong or suborbicular; obtuse to retuse; base obtuse to sub-
cordate; margins subentire, often somewhat revolute; deep green, rugose
above, densely long pubescent and glaucous below. Catkins appearing after
the leaves; subsessile or on naked peduncles. Capsules 4-5 mm long, pubes-
cent; scales dark brown; pedicels snorter than the scales. Wet, rocky, usually
shaded habitats on lakeshores in Boreal forest, and subalpine locations in the
Rocky Mountains.

MYRICACEAE — bayberry family

Myrica sweet gale

Myrica gale L. sweet gale, bog-myrtle

A shrub to 100-120 cm high, with wedge-shaped leaves up to 5 cm long
and 1-2 cm wide, which have a pleasing odor when bruised. Flowers in catkins
before leaves appear, unisexual, the male and female inflorescence usually on
separate plants. Plants bearing flowers of one sex one year have been known to
produce flowers of the opposite sex the next year. Fruit in the form of a small
nutlet, coated with a resinous wax and having two wing-like scales, borne in
small heads. Found along stream banks and in swamps on acid soil; Boreal
forest.

BETULACEAE — birch family

Trees or shrubs with unisexual flowers, both sexes borne on the same
plant. Flowers in catkins, fruit a nutlet borne in a cone-like head or a nut
enclosed in bracts.

1. Nuts wingless, enclosed in a leafy

involucre 2

Nuts mostly winged, not enclosed in a

leafy involucre 3

2. Pistillate flowers 2-4; inflorescence capi-

tate; involucre not inflated; nut large,

acorn-like Corylus

Pistillate flowers several; inflorescence an
ament; involucre inflated; nut small,
achene-like Ostrya

3. Fruiting bracts woody, persistent; nutlets

narrow-winged or with leathery mar-
gins; stamens 4 Alnus

Fruiting bracts thin, deciduous; nutlets

mostly broadly winged; stamens 2 Betula

299

Alnus alder

Fruit thin-margined; flowering before the
leaves A. incana

Fruit distinctly winged; flowering after the
leaves A. viridis var. sinuata

Alnus incana (L.) Moench speckled alder

A tall shrub or small tree with elliptic leaves, dark green above and paler
below, usually with some hairiness on the veins on the underside. Flowers
developing before leaves appear; fruit not winged. Common; along streams,
river valleys, and other habitats; Boreal forest, less common in Parkland. Syn.:
Alnus rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. var. americana (Regel) Fern.; A. tenuifolia Nutt.

Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. var. sinuata Regel GREEN ALDER

A shrub 2-3 m high with oval leaves, which are often sticky on the under-
side. Fruit with thin wings on both sides. Fairly abundant; in dry sandy, coni-
ferous woods; Boreal forest. Syn.: Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh.

Betula birch

1. Trees with white, papery bark B. papyrifera

Shrubs or small trees with reddish or

brown bark 2

2. Wing of seed broader than body of seed;

tall shrub or small tree; leaves sharply

double-toothed B. occidentalis

Wing of seed narrower than body of seed;

low bushes or shrubs 3

3. Young twigs and branches with scattered

hairs, slightly glandular; leaves taper-
ing at base; fruit with wing half as wide
as body B. glandulifera

Twigs and branches not hairy, densely
glandular; leaves rounded at base; fruit
with very narrow wing B. nana var. sibirica

Betula glandulifera (Regel) Butler swamp birch

A shrub, with leaves 20-30 mm long, dark green above and yellowish or
reddish green beneath. Twigs and undersides of young leaves with very fine
hairs. Seed with a distinct wing half the width of the seed. Around swamps and
bogs; in Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains. Sometimes considered B. pumila
L. var. glandulifera Regel.

Betula nana L. var. sibirica Led. scrub birch

A shrub 30-150 cm high, with glandular twigs and small rounded leaves
5-20 mm long. Twigs and leaves without any hairiness, but with resinous
glands. Seed with a very narrow wing, sometimes almost lacking. Fairly com-
mon; in marshes, sloughs, and boggy places; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.
An arctic-alpine species. Syn.: Betula glandulosa Michx.

300

Betula occidentalis Hook. river birch

A small tree or large shrub up to 10 m high, growing in many-stemmed
clumps, with ovate or almost round leaves 2-5 cm long. Inflorescence a cylin-
dric catkin; fruit borne in cylindric, cone-like heads; seeds with broad wings.
Common in low places, stream banks, depressions in sandhills; throughout the
Prairie Provinces. Syn.: B. fontinalis Sarg.

Betula papyrifera Marsh. white birch, canoe birch

A tree with white bark, up to 15 m high in favorable locations. Leaves
ovate to rhomboid, serrate, dark green above. Along rivers, in openings, and
somewhat moister sites; commonly in cutover areas. Three forms can be dis-
tinguished:

1. Leaves glabrous; twigs densely glandu-

lar var. neoalaskana (Sarg.) Raup

Leaves pubescent along the nerves below;

twigs not densely glandular 2

2. Pubescence consisting of tufts of hairs in

the axils of the veins; leaves rounded to

truncate at the base var. papyrifera

Pubescence more or less velvety below,
often also pubescent above; leaves cor-
date at the base var. cordifolia (Regel) Fern.

Corylus hazelnut

Shrubs or small trees with much-branched stems and smooth bark.
Leaves broadly oval, to 10 cm long. Flowers in catkins, which are produced
before leaves develop, the slender red stigmas quite conspicuous. Fruit a true
nut enclosed in two leaf-like bracts.

Bracts not much united, barely covering nut C. americana

Bracts united and produced into long beak,

completely enclosing nut, and extending

about 3 cm beyond nut C. cornuta

Corylus americana Walt. (Fig. 89,4) American hazelnut

Shrub 1-3 m high, with ovate leaves covered with pinkish hairs. Nuts
rather compressed and enclosed in two distinct leafy bracts, which are slightly
longer than the nut. Common throughout eastern Boreal forest and Parkland,
but unusual farther west.

Corylus cornuta Marsh. (Fig. 89£) beaked hazelnut

Similar in growth to C. americana, but with leaves sometimes hairless or
with flattened sparse hairs. Nuts, which are very little compressed, enclosed in
the united bracts, extending about 3 cm beyond the nut, forming a kind of
beak. Fairly plentiful in woodlands and moist hillsides; throughout Parklands
and Boreal forest.

30

/1.C Budd

Fig. 89. A, American hazelnut, Corylus americana Walt.; B, beaked hazelnut,
Corylus cornuta Marsh.

302

Ostrya ironwood

Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch horn hopbeam

Trees to 20 m high; the leaves narrowly to broadly oblong or ovate, short
acuminate, serrate. Catkins 3-5 cm long, at maturity resembling a hops stro-
bile, the involucral bracts inflated, 1-3 cm long, loosely enclosing the fruit.
Very rare; dry to moist woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

FAGACEAE — beech family

Quercus oak

Quercus macrocarpa Michx. BUR OAK

Trees with gray, flaky bark and very hard wood, 15 m high in eastern
locations, but a small scrubby tree farther west. Leaves bright, shiny green
above and grayish white and slightly woolly beneath, deeply cut with rounded
lobes. Flowers unisexual, in slender catkins. Fruit an acorn resting in a shallow
fringed cup. Common in southeastern Parkland, but farther west only found in
the valleys of the rivers tributary to the Assiniboine River in Saskatchewan.

ULMACEAE — elm family

Leaves with 2 prominent veins beside the
midrib; fruit a drupe with large stone Celtis

Leaves with a single midrib; fruit a thin,
broadly winged samara Ulmus

Celtis nettletree

Celtis occiden talis L . H AC K B E R R Y

Trees to 15 m high, with prominently ridged bark. Leaves 6-12 cm long,
conspicuously serrate. Fruit ellipsoid, 7-13 cm long, dark red to nearly black.
Very rare; moist woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Ulmus elm

Ulmus americana L. American elm

A tall tree with reddish bark and smooth twigs. Leaves oval, with soft
hairs beneath and rough above, veins very prominent. Flowers perfect, in little
bunches early in spring before the leaves appear. Fruit a one-seeded, flat
samara, or winged fruit. A common tree in southeastern Parkland, rare along
rivers in Prairie, but in various locations planted and escaped.

303

CANNABINACEAE — hemp family

Humulus hop

Humulus lupulus L. common hop

A perennial twining climber, often 3-6 m long; leaves usually large, pal-
mately 3- to 7-lobed, with cordate bases, opposite, 2-8 cm across, and bearing
many tiny whitish or yellowish glandular spots on the undersides. Upper
leaves near the inflorescence often not divided, merely toothed. Stems rough to
the touch, with fine, stiff, reflexed hairs. Male flowers in loose panicles, green,
with 5 sepals. Female flowers on separate plants, in catkin-like or cone-like
heads in the axils of the leaves, with broad greenish or yellowish imbricated
bracts covering the fruits. These clustered fruits (hops) vary from 2 to 5 cm in
length. Fairly common in moist places in southeastern Parklands, particularly
in river valleys, and scattered throughout the Prairies. Contact with this plant
causes a form of dermatitis in some individuals.

URTICACEAE — nettle family

Plants often with stinging hairs and greenish flowers, which are borne in
clusters at the junction of- the stem and the leafstalk.

1. Plants without stinging hairs Parietaria

Plants with stinging hairs 2

2. Leaves alternate; sepals 5 Laportea

Leaves opposite; sepals 4 Vrtica

Laportea wood nettle

Imported canadensis (L.) Gaud. wood nettle

A perennial with alternate and toothed leaves with stinging hairs. Fairly
common; in rich woodlands; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Parietaria pellitory

Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. AMERICAN PELLITORY

A weak-stemmed, hairy, annual plant, 10-50 cm high, with opposite, lan-
ceolate, 3-nerved leaves 2-8 cm long. Greenish flowers in dense clusters
around the leaf axils. Very rare; shaded areas; southeastern Parklands.

Vrtica nettle

Plants perennial, with extensive rootstocks;

stipules 5-15 mm long U. dioica vM.procera

Plants annual; stipules 1-3 mm long U. mens

304

Urtica dioica L. var.procera (Muhl.) Wedd. (Fig. 90) stinging nettle

A perennial with very coarse rootstocks, which have pink offshoots.
Plants have tall, straight stems, usually square in cross section, and with ovate
to lanceolate, serrate (toothed), opposite leaves bearing stinging hairs. Green-
ish flowers borne in clusters at the junction of stem and leafstalk. Very com-
mon around sloughs, moist places, and bushes; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces. Syn.: U. gracilis Ait.

Urtica mens L. English nettle

Annual plants with erect stems 10-50 cm high, simple or branched, with
numerous stinging hairs. Leaves elliptic to ovate, deeply coarse serrate; flower
clusters oblong. A rare weed; in gardens; Prairies and Parklands.

SANTALACEAE — sandalwood family

Smooth, hairless perennials with rootstocks, partly parasitic on the roots
of other plants. Flowers perfect, without petals, but with 5 sepals, which are
united to form a bell-like tube. Fruit a 1 -seeded drupe (dry or fleshy fruit with
a hard nut-like seed in the center).

Comandra comandra

Flowers axillary C livida

Flowers in terminal or subterminal clusters C. umbellata

Comandra livida Rich. northern comandra

A slender, erect plant, 10-30 cm high, with oval leaves 1-3 cm long on
short stalks. Flowers in the axils of the leaves. Fruit a spherical red drupe
about 3 mm in diam, edible. Not very common; but found in moist woods;
Boreal forest, Riding Mountain, Rocky Mountains. Syn.: Geocaulon lividum
(Richards.) Fern.

Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. (Fig. 91) bastard toadflax

An erect plant, from a white creeping rootstock, 6-30 cm high, usually in
bunches of several plants from the same rootstock. Leaves linear or linear-lan-
ceolate, 10-25 mm long, without stalks, borne alternately on the stems. Flow-
ers at the summit of stems, greenish white to pinkish, small, about 5 mm long.
Fruit ovoid, 3-8 mm long. This plant is often attacked by a tiny insect that
causes small round galls about 6 mm in diam that are sometimes mistaken for
the fruit.

Three forms can be distinguished:

1. Leaves thin, distinctly veined; calyx lobes

2-3 mm long; fruit 3-6 mm across var. umbellata

Leaves thick, not distinctly veined; calyx
lobes 3-4 mm long; fruit 5-8 mm
across 2

2. Plants usually small, to 15 or 20 cm high;

panicle branches short; the panicle

ovoid var. angustifolia (DC.) Torr.

305

Fig. 90. Stinging nettle, Urtica dioica L. \ds.procera (Muhl.) Wedd.

306

Fig. 91. Bastard toadflax, Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.

307

Plants usually 20-40 cm high; panicle
branches long; the panicle more
corymbiform var. pallida (DC.) G. N. Jones

The var. umbellata, Richards comandra, is the common form in openings,
open forests, and disturbed areas throughout Boreal forest (syn.: C.
richardsiana Fern.); var. angustifolia, pale comandra, is very common in dry
grasslands of the Prairies (syn.: C. pallida A. A.); var. pallida occurs in grass-
land in southern Rocky Mountains (syn.: C. pallida A. DC). Many plants,
such as those of the Peace River and Parkland areas, are intermediate between
these forms, but they approach one form more closely than the others.

LORANTHACEAE — mistletoe family

A rceuthobium dwarf mistletoe

Stems 5-10 cm high; staminate flowers
terminal A. americanum

Stems 0.5-2 cm high; all flowers axillary A. pusillum

Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. AMERICAN MISTLETOE

A parasitic plant on conifers, mostly Pinus, often causing witches'-broom.
Stems fragile, greenish yellow, often much-branched; leaves opposite, scale-
like. Fruit 1 -seeded, berry-like, 2-3 mm long, ejecting the seed explosively.
Boreal forest.

Arceuthobium pusillum Peck dwarf mistletoe

A parasitic plant, mostly on black spruce, more rarely on white spruce or
tamarack. Stems fragile, greenish brown, simple or sparingly branched; leaves
scale-like. Fruit about 2 mm long. Eastern Boreal forest.

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE — birthwort family

Asarum wild ginger

Asarum canadense L. wild ginger

Plants with slender, branched rootstocks and 2 large, rotund or reniform
leaves with a deeply cordate base, pubescent especially on the petioles. Flower
solitary, with the petals minute or absent. Fruit a capsule with large wrinkled
seeds. Rare; woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

POLYGONACEAE — buckwheat family

Herbs with mostly alternate, entire leaves and, except in Eriogonum, with
sheathing stipules called ocrea. Flowers small, without petals, but with a peri-
anth of 4-6 more or less united sepals. Achenes either triangular or lens-
shaped.

308

1. Leaves without stipules; a whorl of bracts

below flower clusters; stamens 9 Eriogonum

Leaves with stipules; without whorl of
bracts below flowers; stamens less than
9 2

2. Sepals 4 or 6; stigmas tufted 4

Sepals 5, more or less equal; stigmas not

tufted 3

3. Seeds generally enclosed by somewhat

enlarged calyx, but, if protruding from

calyx, the leaves are long and narrow Polygonum

Seeds protruding from calyx; leaves

broadly arrow-shaped Fagopyrum

4. Sepals 6, the three inner ones large, 15-20

mm, enclosing the fruit; leaves

lanceolate Rumex

Sepals 4, the inner ones erect, 4-6 mm;

leaves reniform Oxyria

Eriogonum umbrellaplant

1. Plants annual; inflorescence a diffusely

branched raceme E. cernuum

Plants perennial; inflorescence a more or

less dense umbel 2

2. Inflorescence subtended by leaf-like

bracts 3

Inflorescence subtended by small,

reduced bracts 4

3. Involucral bracts linear, ascending E.flavum

Involucral bracts lanceolate or oblong,

spreading or reflexed E. umbellatum

4. Leaves oval, obovate or orbicular, about 1

cm long E. ovalifolium

Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate 5

5. Leaves in dense crowded rosettes; flowers

yellow or reddish E. androsaceum

Leaves in loose rosettes; flowers whitish

or pinkish E. multiceps

Eriogonum androsaceum Benth. cushion umbrellaplant

Plant forming small, compact cushions; scapes 2-10 cm high. Leaves 1-2
cm long, oblanceolate to spatulate, densely villose, later becoming glabrate.
Inflorescence often a single small umbel; flowers 4-5 mm long. Not common;
exposed, often rocky, areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Eriogonum cernuum Nutt. nodding umbrellaplant

Low annual plants up to 30 crn high, with a whorl of small leaves near
base of stem. Leaves almost circular, 1-2 cm in diam, white woolly beneath.

309

Flowers white or rose, borne in small clusters about 5 mm wide on stems in a
much-branched inflorescence, usually drooping. Not common but abundant
locally; found on badlands, abandoned fields, dry and sandy soil; throughout
southwestern Prairies.

Eriogonum flavum Nutt. (Fig. 92) yellow umbrellaplant

A low perennial with a very coarse, scaly, dark brown, woody, tufted root.
Leaves all basal, usually linear-oblong or spatulate, 2-5 cm long, green and
slightly hairy above, densely white woolly beneath. Flowers pale yellow, in
umbel-like clusters at head of stems. Common; on dry and eroded hillsides,
badlands, and canyons; throughout Prairies.

Eriogonum multiceps Nees branched eriogonum

A low perennial, rarely over 20 cm high, with branched stems. Leaves
very narrow, to 5 cm long; the whole plant, leaves, and stem densely white
woolly. Whitish or pale pink flowers in small clusters at the summits of the
stems. Uncommon; on eroded banks and badlands; Prairies.

Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. silverplant

A low plant with the caudex closely branched; leaves densely white
tomentose. Scapes 5-15 cm high; inflorescence usually a single dense umbel,
with very small bracts. Not common; dry hillsides and plains; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. umbrellaplant

Plant with short woody branches forming loose mats; leaves clustered in
numerous rosettes, 3-5 cm long, glabrous above, dense white tomentose
below. Scapes 10-30 cm high, pubescent below; umbel with rays 1-6 cm long;
bracts 10-25 mm long. Exposed sites, summits, and slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains. Syn.: E. subalpinum Greene.

Fagopyrum buckwheat

Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn. (Fig. 93) tartary buckwheat

An annual weed 50-100 cm high, with somewhat triangular leaves often
as broad as long, 3-10 cm long and wide. Flowers small, white, in bunches on
the flowering stems, arising from the junction of the leaf stalks and stems.
Seeds about the same size as wheat kernels. This weed, introduced from Asia,
is a serious pest in northern and central Alberta; rare in Boreal forest. Com-
mon cultivated buckwheat, F. esculentum Moench, has larger white or pinkish
flowers, and smooth shiny seeds. Rarely found as a weed.

Oxyria mountain sorrel

Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill mountain sorrel

Plant with rootstock and stout root; stems 5-30 cm high. Leaves mostly
basal, alternate, long-petioled; stipule sheath loose. Flowers whorled in a
dense raceme 4-6 mm long; achenes lens-shaped. Mountain meadows, rock
slopes; Rocky Mountains.

310

Fig. 92. Yellow umbrellaplant, Eriogonum flavum Nutt.

311

Fig. 93. Tartary buckwheat, Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.

312

Polygonum knotweed

1. Plants twining; leaves broad, hastate (ar-

row-shaped) at base Section: Bilderdykia

Plants not twining; leaves linear, lanceo-
late, or oblong 2

2. Flowers solitary or in clusters in axils of

leaves; leaves small Section: Avicularia

Flowers in dense spikes, either terminal or

in axils of leaves; leaves large 3

3. Basal leaves with long stalks, stem leaves

smaller and stalkless; stem single and

unbranched Section: Bistorta

Leaves all similar; stem much-branched Section: Persicaria

Polygonum (Sect. : Avicularia) doorweed

Annual low-growing plants, often prostrate on ground, with tough stems
and alternate leaves, usually narrow. Sheathing stipules usually fairly conspic-
uous and often white and translucent. Flowers small, borne in clusters in axils
of leaves, and having a perianth of five partly united sepals. Seeds 3-angled
achenes, black or brown. Plants appear to thrive when they are trampled.

1. Inflorescence crowded at summit of stem;

bracts leaf-like 2

Inflorescence not crowded at summit of

stem; flower cluster axillary 3

2. Bracts broadly white-margined; achenes

jet black P. confertiflorum

Bracts mostly not white-margined;

achenes brown P. kelloggii

3. Fruit reflexed or pendulous; achenes

black 4

Fruit erect or ascending; achenes

brownish 6

4. Calyx 3-4 mm long; plants 10^40 cm

high P. douglasii

Calyx 2-3 mm long; plants 5-15 cm high 5

5. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate; bracts

awl-shaped P. engelmannii

Leaves ovate to oblanceolate; bracts

oblong or lanceolate P. austiniae

6. Leaves oval or blunt; length-to-width

ratio 2.5:1 7

Leaves linear to lanceolate; length-to-
width ratio 4: 1 or more 8

7. Plants erect, 3-15 cm high; flower clusters

crowded at the tips of branches P. minimum

Plants prostrate or decumbent, much
larger; flower clusters scattered along
the stems P. achoreum

313

8. Plants erect or ascending, usually quite

high 9

Plants usually prostrate, depressed 10

9. Leaves 10-25 mm wide, margins white P. erectum

Leaves 5-15 mm wide, margins not

white P. ramosissimum

10. Petioles included in ocreae; margins of
perianth segments white or pinkish;

achene 2.5-3.5 mm P. aviculare

Petioles exserted; margins of perianth
segment bright pink; achene 3.5-4.5
mm P. boreale

Polygonum (Sect.: Bilderdykia) wild buckwheat

1. Plants annual P. convolvulus

Plants perennial 2

2. Ocreae reflexed-bristly at base; stems

sharply angled; fruit not winged P. cilinode

Ocreae smooth; stems nearly terete; fruit

broadly winged P. scandens

Polygonum (Sect.: Bistorta) bistort

Basal leaves tapering gradually to stalk;
inflorescence not bulblet-bearing P. bistortoides

Basal leaves cordate or blunt-based; in-
florescence bearing bulblets at lower part P. viviparum

Polygonum (Sect.: Persicaria) smartweed

The smartweeds, especially the perennial species, are a rather confusing
group of plants: they can have three phases, each phase differing from the
others by so much that in some instances they have been classed as different
species instead of phases of the same species. The aquatic phase is found sub-
mersed in water, is usually without hairs, and has broad leaves. The paludose
(or marshy) phase is found where water has recently receded, and the plants
grow in wet mud. The terrestrial phase is found where the soil has dried some-
what; the leaves are usually narrow and the plant often more or less hairy. The
flowers of smartweeds are borne in conspicuous racemes, usually white and
pink or greenish, and the perennial species are usually the dominant plant in
the location they occupy. Most species are palatable and nutritious. Heavy
pasturing may cause bighead or yellows in sheep.

1. Plants perennial, with extensively creep-
ing rootstocks P. amphibium

Plants annual 2

314

2. Leaves 3-6 cm long, oblong-sagittate, cor-

date at base P. sagittatwn

Leaves not sagittate, cuneate at base 3

3. Perianth covered with brownish glands 4

Perianth not glandular 5

4. Cleistogamous flowers present in the leaf

axils P. hydropiper

Cleistogamous flowers not present P. punctatum

5. Ocreae ciliate; peduncles not glandular P. persicaha

Ocreae not ciliate; peduncles and often
perianth bearing yellow subsessile
glands 6

6. Achene 1.5-2.0 mm wide; leaves glabrous

below P. lapathifolium

Achene 2.0-3.0 mm wide; leaves spar-
ingly pubescent below P. scabrum

Polygonum achoreum Blake striate knotweed

An annual growing to about 40 cm high, with oval to elliptic bluish green
leaves 6-25 mm long. Common around yards and waste places, appearing to
thrive on abuse. If kept mowed, it takes the place of a lawn, and helps to pre-
vent soil erosion by wind and water. In waste places and farmyards; through-
out the Prairie Provinces.

Polygonum amphibium L. swamp persicaria

Perennial with far-creeping blackish, branching rootstocks. Leaves 5-15
cm long, oblong-ovate, truncate, cordate or cuneate at the base, glabrous or
somewhat pubescent. Ocreae often with foliaceous collar when young. Spikes
1-3 cm long. Very common; in standing water; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces. Syn.: P. coccineum Muhl. forma natans (Wiegand) Stanford; P. natans
A. Eaton forma genuinum Stanford. The terrestrial form, with larger
inflorescence, spikes 5-10 cm long, leaves often densely pubescent, and ocreae
with a broad foliaceous collar, is P. amphibium L. var. emersum Michx. Very
common; in mud flats, slough margins, and lakeshores; throughout the Prairie
Provinces. Syn.: P. coccineum Muhl. forma terrestre (Willd.) Stanford; P.
natans A. Eaton forma hartwrightii (Gray) Stanford; P. amphibium L. var.
stipulaceum (Coleman) Fern.

Polygonum austiniae Greene

Plants erect, 4-12 cm high, branched from the base. Lower leaves oval to
obovate or lanceolate, petioled; upper leaves reduced, sessile. Flowers in the
leaf axils, solitary or in pairs, reflexed. Achenes 2.5-3 mm long, shiny black.
Dry, usually disturbed ground; southern Rocky Mountains.

Polygonum aviculare L. (Fig. 94) doorweed

A semiprostrate annual plant, 10-50 cm long. Leaves fairly broad,
oblong, 1.5-6 cm long, pale bluish green. The ocreae (or stipules) silvery and
translucent. Very common; in waste places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

315

Fig. 94. Doorweed, Polygonum aviculare L.

316

Polygonum bistortoides Pursh western bistort

A perennial plant growing from a horizontal fleshy rootstock to 10-40 cm
high. Basal leaves 6-15 cm long, lanceolate to oblong, on a stalk about as long
as the blade. Stem leaves much shorter and without stalks. Inflorescence a
dense, oblong raceme of white or pinkish flowers, borne at the head of the
stem. A plant of swamps, stream beds, and wet places; Rocky Mountains,
Cypress Hills.

Polygonum boreale (Lange) Small northern doorweed

Stems prostrate or decumbent to erect, 10-50 cm long. Leaves 3-5 cm
long, obovate; petioles well exserted from the ocreae. Perianth green with con-
spicuous pink margins. Gravel banks; Hudson Bay.

Polygonum cilinode Michx. bindweed

Stems to 2 m long, twining, trailing, sometimes erect; pubescent. Leaves
triangular-ovate, deeply cordate. Racemes long-peduncled, 4-10 cm long, peri-
anth white; achene glossy black, 1.5-2 mm, with the outer calyx rarely nar-
rowly winged. Clearings and rock outcrops; eastern Boreal forest.

Polygonum confertiflorum Nutt. small knotweed

Plants annual, stems erect, 3-15 cm high, glabrous, simple or branched.
Leaves 1-3 cm long, linear-lanceolate. Flower clusters crowded into short ter-
minal spikes; perianth segments with a conspicuous white margin; achene jet
black. Rare or overlooked; dry, disturbed areas; Cypress Hills.

Polygonum convolvulus L. wild buckwheat

An annual, tap-rooted weed, with weak twining stems and pale green
arrow-shaped leaves, 1-5 cm long, and pointed at the tip. Flowers greenish or
pink, in small racemes in the axils of the leaves or at the end of the stem. Seeds
black, granular, three-angled, and often enclosed in a green or brown coating,
and about 3 mm long. Introduced from Europe, but very common in culti-
vated land and waste places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Polygonum douglasii Greene douglas knotweed

An erect annual to 45 cm high; narrow leaves 1-5 cm long. Seeds oblong,
narrow, reflexed or pendulous on the stem. Not very common; various loca-
tions; southwestern Prairies.

Polygonum engelmannii Greene slender knotweed

An erect annual 5-15 cm high; stems slender, often diffusely branched at
base; linear to lanceolate leaves, and axillary clusters of 1-4 flowers. Moist
banks and slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Polygonum erectum L. erect knotweed

Plants with erect or decumbent stems 10-50 cm high; leaves elliptic to
elliptic-lanceolate, finely crenulate and white-margined, 1-4 cm long, 0.5-2 cm
broad. Achenes of two kinds: dark brown, shiny, punctate, about 2.5 mm
long; or dull brown, 3-3.5 mm long. Waste areas and lakeshores; southeastern
Parklands and Boreal forest.

317

Polygonum hydropiper L. water-pepper

Stems 10-50 cm long, erect or spreading, often reddish. Leaves narrowly
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 2-5 cm long; ocreae short ciliate. Racemes 3-6
cm long; perianth greenish; achenes dull dark brown, 2-3 mm long. Rare; wet
places; southeastern Boreal forest.

Polygonum kelloggii Greene dwarf knotweed

A small annual 3-15 cm high, erect, simple or branched; leaves 1-3 cm
long, linear to linear-lanceolate; flower clusters crowded at the ends of branch-
es; achenes dark brown. Rare; moist areas; southwestern Prairies.

Polygonum lapathifolium L. pale persicaria

A variable annual plant, with lanceolate to ovate leaves, sometimes deep
green and hairless, but more often pubescent beneath. The type with pubes-
cent leaves was formerly listed as a separate species, P. tomentosum Schrank.
Although hirsute and whitish underneath when young, mature plants appear
glabrous. Flowers in erect spikes, usually pale pink to white; those growing
under moist conditions usually paler than those of the drier locations. Very
common along slough margins and low areas; occasionally in cultivated fields;
throughout most of the Prairie Provinces.

Polygonum minimum S. Wats. LEAST knotweed

Small annuals 3-15 cm high, erect or spreading, branched at the base,
leafy. Leaves oval to obovate, 5-15 mm long. Flower clusters of 2 or 3, axil-
lary, perianth white-margined; achenes 2-2.5 mm long. Dry ground; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Polygonum persicaria L. (Fig. 95) LADY'S-THUMB

Large annuals, with stems 30-80 cm high, erect or ascending. Leaves nar-
rowly lanceolate, 3-7 cm long; ocreae short-ciliate, minutely pubescent. Spikes
dense, 1-5 cm long; perianth pink or reddish; achenes black, 2-2.5 mm long.
Not common; wet areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Polygonum punctatum Ell. var. confertiflorum (Meisn.) Fassett

WATER SMARTWEED

Large annuals, with stems to 60 cm high, simple or branched, erect or
ascending. Leaves to 15 cm long, 2 cm wide, narrowly lanceolate. Racemes to
10 cm long, much interrupted; perianth greenish, glandular; achenes 2.5-3
mm long. Wet areas, lakeshores, waste places; eastern Parklands and Boreal
forest.

Polygonum ramosissimum Michx. BUSHY knotweed

A yellowish green erect plant 15-90 cm high, with a much-branched stem
and lanceolate to linear-oblong leaves to 3 cm long. Found occasionally; in
sandy soil, river bottoms, and lakeshores; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Polygonum sagittatum L. arrow-leaved tear-thumb

Slender annuals, with stems 10-50 cm high, weak, reclining, with reflexed
barbs. Leaves lanceolate-sagittate, deeply cordate at base. Inflorescence head-
like, terminal on stems or branches; perianth pink; achene dark brown or
black, 2-3 mm long. Rare; wet areas; southeastern Boreal forest.

318

Fig. 95. Lady's-thumb, Polygonum persicaria L.

319

Polygonum scabrum Moench GREEN smartweed

Large annuals, with stems 30-80 cm high, simple or branching, erect to
spreading-ascending. Leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 3-8 cm long,
white pubescent below, especially the lower ones. The upper leaves glandular-
dotted. Spikes erect, usually greenish, very glandular below; achenes 2.5-3.5
mm long. Waste areas, lakeshores; western Parklands and Boreal forest.

Polygonum scandens L. false buckwheat

Twining perennials, with sharply angled stems to 2 m long. Leaves
oblong-ovate, deeply cordate at base. Inflorescences from most upper leaf axils
5-10 cm long; perianth white; fruit broadly winged, the outer sepals expand-
ing, to 15 mm long; achene glossy black, 3-5 mm long. Rare; shores, clearings,
and margins of woods; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Polygonum viviparum L. alpine bistort

A perennial plant 5-25 cm high, from a scaly corm-like rootstock, with
cordate-based basal leaves 5-10 cm long. Stem leaves narrow and tapering to
the base, which is enclosed in a membranous sheath or ocreae. Inflorescence a
dense raceme of whitish or pinkish flowers terminating the stem, but the lower
flowers replaced by small bulbs. An alpine species; Rocky Mountains.

Rumex dock

Mostly perennial plants with thick roots, leaves of varying shapes and
sizes. Flowers, perfect or unisexual, consisting of 6 sepals, the 3 inner ones
enlarging and forming wings or valves enclosing the fruit. These valves some-
times entire and sometimes fringed with bristle-like teeth. In some species one
or all three of the valves may bear a protuberance called a tubercle, useful as a
character for identification. Usually in wet or marshy places; throughout the
Prairie Provinces, but at least one species is a plant of the sandhills.

1. Valves greatly enlarging in fruit, becom-

ing bright pink R. venosus

Valves not greatly enlarging 2

2. Flowers unisexual 3

Flowers perfect 5

3. Leaves cuneate at base, long-petioled R. paucifolius

Leaves hastate or sagittate at base 4

4. Valves much larger than achene R. acetosa

Valves equaling the achene, or a little

larger R. acetosella

5. Valves distinctly lobed or toothed on the

margin 6

Valves entire or nearly so 7

6. Inflorescence continuous; valves 2.5-3

mm R. maritimus v&T.fueginus

Inflorescence with distant whorls; valves

4-5 mm R. dentatus

320

7. Pedicels not jointed near the middle 8

Pedicels jointed 9

8. Valves all with a grain-like body R. orbiculatus

Valves without grains R. occidentalis

9. Fruit with 1-3 large grains 10

Fruit without grains, or with only 1 small

grain 12

10. Plants with prostrate or ascending stems;

most stem leaves with axillary shoots R. salicifolius

Plants with erect stems; axillary shoots

absent or few 1 1

11. Valves entire, 3-6 mm long; leaf margins

strongly undulate R. crispus

Valves with small teeth, 3.5-4 mm long;
leaf margins undulate, but not strongly
so R. stenophyllus

12. Basal and lower stem leaves almost as

wide as long, deeply cordate at base R. confertus

Basal and lower stem leaves much longer

than wide 13

13. Lower stem leaves linear-lanceolate,

length-to-width ratio about 8:1; valves

3.5-5 mm long, less than 5 mm wide R.fennicus

Lower stem leaves broadly lanceolate,
length-to-width ratio about 4:1; valves
4.5-6 mm long, more than 5 mm wide R. longifolius

Rumex acetosa L. sour dock

An erect plant sometimes over 60 cm high, with broadly lanceolate arrow-
shaped leaves 2-12 cm long. Used as food; escaped from gardens in many
parts of the Prairie Provinces.

Rumex acetosella L. (Fig. 96) sheep sorrel

A low plant not over 30 cm high, with leaves narrowly hastate or spear-
shaped, 2-10 cm long. In this species sepals do not enlarge in fruit. An intro-
duced weed but only rarely found; in dry or sandy places and on acid soils.

Rumex confertus Willd.

Fall perennial, 60-100 cm high, with the basal leaves triangular cordate,
to 20 cm wide; the petiole shorter than the blade. Valves about 6 mm long, 8
mm wide. Very rare; waste areas; eastern Parklands.

Rumex crispus L. curled dock

An introduced weed, to over 1 m high in favorable localities, with leaves
crinkled at the edge, the low^i ones 15-30 cm long, the upper ones smaller.
Fairly common; in moist places; eastern Prairies and Parklands.

321

Fig. 96. Sheep sorrel, Rumex acetosella L.

322

Rumex dent at us L. toothed dock

Plants annual, 20-70 cm high, with the basal leaves small, 2-3 times as
long as wide, truncate to subcordate at the base. Valves 4-6 mm long, 2-3 mm
wide, with teeth 3-6 mm long. Rare; weed in cultivated land; southwestern
Alberta.

Rumex fennicus Murb. field dock

An introduced perennial growing to more than 1 m high, with lanceolate
leaves 15-25 cm long, tapering toward the stalk. Erect, dense fruiting heads
turn brown in late summer and are very conspicuous in fields and along road-
sides. A tiny swelling on the stalk of fruiting valves about a third of the way up
from the base distinguishes this species from western dock, which it superfi-
cially resembles. Originally introduced from Europe but has spread rapidly
across the south central part of the Prairies and Parklands. Now a common
plant on almost every type of soil; in upland fields and moist areas. Syn.: R.
domesticus Hartm. var. pseudonatronatus Borb.

Rumex longifolius DC. long-leaved dock

Stout perennial plants 60-120 cm high, with leaves 20-40 cm long, 10-15
cm wide. Valves 4.5-5.5 mm long, 5.5-6.5 mm wide. Rare; weed in moist
areas; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Rumex maritimus L. var.fueginus (Phil.) Dusen golden dock

An annual species to 60 cm high, from a very fleshy root, and usually
diffusely branched, with leaves lanceolate, 6-25 cm long, pale green. Stems
covered with very short hairs. Fruiting heads conspicuous, golden yellow, very
dense. Valves of calyx have a spine-like bristly margin, which gives the heads a
prickly appearance and makes this species easy to distinguish. Found in moist
and saline places, lake flats, and lakeshores, and often the dominating plant in
such sites, sometimes in masses covering 1000 m2 or more. Common in suita-
ble locations; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Rumex occidentalis S. Wats. western dock

A tall, coarse, erect plant to 1 m high, with leaves broadly oblong or lan-
ceolate, up to 30 cm long, often cordate or heart-shaped at the base. Fruiting
heads dense and very conspicuous. Common; in wet or moist places; through-
out western part of the Prairie Provinces.

Rumex orbiculatus Gray great water dock

Stout, erect plants to 1.5 m high, with leaves lanceolate, acute or rounded
at base. Valves 5-8 mm long and wide. Rare; swamps and shallow water;
Boreal forest.

Rumex paucifolius Nutt. alpine sheep sorrel

Perennial plants with simple or branched taproot; stems 20-70 cm high;
leaves mostly basal, 4-10 cm long, cuneate at the base. Valves 2.5-3 mm long,
suborbicular, becoming reddish. Mountain meadows and streams; southern
Rocky Mountains.

323

Rumex salicifolius Weinm. narrow-leaved dock

A narrow-leaved species, erect or sprawling, in low and moist places.
Leaves pale green, 5-10 cm long and 10-25 mm wide. Fruiting heads narrow
and usually not so dense as in most docks. Common in moist or saline places,
roadside ditches, and similar sites; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: R.
triangulivalvis (Danser) Rech. f.; R. mexicanus Meisn.

Rumex stenophyllus Ldb. narrow-leaved field dock

An introduced perennial, 1-2 m high, with narrowly lanceolate leaves to
15 cm long, narrowed at both ends and crinkly margined. Inflorescence tall,
narrow, and somewhat leafy at the base. Fruiting valves toothed on the mar-
gins and bearing a tubercle on each valve; a tiny swollen joint on the lower
part of each valve stalk. This plant resembles field dock in many ways. Becom-
ing increasingly common; in southern part of Prairies.

Rumex venosus Pursh (Fig. 97) sand dock

A perennial species with running, woody rootstocks and branched stems.
Sheathing stipules whitish and papery, very conspicuous. Leaves pale green,
5-15 cm long, and nearly half as wide. Calyx valves conspicuous in fruit, large,
sometimes to 3 cm broad, almost round, bright red to pink. Often picked and
dried to form winter bouquets. Common in suitable localities, becoming domi-
nant in some places; on sandy soil, sand dunes, and often on railway grades
and roadsides; often an early invader of a shifting sand dune; throughout
Prairies and Parklands.

CHENOPODIACEAE — goosefoot family

A large and varied family consisting of both annual and perennial herbs
and shrubs. Leaves usually alternate, without stipules, and often white mealy.
Flowers have no petals but 2-5 sepals, and may be either perfect or unisexual.
Many species are weedy and most produce vast quantities of seed. Some are
edible, and nearly all are palatable to livestock, but one species is poisonous.

1. Leaves and branches opposite; fleshy-

stemmed plants; leaves reduced to

scales; flowers sunk into stem Salicornia

Leaves alternate 2

2. Plants with spiny branches or spine-tip-

ped leaves; calyx forming wing around

mature fruit 3

Plants neither spiny nor with spine-tipped

leaves 4

3. Shrubs with spiny branches Sarcobatus

Annual herbs with fleshy spine-tipped

leaves Salsola

4. Flowers unisexual, female flowers

enclosed in two bracts that enlarge

after flowering 5

324

Fig. 97. Sand dock, Rumex venosus Pursh.

325

Flowers perfect 9

5. Fruiting bracts covered with silvery, silky

hairs; low wooly shrubs Eurotia

Fruiting bracts not covered with silky

hairs 6

6. Fruiting bracts not united; seed coat

often winged at apex Axyris

Fruiting bract united, at least at base;

seed coat not winged at apex 7

7. Fruit with 2 teeth at apex; seed coat

membranous Suckleya

Fruit not 2-toothed at apex; seed coat

leathery 8

8. Female flowers with no calyx or sepals,

merely a pair of bracts Atriplex

Female flowers with 2 or 3 translucent
sepals, which are much shorter than the
bracts Endolepis

9. Calyx with only one sepal; 1-3 stamens 10

Calyx with 3-5 sepals; 1-5 stamens 11

10. Leaves spear-shaped; stems fleshy;

flowers in clusters in leaf axils; seeds

round and small Monolepis

Leaves narrow and linear; flowers single
in axils of leaf-like bracts; seeds flat
and large Cohspermum

11. Mature calyx with wings, or minute

spines 12

Mature calyx without wings or spines 14

12. Mature calyx with a tiny spine on each

lobe Bassia

Mature calyx without spines, but winged 13

13. Leaves flat,wavy-edged, ovate Cycloloma

Leaves linear, usually turning red when

mature Kochia

14. Leaves circular in cross section, fleshy Suaeda

Leaves not circular in cross section Chenopodium

Atriplex atriplex

Annual or perennial plants with unisexual flowers. Male flowers usually
with 3-5 sepals and the same number of stamens and no bracts; female flowers
usually without sepals but with a pair of bracts.

1. Plant a small shrub, with pale leaves cov-
ered with small silvery scales; leaves
without stalks A. nuttallii

326

Plant a herb, not shrubby but sometimes

slightly woody at base 2

2. Foliage green or greenish, sometimes

deep red on both surfaces, sparsely
mealy and, therefore, sometimes gray-
ish when young 3

Foliage gray or whitish with a fine scurfi-

ness, at least on the lower surface 4

3. Bracts rounded ovate, over 6 mm broad;

two kinds of female flowers, some with
bracts and no sepals, others with sepals

and no bracts A. hortensis

Bracts not orbicular, not over 6 mm
broad; all female flowers with bracts
and no sepals A. patula

4. Plants perennial, woody at the base A. nuttallii

Plants annual 5

5. Leaves more or less toothed or hastate;

fruiting bracts toothed A. argentea

Leaves entire, strongly veined; fruiting

bracts entire above the middle A. powellii

Atriplex argentea Nutt. silvery atriplex

A bushy annual growing to 40-80 cm high, but usually much smaller;
stem angled. Leaves usually deltoid or triangular, 6-25 mm long, grayish green
and scurfy. Male flowers usually in terminal spikes, and female flowers in clus-
ters in axils of leaves. Very common in saline flats and similar sites in southern
Prairies, but apparently rare elsewhere.

Atriplex hortensis L. (Fig. 98) garden atriplex

A fairly tall, erect annual plant to 60-120 cm high. Leaves of various
shapes, cordate to triangular and ovate. Peculiarly interesting, because it bears
two kinds of female flowers on the same inflorescence. One kind has no calyx
but two large bracts, becoming quite large at maturity, over 6 mm; these
flowers produce large, flat, pale brown seeds, about 3-10 mm in diam, which
germinate a few days after being sown. The other kind of female flower has a
small 3- to 5-lobed calyx but no bracts, and produces small, black, shiny seeds
about 2 mm in diam, which sometimes remain dormant in the soil for many
months before germination. Inflorescence often large, sometimes up to 30 cm
long. A garden escape, it has become very common around towns and cities;
in many parts of the Prairie Provinces. A red-leaved variety, atrosanguinea
Hort., is often found escaped from gardens.

Atriplex nuttallii S. Wats. nuttall'S atriplex

A perennial shrub or subshrub with a very deep rooting system. May be
nearly prostrate, or with branches to 75 cm high. Leaves and stem pale green,
with a fine scurfiness; leaves linear-oblong to spatulate or obovate, 2-5 cm
long. Almost certainly dioecious (male flowers on one plant and female flowers
on another). Readily eaten by livestock and considered a useful pasture plant

327

Fig. 98. Garden atriplex, A triplex hortensis L.

328

because of its high mineral content and palatability. Found on badlands,
eroded soils, and alluvial flats; throughout southern Prairies.

Atriplex patula L. ORACHE

An annual plant 30-90 cm high; stem coarse, erect, often marked with
vertical grooves or channels. There are two varieties: the common orache, A.
patula L.; and the halberd-leaved orache, A. patula L. var. hastata (L.) Gray. In
the common orache the leaves taper to their stalks, but in the halberd-leaved
orache the base of the leaf is flatter and abruptly narrowed to the stalk. Both
varieties common; in saline meadows and waste places; particularly in south-
western Prairies. Often mistaken for lamb's-quarters.

A triplex poweilii S. Wats.

Annual plants 20-50 cm high, freely branched; leaves 1-2 cm long, silvery
white. Flowers clustered in the axils; fruiting bracts about 5 mm broad,
toothed below. Rare; alkali flats; southwestern Prairies.

Axyris axyris

Axyris amaranthoides L. (Fig. 99) Russian pigweed

An erect, bushy annual weed 20-60 cm high. Stem much-branched, with
ascending branches. Leaves lanceolate, pale green, to 8 cm long. Flowers
borne in dense, leafy clusters; male flowers toward the ends of the stems. The
whole plant turns a pale straw color at maturity. Seeds are of two types on the
same plant: one type bearing a 2-lobed, long oval-shaped membranous wing at
the top; and the other type almost round with no wings. The long winged
seeds germinate readily, but the round wingless ones have a long period of
dormancy. This introduced annual is very common in shelterbelts, on culti-
vated fields and abandoned lands, and in waste places; throughout the Prairie
Provinces. It can be found often among bushes far from any cultivated land.

Bassia bassia

Bassia hyssopifolia (Pall.) Kuntze five-hook bassia

A slender-stemmed, weedy, branching annual 15-60 cm high. Leaves lin-
ear, 10-25 mm long, grayish green, usually closely appressed to the stem.
Inflorescence in form of narrow interrupted spikes of tiny, inconspicuous
flowers. Fruit not much larger than the head of a pin but enclosed with 5 tiny
bracts, each bearing a small hooked spine. Very plentiful in some saline areas
in southwestern Prairies, appears to be spreading eastward along railway
grades.

Chenopodium goosefoot

Annual plants, usually weedy, with alternate, often farinose or mealy
leaves. Flowers perfect, with no bracts, calyx of 2-5 sepals enclosing the fruit.

1. Calyx fleshy, red, and globular, resem-
bling small strawberry C. capitatum

Calyx not fleshy, red, or strawberry-like 2

329

Fig. 99. Russian pigweed, Axyris amaranthoides L.

330

2. Stamens 1 or 2; calyx only slightly fleshy

and reddish C. rubrum

Stamens 5; calyx not fleshy 3

3. Leaves with large, divaricate lobes, not

mealy, shiny green; seeds about 2 mm

in diam C. hybhdum var. gigantospermum

Leaves entire or wavy-edged; seeds not

over 1 mm in diam 4

4. Calyx lobes not keeled; panicles of

flowers in axils of leaves and shorter

than the leaves C. glaucum var. pulchrum

Calyx lobes keeled; upper panicles of

flowers longer than the leaves 5

5. Seeds separating readily from their coat-

ing 6

Coating rather firmly attached to the

seeds C. album

6. Leaves ovate to triangular or hastate,

many-nerved 7

Leaves linear, entire, 1- to 3-nerved 8

7. Leaves triangular or hastate, to ovate,

almost as broad at the base as long C. fremontii

Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate,

rounded to cuneate at the base C. polyspermum

8. Leaves grayish mealy, especially below C. leptophyllum

Leaves pale green, almost glabrous, not

mealy C. subglabrum

Chenopodium album L. (Fig. 100) lamb'S-quarters

A rank annual weed 20-80 cm high. Leaves variable, usually wavy-mar-
gined and roughly ovate with a mealy coating, up to 7 cm long. Stems usually
longitudinally grooved, often with reddish lines and blotches. Inflorescence
usually of a bluish tinge, in dense panicles in leaf axils and at summit of stem.
Although this species has been introduced from Europe, it is probably also a
native. Young plants of this species are often eaten in place of spinach. One of
the commonest weeds; found in waste places, roadsides, and gardens;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: C. lanceolatum Muhl.; C. dacoticum
Standi.

Chenopodium capitatum (L.) Aschers. strawberry blite

An annual herb with stem either erect or spreading, to 40 cm high. Leaves
pale green, roughly triangular, 3-7 cm long. Inflorescence in form of small
round clusters at intervals on the stem, turning red, resembling small strawber-
ries. Found on rocky or stony soil and around bluffs and woodlands; through-
out the Prairie Provinces, particularly in Boreal forest.

331

Fig. 100. Lamb's-quarters, Chenopodium album L.

332

Chenop odium fremontii S. Wats. (Fig. 101) FREMONT'S goosefoot

An annual with rather slender, erect stems, usually with longitudinal dark
green lines. Grows to about 60 cm high, and has broadly triangular leaves up
to 5 cm long, pale green on both sides. Inflorescence open, interrupted, and
not dense, usually appearing rather straggly. Common among bushes and
bluffs; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Chenopodium glaucum L. var. pulchrum Aellen saline goosefoot

A low prostrate plant 10-40 cm long, with rather fleshy, often reddish
stem. Leaves usually small, varying from somewhat triangular to oval or
oblong, sinuately dentate or lobed, resembling very small oak leaves, 10-25
mm long, and mealy on underside. Inflorescence in small spikes in axils of
leaves. Common in moist, saline locations; throughout Prairies and Parklands.
Syn.: C. salinum Standi.

Chenopodium hybridum L. var. gigantospermum (Aellen) Rouleau

MAPLE-LEAVED GOOSEFOOT

A tall annual 50-120 cm high. Leaves bright green, rather shiny, to 15 cm
long, usually having 2-A large sharp-pointed lobes on either margin and a long
pointed apex. Inflorescence somewhat similar to that of C. fremontii, with
which it is often associated, loose and interrupted, in long open panicles.
Fairly common in shady wooded places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Chenopodium leptophyllum Nutt. narrow-leaved goosefoot

A tall erect annual with a somewhat mealy stem, striate or longitudinally
grooved with alternate yellow and green lines. Leaves linear or linear-lanceo-
late, pale green and mealy above and densely mealy below, usually entire, and
to 2-4 cm long and 6 mm wide. Inflorescence in small spikes in upper leaf axils
and at summit of stem, densely mealy. Very plentiful on dry, sandy soil; in
southwest Prairie Provinces, especially in the sandhills.

Chenopodium poly spermum L. many-seeded goosefoot

An erect or procumbent annual to 1 m high, with glabrous stems and
leaves. Leaves ovate-elliptic, entire or a slight tooth above the base.
Inflorescence long, lax with many axillary cymes. Rare; an introduced weed;
Parklands.

Chenopodium rubrum L. RED GOOSEFOOT

A tall erect plant to 75 cm high, with ascending branches. Leaves not
mealy, thick, and dark green, pointed at both ends, coarsely toothed, 3-10 cm
long. Flower clusters in leafy spikes in leaf axils, fruit turning dull red when
ripe. Very common in saline, moist soil; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Chenopodium subglabrum (Wats.) Nelson

An erect annual 20-80 cm high, with lanceolate or oblong leaves, gla-
brous and green above, 3-6 mm long. Inflorescence diffuse; the stem leaves
mealy. Rare or overlooked; on sandy soils; Prairies.

333

Fig. 101. Fremont's goosefoot, Chenopodium fremontii S. Wats.

334

Corispermum bugseed

Annual plants with very branched stems and narrow, linear leaves;
flowers solitary in the axils of the leaf-like bracts and the seeds flattened, giv-
ing rise to the common name.

Plants not hairy; fruit with a distinct wing
around it C. hyssopifolium

Plants slightly hairy; fruit scarcely winged,
merely acute-margined C. orientate var. emarginatum

Corispermum hyssopifolium L. BUGSEED

A much-branched annual 20-50 cm high, with narrow, linear, pale green
leaves about 3-5 cm long. Inflorescence in small clusters at axils of leaves,
each separate flower having a small leaf-like bract. Seeds medium brown,
about 3 mm across, flat on one side and slightly convex on the other, with a
decided wing around them. Not very common; but has been found on sandy
soil in several locations; in southwest and south central Prairies. Syn.: C.
marginale Rydb.

Corispermum orientale Lam. var. emarginatum (Rydb.) Macbr. (Fig. 102)

VILLOSE BUGSEED

An annual, very similar to C. hyssopifolium, but with stems and leaves
having fine, white, stellate or star-shaped hairs. Seeds similar to the preceding
but without a wing. Plant eaten by livestock; also a good sand binder. Fairly
plentiful in sandy soil; especially the sandhills of southwest. Syn.: C. villosum
Rybd.

Cycloloma winged pigweed

Cycloloma atriplicifolium (Spreng.) Coulter winged pigweed

A much-branched annual 15-50 cm high, sometimes with cobwebby hair-
iness on stem and leaves. Leaves up to 6 cm long, lanceolate, with a toothed
margin. Inflorescence borne on open panicles; each fruit having a broad mem-
branous wing below it. When mature, the plant becomes purplish and breaks
off, blowing with the wind and scattering its seed. Rare; but has been found on
sandy soils; in Prairies.

Endolepis endolepis

Endolepis suckleyi Torr. endolepis

A low erect annual to 30 cm high, with short leaves 15-25 mm long, lan-
ceolate and with 1 nerve. Stem and midrib often purplish. Flowers in clusters
on short spikes in axils of leaves and at ends of stem. Not common, but plenti-
ful locally; found on saline flats, eroded clay slopes, and badlands; throughout
southern Prairies. Syn.: A triplex dioica (Nutt.) Macbr.

335

Fig. 102. Villose bugseed, Corispermum orientale Lam. var. emarginatum
(Rydb.) Macbr.

336

t/Mij rgKra

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^tk

A.C. Budd

Fig. 103. Winterfat, Eurotia lanata (Pursh) Moq.

337

Eurotia winterfat

Eurotia lanata (Pursh) Moq. (Fig. 103) winterfat

A perennial subshrub or herb 15-50 cm high. Plant covered with fine,
star-like white hairs, which become reddish as the plant ages. Leaves 1-5 cm
long, linear, with rolled margins. Flowers unisexual, both male and female
flowers being on the same plant, the male flower clusters above the female
clusters. Female flowers and fruit enclosed in 2 bracts, which are united almost
to the top and have 2 horns on the top. Whole female inflorescence clothed
with long, silky, white hairs, making the plants very conspicuous. Much rel-
ished by livestock as an excellent forage plant. Very useful on winter range
because its protein and mineral content remain high throughout the fall and
winter. Common on dry prairies and on heavy soils; throughout Prairies.

Kochia kochia

Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. summer-cypress

An annual plant, escaped from gardens, about 60 cm high, erect, and of
regular pyramidal or ovoid shape. Leaves linear and closely compacted, pale
green when young, but purplish red when mature. The plant produces many
seeds, which germinate readily and form a mat of seedlings the following year.
Used as an ornamental in gardens because of its symmetrical shape and its red
coloring in the fall, but its prolific seeding habits have caused it to become a
weed in the vicinity of most towns and cities in Prairies and Parklands.

Monolepis monolepis

Monolepis nuttalliana (R. & S.) Greene spear-leaved goosefoot

A prostrate annual with fleshy reddish stems and hastate or spear-shaped
leaves, which form a rosette in the plant's early stage. Spreading on the soil,
20-50 cm across. Inflorescence in small clusters in axils of leaves, produced
early in season. One of the first weeds to start in the spring on fallow and in
waste places, where its fleshy taproots and succulent stems cause a great drain
on moisture reserves. Common around gopher holes; a native that has become
weedy and, though originally found on saline soils, is now found on cultivated
land; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Salicornia samphire

Salicornia rubra A. Nels. RED samphire

A low annual with no true leaves, their places being taken by scales at the
nodes of the stems. Stems circular in cross section (terete), the branches oppo-
site. Flowers very minute, sunk into the tissue of the stems. Plant turning a
bright crimson at maturity and giving a reddish color to dry sloughs in late
summer and early autumn. Very common in strongly saline sloughs; through-
out Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: S. europaea L. ssp. rubra (Nels.) Breitung; S.
europaea L. vM.prona (Lunell) Boiv.

338

Salsola glasswort

Salsola kali L. var. tenuifolia Tausch. russian-thistle

An introduced annual weed 10-60 cm high. Early leaves dark green,
thread-like, about 2 cm long; later leaves shorter and broader, coming to a
sharp hard point. Flowers borne in axils of upper leaves, with a membranous
wing on calyx around seed. As plants age they become dry and the spiny tips
of the leaves and bracts harden, making the whole plant prickly. Plants usually
become reddish and at maturity break off at the ground and drift across the
country with the winds, scattering their seeds. Palatable to livestock, but
highly laxative. Very common; in fields, waste places; throughout Prairies; less
common in Parklands. Syn.: S. pestifer A. Nels.

Sarcobatus greasewood

Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr. (Fig. 104) greasewood

A much-branched, shrubby perennial, with spiny branches, in some local-
ities 1.5-2 m high. Stems usually almost white. Leaves pale yellowish green,
linear, about 2-4 cm long. Male flowers borne in small cylindric spikes at ends
of stems, female flowers borne singly in axils of leaves. A broad membranous
wing forms on calyx around fruit. If eaten in large amounts, greasewood is
rather poisonous to livestock, especially to lambs during the spring and sum-
mer. It contains sodium and potassium oxalates and during dry seasons these
salts occur in a concentrated form. Around strongly saline sloughs and flats;
throughout Prairies.

Suaeda sea-blite

Suaeda depressa (Pursh) S. Wats. western sea-blite

A low-growing annual or perennial, with very dark green, rather fleshy,
narrow leaves. There are two forms: the species depressa and its variety erecta
or erect sea-blite. In the depressa form the plant is low and spreading and the
leaves are 10-30 mm long. The var. erecta is upright, with longer leaves 15^40
mm long. Flowers dark greenish, clustered in axils of upper leaves. At maturity
plants turn very dark, almost black. Common in saline areas around sloughs
and saline flats; throughout Prairies and Parklands. The var. erecta S. Wats, is
probably a little more plentiful than the species. Syn.: S. maritima L. var.
americana (Pers.) Boiv.

Suckleya suckleya

Suckleya suckleyana (Torr.) Rydb. (Fig. 105) poison suckleya

A somewhat prostrate, much-branched annual, with succulent stems up
to 30 cm long. Leaves stalked, alternate, round to diamond-shaped, up to 3 cm
long, irregularly blunt-toothed along the upper margins. Flowers unisexual,
the male in the axils of the upper leaves, the female in the lower leaf axils;
female flowers enclosed in a couple of stiff winged bracts. Fruit 5-6 mm long
with an abruptly pointed end. This plant is poisonous to livestock because it
contains hydrocyanic acid. Not plentiful; however, it has been found in moist
and saline areas; in the south central Prairies.

339

Fig. 104. Greasewood, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.

340

Fig. 105. Poison suckleya, Suckleya suckleyana (Torr.) Rydb.

341

AMARANTHACEAE — amaranth family

Amaranthus amaranth

Coarse, annual, weedy plants, somewhat similar to the goosefoot family,
but having flowers enclosed in three dry and persistent bracts.

1. Plants tall; upper flowers in dense termi-

nal spikes A. retroflexus

Plants low, much-branched; flowers in

small clusters in axils of leaves 2

2. Plants erect and bushy; leaves pale green

and not shiny; sepals 3, much shorter

than the somewhat spine-tipped bracts A. albus

Plants prostrate, with succulent reddish
stems; leaves dark green and rather
shiny; sepals 4 or 5, almost as long as
the blunt-tipped bracts A. graecizans

Amaranthus albus L. tumbleweed

A bushy, much-branched, whitish-stemmed annual 25-60 cm high, with
pale green, dull, spatulate leaves 10-35 mm long. The end of the midrib of the
leaf is usually projected as a tiny spine at the end of the leaf, a condition often
found in other species of amaranth, but more pronounced in this species.
Flowers in small clusters in leaf axils; seed black and shiny, enclosed in a
small utricle, or envelope, the top of which falls off at maturity. A native plant
and an early invader of newly broken ground, fireguards, and rough ground.
When dry, this plant breaks off and blows across the prairie, dispersing its
seeds. Now a common weed; on waste ground, in gardens, and along road-
sides; throughout the Prairies and Parklands. This species has usually been
called A. graecizans, but that name was intended by Linnaeus for the prostrate
amaranth.

Amaranthus graecizans L. (Fig. 106) prostrate amaranth

A coarse, prostrate, weedy annual, with reddish, fleshy stems forming
mats 15-60 cm in diam. Leaves usually spatulate, the broadest part beyond the
middle, 5-25 mm long, dark, shiny green. Flowers borne in leaf axils. Not con-
sidered a native of the area, but has come in from the southwest, where it is a
native of dry sites in the intermountain areas. A very common garden weed;
throughout Prairies and Parklands. This species has been known as A. blitoides
S. Wats.

Amaranthus retroflexus L. RED-ROOT pigweed

A coarse, rough, erect annual with reddish-colored roots. Often growing
to 1 m high and having rough, angular stems somewhat hairy near the top.
Leaves usually ovate, on fairly long stalks, rough to the touch, and 6-10 cm
long. Inflorescence harsh and rough, borne in dense spikes in leaf axils and in
a large terminal spike at summit of stem. Sepals dry and parchment-like with
spiny tips, the 3 bracts around each flower also spine-tipped, giving the
inflorescence a decidedly rough appearance. Seeds shiny, black, and in a small

342

Fig. 106. Prostrate amaranth, Amaranthus graecizans L.

343

utricle, similar to other amaranths. A native of the subtropical states of USA,
but a common weed over all North America. Very common; in waste places,
roadsides, gardens, and fields; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

NYCTAGINACEAE — four-o'clock family

Plants annual; bracts free Abronia

Plants perennial; bracts united into a tube Mirabilis

Abronia sand verbena

Abronia micrantha Torr. sand puffs

Annual plants with decumbent stems, 10-30 cm high, branching at base,
often somewhat pubescent. Leaves opposite, petioled, 2-4 cm long, promi-
nently veined. Inflorescence a head supported by 4-6 bracts; perianth a
corolla-like salverform tube with 5 petal-like lobes. Fruit with wings 10-15 mm,
rarely 20 mm, broad. Rare; sand dunes in Prairies.

Mirabilis umbrellawort

Perennial herbs with opposite, entire leaves without stipules. Stems usu-
ally swollen at nodes. Flowers regular and perfect, with no petals, but sepals
brightly colored and petal-like, and generally united into a bell-like or funnel-
form tube. Flowers usually in clusters of 3-5 with a saucer-like involucral
bract beneath them.

1. Leaves cordate, heart-shaped, with dis-

tinct stalks M. nyctaginea

Leaves not cordate, but ovate-lanceolate
or linear, mostly without stalks or the
lower ones with short stalks 2

2. Stem more or less hairy, sticky M. hirsuia

Stem not at all hairy below, but fine,

sticky-haired above M. linearis

Mirabilis hirsuta (Pursh) MacM. hairy umbrellawort

A slender erect plant 30-60 cm high, with glandular hairs on the stem.
Leaves usually lanceolate or linear-lanceolate and hairy, 2-7 cm long. Another
form equally common has the lower part of the stem and leaves almost devoid
of hairs, except just under the nodes of the stem, and slightly narrower leaves.
This form has sometimes been designated Oxybaphus pilosus, a separate spe-
cies. Most authorities, however, do not separate the forms. Common; on sandy
soils; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Oxybaphus hirsutus (Pursh)
Sweet.

Mirabilis linearis (Pursh) Heimerl linear-leaved umbrellawort

Erect, with very narrow, single-nerved leaves, 15-65 mm long. It was
reported from two locations in the southwestern area by the early botanist
Macoun. However, its range is south of the Prairie Provinces and its appear-

344

ance north of the International Boundary is unusual. Syn.: Oxybaphus linearis
(Pursh) Robinson.

Mirabilis nyctaginea (Michx.) MacM. heart-leaved umbrellawort

A tall erect species 40-90 cm high, with an almost hairless stem and large
cordate or heart-shaped leaves, 5-10 cm long and 2-7 cm wide. Inflorescence
usually deep reddish, with a greenish involucral wing below the flowers. Fairly
common; in rich soils in southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest, gradually
spreading westward along the railway tracks. Several large clumps have been
located on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway in southern Saskat-
chewan, and, where found, it appears to be the dominant plant on the cinder
fill of the railway grade. Syn.: Oxybaphus nyctagineus (Michx.) Sweet.

PORTULACACEAE — purslane family

Rather succulent plants with perfect flowers, 2 sepals, and 5 petals. The
fruit is a capsule, which opens with 2 or 3 valves at the top or with the top fall-
ing off like a lid (circumscissile).

1. Capsule opening by valves Claytonia

Capsule circumscissile at maturity 2

2. Ovary partly inferior; prostrate annual

weed Portulaca

Ovary superior; perennial with taproot

and bracteate scape Lewisia

Claytonia springbeauty

1. Leaves alternate 2

Leaves opposite 3

2. Plants annual; leaves linear C. linearis

Plants perennial; leaves ovate to lanceo-
late C. parvifolia

3. Plants annual; stem leaves numerous C.fontana

Plants perennial 4

4. Plants with a globose corm; stem leaves 2 C. caroliniana var. lanceolata

Plants with a thick taproot; leaves basal C. megarrhiza

Claytonia caroliniana Michx. var. lanceolata (Pursh) Wats.

LANCE-LEAVED SPRINGBEAUTY

A low-growing early spring flowering plant, growing from a corm or
tuber-like globose root 6-10 cm below the soil surface. In some plants several
stems arise from a single corm. Occasionally a plant bears one or two basal,
stalked leaves, but they are usually absent. Two stalkless (sessile) opposite
leaves are borne on the stem, lanceolate in shape, 15-50 mm long, with three
distinct veins. Flowers have petals about 1 cm long, white with pink lines or

345

faintly pinkish. A western species, common along the margin between grass-
land and wooded areas in the Foothills, but eastward has been collected only
in the Cypress Hills, where it is found flowering in large masses soon after
snow melts in spring. Found along edges of woodlands and around margins of
clearings.

Claytonia fontana (L.) Davis INDIAN LETTUCE

Low annual with weak branching stems, often rooting at the nodes.
Leaves opposite, 5-15 mm long. Inflorescence leafy, the flowers nodding.
Rare; wet places; Hudson Bay.

Claytonia linearis Dougl. linear-leaved springbeauty

A low-branching annual, growing from fibrous roots to 6-10 cm high.
Leaves linear or almost thread-like, 10-30 mm long. Flowers nodding, 2-7 in a
raceme, with pale pinkish petals about 3 mm long. A western species, found in
very early spring in higher meadows in the Cypress Hills and southern Rocky
Mountains. Syn.: Montia linearis (Dougl.) Greene.

Claytonia megarrhiza (Gray) Parry alpine springbeauty

Plants usually not more than 10 cm high; basal leaves numerous, fleshy,
spatulate or obovate, 1-8 cm long; flowering stalks numerous, flowers 10-15
mm across, white or pink. Rocky places, scree fields; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Claytonia parvifolia Moc. small-leaved springbeauty

Perennial plants with branched rootstocks, often developing stolons.
Basal leaves 10-35 mm long, obovate, long-petioled, more or less fleshy; stem
leaves reduced, alternate. Inflorescence racemose, with 1-10 flowers, 10-15
mm across, white or pink. Moist areas, mountain meadows; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Lewisia bitter-root

Lewisia pygmaea (Gray) Rob. dwarf bitter-root

Perennial with a thick fleshy taproot bearing several stems. Basal leaves
linear, 3-6 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide; stems 15-50 mm long, with a pair of
opposite bracts. Flowers 1-3, about 15 mm across, white or pinkish. Rare;
alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Portulaca purslane

Portulaca oleracea L. purslane

A succulent, prostrate annual, sometimes making a mat up to 40 cm
across. Stems reddish, very thick, fleshy, juicy, and hairless. Leaves alternate,
dark shiny green, spatulate or obovate, 5-25 mm long, thick, and fleshy. Flow-
ers borne singly, without stalks, in the axils of the leaves, and usually open
only in bright sunshine, bright yellow, about 6 mm in diam, with 2 sepals and 5
petals. Seeds numerous and minute, contained in a pointed capsule, or pyxis,
the top of which breaks ofT, releasing the seeds. An introduced weed, common
in gardens; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

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CARYOPHYLLACEAE — pink family

Herbs with stems swollen at the joints and entire, opposite leaves. Flowers
usually with 4 or 5 petals, sometimes none, and 4 or 5 sepals. The fruit is a cap-
sule opening by valves at the top. A difficult family to identify, often requiring
the fruiting capsule for positive identification.

1. Plants with woody base; leaves with spiny

tips; fruit with a single seed Paronychia

Plants not with woody base; fruit many-
seeded 2

2. Sepals united part way, forming a tube 3

Sepals entirely separate 8

3. Calyx with 1-3 pairs of bracts below Dianthus

Calyx without bracts 4

4. Styles 2 only 5

Styles more than 2 6

5. Calyx becoming inflated and wing-an-

gled; flowers few, pink Saponaria

Calyx not inflated or angled; flowers very

numerous Gypsophila

6. Sepals with long, leaf-like lobes, over 20

mm long; styles 5, opposite the petals;

flowers dark purple Agrostemma

Lobes of sepals not over 20 mm long;

styles alternate with the petals 7

7. Styles usually 3; capsule usually divided

into partitions at base Silene

Styles 5; capsule 1-celled to base Lychnis

8. Plants with small, ovate, papery stipules

at junction of stem and leaf, and stem

and branch 9

Plants without stipules 10

9. Styles 5; leaves in whorls Spergula

Styles 3; leaves opposite Spergularia

10. Capsule opening with twice as many

valves or teeth as there are styles; pet-
als deeply 2-cleft 1 1

Capsule opening with as many entire (or
later 2-cleft) valves as there are styles;
petals entire or merely notched at apex 12

11. Capsule short, ovate or oblong, usually

opening with 6 valves; styles usually 3 Stellaria

Capsule long, cylindric, often curved, usu-
ally opening with 10 valves; styles usu-
ally 5 Cerastium

347

12. Flowers 5-merous Sagina

Flowers with 5 sepals, 3 styles, and 3

valves Arenaha

Agrostemma corn cockle

Agrostemma githago L. (Fig. 107) purple COCKLE

An erect hairy annual plant with a taproot, 30-75 cm high, with hairy lin-
ear leaves up to 10 cm long. Flowers borne singly at head of stems with hairy
sepals united at base, but with long lobes often up to 2.5 cm, much longer than
the petals. Petals purple and flowers 25^0 mm in diam. Seed about 3 mm in
diam, somewhat flattened, black, and roughened with rows of minute protu-
berances. Seeds poisonous to chickens. A weed introduced from Europe, but
not common; in grainfields throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Arenaria sandwort

Low tufted herbs with opposite leaves. Flowers white, with 4 or 5 sepals
and 4 or 5 entire or slightly notched petals.

1. Leaves oval to oblong 2

Leaves linear or filiform 6

2. Bracts of the inflorescence small, scarious 3

Bracts of the inflorescence large, leaf-like 4

3. Leaves pubescent below along the

midrib; sepals rounded A. lateriflora

Leaves glabrous below; sepals acuminate A. macrophylla

4. Plants fleshy, glabrous A. peploides var. diffusa

Plants not fleshy, at least the pedicels

puberulent 5

5. Plants perennial; stems 3-10 cm high,

puberulent; leaves glabrous A. humifusa

Plants annual; stems 5-20 cm high,

puberulent; leaves puberulent A. serpyllifolia

6. Sepals rounded or obtuse at the tip 7

Sepals distinctly acute to acuminate 9

7. Leaves 3-8 mm long, about 1 mm wide A. laricifolia var. occulta

Leaves 1-6 cm long, linear to filiform 8

8. Plants glabrous A. congesta var. lithophila

Plants glandular puberulent, at least in

the inflorescence A. capillaris var. americana

9. Leaves clearly spine-tipped, recurved

spreading A. nuttallii

Leaves not spine-tipped 10

10. Flowers solitary, terminal 1 1

Flowers in cymose inflorescence, 2 or

more together 12

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Fig. 107. Purple cockle, Agrostemma githago L.

349

11. Inflorescence cymose, open A. stricta ssp. dawsonensis

Inflorescence with flowers solitary on

leafy stems A. rossii var. columbiana

12. Plants usually glabrous; stem leaves often

with axillary branches A. stricta ssp. dawsonensis

Plants usually glandular puberulent, at
least in the inflorescence; axillary
branches few or none A. verna

Arenaria capillaris Poir. var. americana (Maguire) Davis

Plants tufted, with a slender caudex; stems 5-15 cm high. Leaves 2-7 cm
long, filiform, mostly erect. Inflorescence a few-flowered cyme, with the pedi-
cels 5-20 mm long, sepals 3-4 mm long, petals 6-8 mm long. Alpine meadows;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Arenaria congest a Nutt. var. lithophiia (Rydb.) Maguire

ROCKY-GROUND SANDWORT

An erect perennial to 30 cm high, with tufted basal leaves and a few stem
leaves. Leaves linear and thread-like, 1-5 cm long. Flowers in open clusters on
tops of stems, with white petals 4-6 mm long, and straw-colored sepals. Very
local, but found on rocky benchland and slopes; Cypress Hills, Wood Moun-
tain. Syn.: A. lithophiia Rydb.

Arenaria humifusa Wahl.

Plants tufted, mat-forming; stems 3-10 cm high, slender, few-flowered;
leaves 2-10 mm long; sepals 3-5 mm long; petals 5-7 mm long. Sand and
gravel bars; Boreal forest.

Arenaria laricifolia (L.) Rob. var. occulta (Ser.) Boiv.

Plants with more or less woody, branched caudex, mat-forming; leaves
3-7 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide; flowering stems ascending, puberulent, often
glandular; 1- to 6-flowered; sepals 3-5 mm long, glandular puberulent; petals
4-7 mm long. Stony slopes, scree fields; Rocky Mountains. Syn.: Minuartia
laricifolia (L.) S. & T.; A. obtusiloba (Rydb.) Fern.

Arenaria lateriflora L. BLUNT-LEAVED sandwort

An erect perennial with thin, weak, slightly hairy stems and oval to
oblong, thin, pale green leaves. Flowers about 6-12 mm across, usually borne
in pairs, and petals about twice the length of sepals; sometimes 4 sepals and
petals, and sometimes 5 of each. Common; in moist woodlands; throughout
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Moehringia lateriflora (L.) Fenzl.

Arenaria macrophylla Hook. large-leaved sandwort

Resembling the preceding species in habit and pubescence. Leaves mainly
2-5 cm long, 3-8 mm wide; sepals 3-6 mm long; petals 5-10 mm long. Rare;
rocky areas; Boreal forest, Saskatchewan.

Arenaria nuttallii Pax

Plants with a deep taproot, many-stemmed, loosely matted stems 6-12 cm
high, glandular pubescent; leaves 6-10 mm long; inflorescence a few- to many-

350

flowered cyme, with the pedicels 5-15 mm long, sepals 4-5 mm long, petals
shorter than sepals. Slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arenaria peploides L. var. diffusa Hornem. sea-purslane

Plants glabrous; stems trailing, succulent, rooting at the nodes. Leaves
5-20 mm long, 5-10 mm wide; flowers solitary in leaf axils, and in few-
flowered terminal cymes; capsule 6-10 mm wide, globose. Beaches; along
Hudson Bay.

Arenaria rossii R. Br. var. columbiana Raup

Plants densely tufted, with the flowering stems spreading. Leaves 2-5 mm
long, awl-shaped, with axils of upper leaves having short branches; flowers sol-
itary, with the pedicels 5-15 mm long, sepals 1.5-2.5 mm long, petals slightly
shorter than sepals. Rare; alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arenaria serpyllifolia L. thyme-leaved sandwort

A much-branched annual with a slightly downy stem 8-20 cm high.
Leaves small and ovate, 3-8 mm long; flowers very small, usually 6-10 mm
across, and borne on summit of stem. Introduced from Europe and very rare;
a weed in cultivated fields.

Arenaria stricta Michx. ssp. dawsonensis (Britton) Maguire dawson sandwort

An annual, branched from the base, 10-30 cm high, with thread-like
leaves usually 6-12 mm long; petals no longer than the sepals, which are 3-
nerved and 2.5-4 mm long. Lakeshores, river flats; Boreal forest, Rocky
Mountains.

Arenaria verna L. EARLY sandwort

Plants loosely tufted; stems 2-15 cm high, usually glandular pubescent
above. Leaves 5-20 mm long, linear-lanceolate to oval-shaped; cymes 1- to 6-
flowered; pedicels 2-25 mm long; sepals 3 mm long; petals 2-4.5 mm long.
Slopes, meadows, and rock slides; Rocky Mountains, rare in Cypress Hills.

Cerastium chickweed

Low-growing annuals or perennials with opposite leaves; white flowers
with cleft petals and long capsule, usually opening with 10 valves.

1. Annuals; capsule 2-3 times as long as

sepals C. nutans

Perennials; capsules once or twice as long

as sepals 2

2. Axillary shoots numerous, at the axils of

most leaves 3

Axillary shoots few or lacking 4

3. Plants glandular pubescent throughout C. arvense

Plants densely white tomentose, not glan-
dular C. tomentosum

4. Stems usually glandular pubescent, with

the leaves stiffly hirsute, ciliate C. vulgatum

351

Stems and leaves pilose or glandular

pilose C. alpinum

Cerastium alpinum L. alpine chickweed

Perennial plants 5-20 cm high; leaves about 10 mm long, 5 mm wide, soft
long pubescent, sometimes also glandular. Flowers on peduncles 1-4 cm long,
20-25 mm across, with the petals about twice as long as the sepals. Alpine
slopes and scree fields; southern Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest.

Cerastium arvense L. FIELD chickweed

A low-growing perennial species 10-30 cm high, often with the stems
prostrate at the base. Stems covered with hairs pointing downward; white
flowers 15-20 mm across, blooming very early in the season. A very common
spring flower; on prairie; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Cerastium nutans Raf. long-stalked chickweed

A bright green erect annual to 25 cm high, with leaves 6-30 mm long.
Fruiting capsules much longer than sepals, usually decidely curved at maturi-
ty. Fairly plentiful; in moist woodlands; throughout Boreal forest, Rocky
Mountains.

Cerastium tomentosum L. SNOW-IN-SUMMER

Perennial mat-forming plants, densely white lanate, up to 45 cm high,
with leaves 10-30 mm long, 2-5 mm wide, the margins somewhat revolute.
Inflorescence an elongated cyme; flowers about 30 mm across. Introduced as
an ornamental; escaped into various locations.

Cerastium vulgatum L. mouse-eared chickweed

A biennial or perennial plant 10^0 cm high, with glutinous hairy stems
and oblong-spatulate leaves 10-25 mm long. Fairly common; in woodlands
and fields; Boreal forest.

Dianthus pink

1. Calyx pubescent D. deltoides

Calyx glabrous 2

2. Leaves 5-20 mm wide, obtuse; flowers in

heads D. barbatus

Leaves 0.5-1 mm wide, acute; flowers soli-
tary D. sylvestris

Dianthus barbatus L. sweet william

Perennial plants to 60 cm high. Leaves lanceolate, the lower ones obtuse;
flowers white or pink, several crowded in a head. Introduced as an ornamental
plant; occasionally escaped and persistent in moist places.

Dianthus deltoides L. steppen pink

Perennial plants 20^5 cm high. Leaves linear-lanceolate, short pubes-
cent; flowers solitary, terminating stems or peduncles, reddish purple. Proba-
bly introduced; found only once, in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.

352

Dianthus sylvestris Wulf. WOOD pink

Perennial plants 10-30 cm high. Leaves filiform; flowers solitary on stems
or peduncles, pink, with petals fringed. Introduced as ornamental; occasion-
ally escaped.

Gypsophila baby's-breath

1. Annual plants 30-50 cm high G. elegans

Perennial plants 50-150 cm high 2

2. Inflorescence usually glandular pubes-

cent; calyx 3-3.5 mm long G acutifolia

Inflorescence usually glabrous; calyx

1 .5-2 mm long G. paniculata

Gypsophila acutifolia Steven sticky baby'S-breath

Perennial plants with long-creeping rootstocks, up to 150 cm high.
Inflorescence a rather dense panicle, with the pedicels 1-4 mm long; flowers
white. Introduced ornamental; occasionally escaped and established as a
roadside weed.

Gypsophila elegans Bieb. annual baby'S-breath

An annual, much-branched plant, with narrow lanceolate leaves and
many white flowers up to 12 mm across, with petals much longer than sepals.
Escaped from gardens, sometimes found growing in waste places.

Gypsophila paniculata L. baby'S-breath

A perennial, much-branched plant, with linear-lanceolate leaves and
many white flowers about 6 mm across, with petals about the same length as
the sepals. Escaped from gardens, locally abundant in waste areas, roadsides,
and gravel pits.

Lychnis campion

1. Petals large, much protruding beyond the

calyx; calyx enlarging in fruit; flowers

of different sexes on separate plants L. alba

Petals small, not or little protruding
beyond the calyx; calyx not or little
enlarging; flowers perfect 2

2. Flowers nodding, usually solitary, rarely 2

or 3 L. apetala

Flowers erect, usually 3 or more, on stiffly

ascending pedicels 3

3. Calyx not inflated, tightly enclosing the

capsule; petals included or barely

exserted L. drummondii

Calyx somewhat inflated; petals conspic-
uously exserted L. affinis

353

Lychnis affinis J. Vahl mountain cockle

A perennial, with stems 5-30 cm high, stiffly erect, more or less glandular
viscid; flowers usually 3, on erect pedicels; calyx 8-10 mm long, glandular,
somewhat inflated, with petals white, conspicuously exserted. Rare; rock crev-
ices; Hudson Bay, Rocky Mountains.

Lychnis alba Mill. white cockle

A biennial or short-lived perennial 30-75 cm high, much-branched, and
with many sticky-haired stems. Leaves opposite, ovate-oblong, 2-8 cm long;
flowers white, about 2 cm in diam, with stamen-bearing flowers on some plants
and pistillate flowers on others. Fruiting capsule becoming enlarged and swol-
len at maturity and bearing 10 teeth at the top. Resembles night-flowering
catch-fly, which, however, has perfect flowers. Becoming increasingly com-
mon; in western parts of the Prairie Provinces.

Lychnis apetala L. nodding cockle

Small perennials 5-15 cm high; stems pubescent, often reddish viscid
above. Flowers nodding; calyx 10-15 mm long; petals included or barely
exserted, purple. Plants with the calyx conspicuously inflated, and petals not
exserted are var. arctica (Fries) Cody; those with the calyx not inflated, and
petals clearly exserted are ssp. attenuata (Farr) Mag. Alpine areas; Rocky
Mountains, Hudson Bay.

Lychnis drummondii Wats. drummond'S cockle

A tall, slender, erect perennial to 70 cm high with a sticky, hairy stem and
opposite linear leaves up to 10 cm long. Flowers borne at head of stem on
fairly long stalks, usually white or purplish and only slightly exceeding the sep-
als. Sepals about 12 mm long and joined to form a somewhat cylindric tube,
usually pale yellow with green lines. Not plentiful but very widespread; on
open prairie, especially on sandy soils; throughout Prairies and Parklands.
Syn.: Wahlbergella drummondii (Wats.) Rydb.

Paronychia whitlowwort

Paronychia sessiliflora Nutt. LOW whitlowwort

A woody-based perennial, forming dense cushions, usually 20-75 mm
high and 7-15 cm in diam. Leaves linear, spine pointed and very short, 5-6
mm long, bright green, and so closely overlapping that the stems or branches
are usually hidden. Flowers yellow, 3^4 mm high, and dotted singly at inter-
vals on the plant. Fairly common; on dry hillsides and eroded places; through-
out Prairies. On casual inspection, this species may be mistaken for moss
phlox, Phlox hoodii, although moss phlox is more open. Syn.: P. depressa Nutt.

Sagina pearlwort

1. Plants annual S. decumbens

Plants perennial 2

354

2. Stem leaves at the upper 2 nodes dis-

tinctly shorter than lower ones, and

with axillary bulb-like leaf bundles S. nodosa

Stem leaves all about the same size 3

3. Plants tufted; sepals with purple margins S. caespitosa

Plants mat-forming; sepals with white

margins S. saginoides

Sagina caespitosa (J. Vahl) Lange cushion pearlwort

Perennial plants growing in small cushions. Flowers singly or in pairs,
10-12 mm across. Known only from Northern Manitoba (Baralson Lake).

Sagina decumbens (Ell.) T. & G. spreading pearlwort

Annual plants usually less than 10 cm high; stems ascending or decum-
bent. Leaves linear to awl-shaped; petals the same length as or shorter than the
sepals, or lacking. Rare weed; introduced from the eastern USA.

Sagina nodosa (L.) Fenzl pearlwort

Perennial plants 5-15 cm high; stems erect, ascending, or decumbent.
Lower stem leaves 5-20 mm, the upper ones scale-like, with bulb-like sterile
shoots replacing flowers. Rocky or sandy shores and beaches; Boreal forest.

Sagina saginoides (L.) Karsten mountain pearlwort

Perennial plants usually less than 10 cm high; rosette leaves, when pres-
ent, to 20 mm long, the cauline leaves 5-10 mm. Flowers mostly solitary or
occasionally in pairs; the petals about the same length as the sepals. Moist
slopes and shores; Rocky Mountains.

Saponaria soapwort

Saponaria vaccaria L. (Fig. 108) cow COCKLE

A smooth, hairless annual plant 30-70 cm high. Leaves grayish green,
smooth, entire, clasping, borne opposite each other in pairs on the stem, ovate-
lanceolate, 2-8 cm long. Flowers in loose corymbose cymes at head of stem.
Ovate calyx formed by the united sepals, about 12 mm long and 10 mm across,
with the 5 pale pink petals forming a flat corolla about 12 mm across. Seeds
borne in an ovoid capsule, round, dull black, about 2 mm in diam. Introduced
from Europe, now common; in grainfields and on roadsides; throughout the
southern part of the Prairie Provinces. Seeds are often in "Wild Flower
Garden" packets available commercially. Syn.: Vaccaria vulgaris Host.

Silene catchfly

Annual, biennial, or perennial plants with opposite, entire leaves and per-
fect flowers. Seeds contained in a capsule.

1. Annual or biennial plants 2

Perennial plants 4

355

Fig. 108. Cow cockle, Saponaria vaccaria L.

356

2. Plants not sticky S. cserei

Plants sticky, at least around the nodes of

the stem 3

3. Plants almost without hairs; flowers pink-

ish white and about 5 mm across S. antirrhina

Plants sticky and hairy; flowers white and

6-10 mm across S. noctiflora

4. Plants densely matted or cushion-

forming S. acaulis var. exscapa

Plants with elongate, erect or decumbent

stems 5

5. Calyx more or less glandular pubescent 6

Calyx glabrous, or if pubescent, not glan-
dular 7

6. Plants rather straggly, weak-stemmed;

calyx 5-8 mm S. menziesii

Plants with stems 20-50 cm high; calyx

12-16 mm 5*. parryi

7. Calyx to 8 mm long, with 10 simple veins S. sibirica

Calyx 10-15 mm long, with 20 main veins,

strongly reticulate S. cucubalus

Silene acaulis L. var. exscapa (All.) DC. moss campion

Cushion plants or mat-forming 3-6 cm high; leaves 4-12 mm long,
linear-lanceolate. Flowers solitary, often imperfect, purplish. Alpine meadows,
scree fields; Rocky Mountains.

Silene antirrhina L. sleepy catchfly

An erect annual 40-50 cm high, with erect branches. Stem usually sticky
near the nodes, sometimes slightly hairy. Leaves lanceolate, 2-5 cm long.
Flowers pink, very small, about 5 mm across. Not common; may be found in
sandy areas; Parklands, Boreal forest.

Silene cserei Baumgarten smooth catchfly

A biennial plant 10-70 cm high somewhat resembling bladder campion
but with a taproot. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, stalkless, glaucous and thick,
5-10 cm long, and borne oppositely on the stem. Flowers numerous with pink-
ish slightly inflated calyx and white petals cleft at the tip and borne in whorls
around the stem. At maturity, calyx is somewhat inflated and ovoid, about 12
mm long. Becoming increasingly abundant; along railway grades; throughout
Prairies and Parklands.

Silene cucubalus Wibel bladder campion

A tall erect perennial with hairless stems 15-60 cm high. Leaves opposite,
lanceolate and smooth, 2-8 cm long. The flowers, 10-20 mm across, borne at
the summit of the stem in loose open panicles; sepals united to form a blad-
der-like calyx 10-12 mm long; petals white and 2-cleft. An introduced and
very persistent weed. Not common, but generally plentiful where found. Syn.:
S. vulgaris (Moench) Garcke.

357

Silene menziesii Hook. menzies catchfly

A straggly weak-stemmed perennial 15-40 cm high, with oval to lanceo-
late leaves 2-5 cm long. Flowers white with cleft petals, about 10 mm long.
Found sparingly; in Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains, and has been reported
from the Cypress Hills.

Silene noctiflora L. night-flowering catchfly

A stout, very sticky, hairy, erect annual weed 30-90 cm high. Basal leaves
short-stalked, 5-12 cm long, oblanceolate. Upper leaves stalkless, lanceolate,
2-8 cm long. Leaves hairy and slightly sticky. Sepals united to form an oval
tubular calyx up to 12 mm long, with light and dark green upright stripes.
White petals deeply cleft, opening only at night. An introduced weed; in
grainfields; throughout southern Prairie Provinces.

Silene parryi (Wats.) Hitchc. & Mag. macoun'S campion

A perennial with erect stems 10-30 cm high. Leaves 5-7 cm long, linear-
lanceolate; stem and leaves finely puberulent and densely glandular above.
Flowers usually 3-7, with the pedicels of lateral flowers 2-3 cm long; calyx
8-10 mm long, prominently 10-nerved, glandular pubescent. Grassy slopes;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Silene sibirica (L.) Pers. Siberian campion

Perennial plants with erect subglabrous stems 40-60 cm high. Basal leaves
oblong-linear; stem leaves all with sterile shoots in the axils. Inflorescence
interrupted, the flowers in verticils, unisexual; calyx 4-5 mm long. Rare, an
introduced weed.

Spergula spurry

Spergula arvensis L. CORN SPURRY

An introduced annual, branching plant 15^0 cm high, with very narrow
leaves 20-30 mm long, borne in whorls around the stem. White flowers about 6
mm across, in branching cymes at end of stem. Introduced, not common;
sometimes found in fields and on roadsides; western Prairies.

Spergularia sand spurry

Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. var. leiosperma (Kindb.) Gurke

SALT-MARSH SAND SPURRY

A low, annual, clustered plant, much-branched, about 10-20 cm high,
with small ovate stipules at the bases of the opposite, linear, fleshy leaves.
Leaves circular in cross section, 6-20 mm long. Flowers pink and numerous;
petals shorter than sepals, which are about 3 mm long. This is a rather rare
plant; found in the margins of saline sloughs; throughout Prairies and Park-
lands. Syn.: S. salina J. & C. Presl.

Stellaria stitch wort

Mostly low-growing or straggling plants with small white flowers, 5 petals
so deeply cleft that often they look like 10 petals.

358

1. Plants glandular pubescent throughout S. americana

Plants glabrous 2

2. Plants annual; basal leaves ovate or

rhombic-ovate, petioled S. media

Plants perennial; all leaves sessile 3

3. Bracts of the inflorescence, at least the

upper ones, membranous 4

Bracts of the inflorescence all green, not

membranous 8

4. Upper part of stems and leaf margins

papillate, rough S. longifolia

Upper part of stems and leaf margins

smooth 5

5. Bracts and leaves or sepals ciliate 6

Bracts, leaves, and sepals not ciliate 7

6. Bracts and leaves ciliate; leaves to 15 mm

long S. calycantha

Bracts and sepals ciliate; leaves to 10 mm

long S. ciliatisepala

7. Inflorescence subumbellate; petals

absent S. umbellata

Inflorescence cymose; petals present,

larger than sepals S. longipes

8. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, length-to-width

ratio less than 4: 1 9

Leaves linear- or elliptic-lanceolate,

length-to-width ratio more than 4: 1 10

9. Sepals 1.5-2.5 mm long, obtuse; leaves

about 5 mm long S. obtusa

Sepals 2.5-3.5 mm long, acute; leaves

5-10 mm long S. crispa

10. Petals shorter than the sepals, or lacking S. calycantha

Petals the same length as or longer than

the sepals 11

11. Petals cleft more than halfway, almost to

base 12

Petals cleft less than halfway 13

12. Leaves mostly 6-20 mm long, 2-6 mm

wide; sepals 2-3 mm long S. crassifolia

Leaves mostly 2-8 mm long, \-A mm

wide; sepals 3.5-6 mm long S. humifusa

13. Plants usually less than 10 cm high; inter-

nodes short; leaves thick, rather rigid,

green S. laeta

Plants usually 10-20 cm high; internodes
long; leaves not thick or rigid, glau-
cous S. longipes

359

Stellaria americana Porter

Plants with slender rootstocks, mat-forming; stems leafy, 10-20 cm long;
leaves 1-3 cm long; cymes leafy; sepals 3^4 mm long; petals exceeding the se-
pals. Rocky alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Stellaria calycantha (Ledeb.) Bong. northern stitch wort

A weak-stemmed trailing plant 15-50 cm long, with linear-lanceolate
leaves 10-35 mm long. Not common; in shady woodlands; Rocky Mountains,
Boreal forest, Cypress Hills. Syn.: S. borealis Bigel.

Stellaria ciliatisepala Trautv.

Plants with short creeping rootstocks; stems to 20 cm high; leaves to 10
mm long. Inflorescence few-flowered, or rarely a single flower. Open, rocky
areas; Boreal forest.

Stellaria crassifolia Ehrh. FLESHY stitchwort

A small rather weak-stemmed plant 5-25 mm high, with short, fleshy
oblong-lanceolate leaves 5-15 mm long. White flowers 4-6 mm across, not
numerous. Uncommon; may be looked for in wet and very shaded places.

Stellaria crispa Cham. & Schl.

Weak-stemmed plants with creeping rootstocks; leaves ovate, sessile or
subsessile; flowers axillary, solitary; sepals 3^4 mm long; petals minute or
absent. Moist places in mountains; southern Rocky Mountains.

Stellaria humifusa Rottb.

Mat-forming plants with creeping rootstocks; often reproducing by vege-
tative buds in axils of leaves; flowers 8-16 mm across. Sandy beaches; Hudson
Bay.

Stellaria laeta Richardson

Mat-forming plants with creeping rootstocks, and a few-flowered
inflorescence. The sepals ciliate, puberulent; the stem often puberulent. Sandy
beaches; Hudson Bay, southern Rocky Mountains.

Stellaria longifolia Muhl. long-leaved stitchwort

A weak-stemmed semierect plant 20-40 cm high, with bright green oppo-
site linear leaves, tapered at both ends, 10-60 mm long. Numerous flowers 6-9
mm across, borne at the summit of the stem, with the petals deeply cleft and
longer than the sepals. Fairly common; woodlands, moist and shady places;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Stellaria longipes Goldie long-stalked stitchwort

An erect plant 6-30 cm high, with short lanceolate leaves 10-25 mm long,
broadest near the base and tapering upward. Flowers few, on long stalks at the
head of the stem, the 2-cleft white petals slightly longer than the sepals. Petals
not usually so deeply cleft as in the preceding species. Common; in moist
places and woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

360

Stellaria media (L.) Cyrill. common chickweed

A prostrate-growing trailing annual, with lines of fine white hairs on the
stems. Leaves broadly ovate, 5-25 mm long, on short stalks. Flowers white,
about 6 mm across, and deeply cleft. An introduced European weed, which
has become very common; on lawns and in gardens; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Stellaria obtusa Engelm.

Matted plants with many prostrate branching stems 5-15 cm long;
flowers solitary in leaf axils; sepals 2-3 mm long; petals minute or absent.
Very rare; wet areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Stellaria umbellata Turcz.

Erect or ascending plants with creeping rootstocks, 10-30 cm high. Leaves
5-20 mm long, linear-lanceolate, slim; flowers in upper leaf axils and in termi-
nal umbellate cymes; sepals 2-5 mm long; petals minute or absent. Rare;
moist areas in mountains; southern Rocky Mountains.

CERATOPHYLLACEAE — hornwort family

Ceratophyllum hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum L. hornwort

A completely submersed aquatic plant with thread-like leaves, 2 or 3
times forked, 5-25 mm long, arranged in whorls of 6-9 leaves at intervals on
the stem. Flowers without stalks, unisexual, and borne singly in the axils of the
leaves. Fruit an achene about 5 mm long, with a persistent style about 6 mm
long. May be mistaken for the water milfoil, Myriophyllum, from which it is
distinguished by its 2- or 3-forked leaves, the leaves of Myriophyllum being pin-
nate and not forked. Fairly common; in ponds and still water; eastern Prairies
and Parklands, rare along northern fringe of Parklands and in Boreal forest.

NYMPHAEACEAE — water-lily family

Flowers yellow, with sepals petal-like, larger
than the petals Nuphar

Flowers white, with green sepals and large
petals Nymphaea

Nuphar yellow pond-lily

Leaves 5-10 cm long; flowers 15-20 mm
across N. microphyllum

Leaves 10-25 cm long; flowers 40-50 mm
across N. variegatum

361

Nuphar microphyllum (Pers.) Fern. small pond-lily

Leaves submersed or floating, oval or elliptic in outline, deeply cordate at
the base. Flowers yellow within; anthers 1.5-3 mm long, shorter than the fila-
ments; the stigmatic disk red; fruit about 15 mm long. Ponds and lakes; east-
ern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Nuphar variegatum Engelm. yellow pond-LILY

Perennial aquatic plant with stout creeping rootstock. Large single cor-
date leaves that float on the surface borne on long slender stalks, arising from
the rootstock. Leaves 10-25 cm long and 8-15 cm broad. Occasionally a few
entirely submersed leaves, thin and membranous. Flowers reddish within;
anthers 4.5-7 mm, shorter than the filaments; stigmatic disk green; fruit about
4 cm long. Ponds and lakes; Parklands, Boreal forest, Cypress Hills.

Nymphaea water-lily

Leaves rotund in outline, 10-20 cm across;
flowers 5-8 cm across, fragrant N. odorata

Leaves elliptic in outline, 7-12 cm long, 4-8
cm wide; flowers 2-5 cm across, odorless N. tetragona ssp. leibergii

Nymphaea odorata Ait. fragrant water-lily

Leaves commonly purple or red below, deeply cordate, with the petiole
inserted almost at the middle of the leaf. Flowers with 17-32 petals, opening in
the morning. Lakes and ponds; southeastern Boreal forest.

Nymphaea tetragona Georgi ssp. leibergii (Morong) Porsild small water-lily

Leaves with a V-shaped sinus. Flowers with 8-17 petals, opening in the
afternoon. Ponds, lakes, and marshes; Boreal forest.

RANUNCULACEAE — crowfoot family

A large and variable family, with leaves alternate, except in Clematis; se-
pals 3-15, often colored, and resembling petals. Petals sometimes absent, but,
when present, the same number as sepals. Many stamens. Fruit in the form of
achenes, follicles (dry pods), or berries.

1. Climbing plants with opposite leaves;

without petals but with colored sepals;

fruit with persistent feathery style Clematis

Plants not climbing; leaves either basal or

alternate 2

2. Flowers irregular or spurred 3

Flowers regular, not spurred 6

3. Flowers irregular, not spurred Aconitum

Flowers spurred 4

362

4. Flowers with 1 spur Delphinium

Flowers with 5 spurs 5

5. Plants tall; leaves compound; flowers

15-25 mm long Aquilegia

Plants small; leaves simple; flowers 3-5

mm long Myosurus

6. Fruit berry-like Actaea

Fruit not berry-like 7

7. Fruit dry pods (or follicles) 8

Fruit achenes 10

8. Leaves simple, entire or incised 9

Leaves compound with 3 leaflets Coptis

9. Leaves entire or toothed; flowers yellow Caltha

Leaves palmately incised; flowers white Trollius

10. Leaves all basal, 3-lobed, with the lobes

entire, rounded Hepatica

Leaves not all basal; stem leaves present;

leaf segments mostly toothed, acute 1 1

11. Petals usually present Ranunculus

Petals absent, but sepals colored and

petal-like 12

12. Leaves all basal except involucre of leafy

bracts some distance below

inflorescence Anemone

Leaves not basal; without involucral

bracts below inflorescence Thalictrum

Aconitum monkshood

Aconitum delphinifolium DC. monkshood

Perennial plants 30-70 cm high, with short tubers. Stems finely pubes-
cent; leaves glabrous, palmately lobed, with the segments lanceolate.
Inflorescence a short raceme; flowers deep blue to purple. Poisonous to cattle.
Mountain meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Actaea baneberry

Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. RED baneberry

Erect perennial herbs 30-100 cm high, with large compound leaves. Flow-
ers small, white, in dense clusters at the ends of the stems, with the sepals fall-
ing off when the flower opens. Fruits large and berry-like, 6-10 mm long, and
clustered in a raceme. Poisonous to humans, especially children. Fruit of the
common typical species is bright red, but there is also a fairly common white-
berried form, Actaea rubra forma neglecta (Gilman) Robins, white baneberry.
Both baneberries common; in rich woodlands and in shady, wooded ravines;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

363

Anemone anemone

Perennial plants from bulb-like taproots, with basal leaves long-stalked
and palmately divided or dissected. Flowering stalks bearing a whorl of invo-
lucral leaves (large bracts resembling leaves) borne part way up the flowering
stem. Flowers borne at the summits of long stems and consisting of 5 or 6 col-
ored sepals but no petals. Fruits achenes borne in globular or cylindrical
heads.

1. Styles long and feathery at maturity; se-

pals 15-40 mm long 2

Styles short; sepals 5-25 mm long 3

2. Flowers purplish or bluish; bracts sessile;

basal leaves expanding after flowering A. patens var. wolfgangiana

Flowers white; bracts short-petioled;
basal leaves fully expanded at
flowering A. occidentalis

3. Carpels and achenes not woolly; glabrous

or somewhat pubescent 4

Carpels and achenes densely woolly 7

4. Involucral leaves petioled; achenes fusi-

form, with the style short, hooked A. nemorosa var. bifolia

Involucral leaves sessile or subsessile;

achenes flattened 5

5. Sepals yellow; styles very long in fruit,

reflexed A. richardsonii

Sepals white; styles straight or hooked 6

6. Achenes stipitate, glabrous; styles

hooked, short A. narcissiflora

Achenes sessile, pubescent; styles

straight, long A. canadensis

7. Involucral leaves long-petioled; heads of

achenes cylindrical or narrowly ovoid 8

Involucral leaves sessile or subsessile;

heads of achenes globose or ovoid 9

8. Sepals 8-10 mm long, greenish white;

fruiting heads long cylindrical A. cylindrica

Sepals 10-20 mm long, white; fruiting

heads oblong or oblong-ovoid A. virginiana

9. Leaves with 3 broad wedge-shaped

segments A. parviflora

Leaves 2^4 times ternate, with the seg-
ments linear or lanceolate 10

10. Leaves 3^1 times ternate; mostly 1-
flowered, with mature styles 4-6 mm
long A. drummondii

Leaves 2-4 times ternate; mostly 1- to 4-
flowered, with mature styles 1-2 mm
long A. multifida and var. riehardsiana

364

Anemone canadensis L. Canada anemone

A hairy-stemmed plant to 30 cm high, with several 5- to 7-parted basal
leaves. In this species the flowering stems divide, and fresh stems appear, each
bearing a whorl of involucral leaves and a flower at the end. Flowers white,
25-30 mm across. Fruiting head globular. One of the commonest anemones;
found in large patches at the edges of woodlands, low moist places, and hol-
lows; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Anemone cylindrica A. Gray long-fruited anemone

Plants with a long slender stem 15-50 cm high, branching at the involu-
cral leaves into 2-6 flowering stems, each bearing a 5-sepaled greenish white
flower almost 20 mm across. Fruiting head long, cylindric, often 20 mm high,
and densely woolly. Common; on moist prairie; throughout Prairies and Park-
lands.

Anemone drummondii Wats. drummond'S anemone

Plants with a stout woody caudex, silky hirsute stems 10-25 cm high, and
long-petioled basal leaves. Flower usually solitary, appressed pubescent.
Mountain meadows and alpine tundra; Rocky Mountains.

Anemone multifida Poir. cut-leaved anemone

Erect plants, usually with several silky-haired purplish stems 15-60 cm
high. Flowering stalks 1-7, one usually having no involucral leaves. Leaves
cleft several times into very narrow lobes. Flowers varying from reddish purple
to white or yellowish green and the fruiting heads globular and very woolly.
Common; in moist spots; throughout the Prairie Provinces. A var.,
richardsiana Fern., with longer sepals, usually whitish, but sometimes bright
red. Fairly common; in moister spots; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Anemone narcissiflora L. narcissus anemone

Plants with stout rootstocks; the stems pubescent, 20-40 cm high. Leaves
deeply palmately divided, long-petioled. Inflorescence umbellate, 3- to 8-
flowered. Mountain meadows; Rocky Mountains. Occurrence in Alberta not
yet definitely established.

Anemone nemorosa L. var. bifolia (Farwell) Boiv. wood anemone

Plants with long creeping rootstocks; sterile leaves 3 or 5 foliate;
flowering stems 10-20 cm high, usually with a single flower, and a single verti-
cil of 3-petioled stem leaves. Moist woods; Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.:
Anemone quinquefolia L. var. interior Fern.

Anemone occidentalis Wats. chaliceflower

Plants 10-60 cm high, at first densely villose, later often glabrate. Basal
leaves few, 3-parted, with numerous linear-lanceolate segments; involucral
leaves short-petioled. Flowering stalk elongating in fruit, the styles 2-A cm
long. Mountain meadows and slopes; Rocky Mountains. Syn.: Pulsatilla
occidentalis (Wats.) Freyn.

365

Anemone parviflora Michx. small wood anemone

Plants with slender rootstocks; stems 10-30 cm high, sparingly pubescent.
Basal leaves long-petioled; the segments crenately lobed into broad, obtuse
divisions; peduncle solitary, with a single flower. Woods, meadows, and
slopes; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Anemone patens L. var. wolfgangiana (Bess.) Koch (Fig. 109) crocus anemone

An early spring flowering plant, from a thick woody taproot. Flower
appears before leaves on an erect silky stem 8-20 cm high. Basal leaves much
divided, on long stalks, with the involucral leaves also being cleft, but without
stalks. Flowers mauve or pale blue, sometimes white, 4-6 cm across, usually
the first flower to appear on the prairies in spring. Fruiting stems tall, often
over 30 cm high, bearing many achenes, each having a long persistent tail-like
feathery style about 3 cm long. Common on open prairie and hills; throughout
southern and western parts of the Prairie Provinces, and particularly conspicu-
ous on burned-over prairie and railway rights-of-way. Sheep may be poisoned
by this plant and their digestive system may be impaired by its felty hairs.
Very common on overgrazed pasture, where dense stands during the early
spring indicate an overgrazed condition. Syn.: Pulsatilla ludoviciana (Nutt.)
Heller; P. patens (L.) Miller ssp. teklae (Zamels) Zamels.

Anemone richardsonii Hook. yellow anemone

Plants with slender yellow or brownish rootstocks; stems slender, delicate,
6-15 cm high. Basal leaves solitary, rotund or reniform in outline, 5-cleft into
cuneate incised segments; involucral leaves 3, sessile or subsessile. Flowers sul-
fur yellow. Marshes, wet woods, and bogs; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Anemone virginiana L. tall anemone

A tall erect species 30-80 cm high, with hairy stems. Flowers greenish
white, with sepals about 10 mm long. Head of fruit is ovoid or cylindric and
woolly. A very variable species, found occasionally; in woods and shady
places; in eastern part of the Prairie Provinces, but rare elsewhere. Some
authorities consider the western plant to be A. riparia Fern.

Aquilegia columbine

Erect, branching plants from rootstocks, with slightly hairy and glandular
stems. Leaves compound and divided into 3 leaflets. Flowers with 5 sepals col-
ored and petal-like, also 5 colored petals extending at the base forming a long
tubular spur. Fruit a follicle or dry capsule containing numerous seeds.

1. Plants small, usually less than 20 cm high;

leaves all basal; usually 1-flowered A.jonesii

Plants 20-80 cm high, with stem leaves;

several-flowered 2

2. Blade of petals longer than the spurs;

flowers blue or purple A. brevistyla

Blade of petals shorter than the spurs 3

3. Flowers yellow; spurs of petals slightly

hooked A. flavescens

366

Fig. 109. Crocus anemone, Anemone patens L. var. wolfgangiana (Bess.)
Koch.

367

Flowers scarlet; spurs of petals almost

straight 4

4. Sepals erect, shorter than the spur A. canadensis

Sepals spreading, longer than the spur A.formosa

Aquilegia brevistyla Hook. small-flowered columbine

A small plant 20-50 cm high; flowers blue or purple, nodding, with sepals
about 15-20 mm long. Rare; in woodlands; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Aquilegia canadensis L. wild columbine

A stout erect plant 30-80 cm high; flowers large, nodding, with scarlet
sepals and sometimes yellow petals. Stamens and styles much longer than se-
pals and protruding conspicuously from the flower. Fairly common; in open
woodlands; eastern Boreal forest, reported form Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskat-
chewan.

Aquilegia flavescens S. Wats. yellow columbine

A slender branching plant 30-80 cm high, with yellow or yellowish white
flowers. In woodlands; Rocky Mountains.

Aquilegia formosa Fisch. CRIMSON COLUMBINE

A stout glabrous or sparingly pubescent plant 30-80 cm high, with sepals
about 2 cm long; sepals and spurs crimson; the lamina of the petals yellow.
Open woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Aquilegia jonesii Parry blue columbine

Plants with a short caudex; the leaves crowded, finely pubescent, and
often glaucous. Flowering stem with a single erect flower about 1.5 cm long;
sepals blue; petals often whitish. Exposed slopes, rocky areas; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Caltha marsh-marigold

1. Stems erect; bearing a single leaf or none;

flowers 1 or 2 C. leptosepala

Stems ascending, decumbent or floating;

bearing several leaves; flowers several 2

2. Sepals white or pink; flowers not over 15

mm across; plants often floating C. natans

Sepals yellow; flowers over 15 mm across;

plants usually rooted in mud C. palustris

Caltha leptosepala DC. mountain-marigold

Plants 10-40 cm high, from a short erect rootstock. Basal leaves long-
petioled; blades oval to oblong-oval, cordate at base, with the margins
toothed. Flowers 2.5-3.5 cm across, white or bluish. Alpine meadows; Rocky
Mountains.

368

Caltha natans Pall. floating marsh-marigold

Plants of lakes and small ponds, with cordate to kidney-shaped leaves and
stems rooting at the nodes. Flowers 10-15 mm across, with white or pinkish
petal-like sepals; fruiting clusters about 6 mm across. Quite rare; has been
found floating or rooted in the mud in woodland lakes and slow streams;
Boreal forest.

Caltha palustris L. (Fig. 1 10) MARSH-MARIGOLD

Stout marsh plants with smooth hollow stems arising from coarse fleshy
roots. Leaves round or kidney-shaped and heart-shaped at the base, the basal
ones with long stalks and the upper ones stalkless. Flowers bright yellow,
20-30 mm across, with 5-9 sepals but no petals. Fruits many-seeded follicles.
Common in wet places, more common in slightly moving water; Parklands
and Boreal forest.

Clematis virgin's-bower

Climbing vines with more or less woody stems and opposite leaves. Plants
climb by clasping the supporting plant with the stalks of their leaves and not
by means of tendrils. Flowers have colored sepals but no obvious petals; fruit
an achene with a long, persistent, feathery style.

1. Flowers solitary 2

Flowers in panicles or corymbs 3

2. Flowers blue; leaves with 3 leaflets C. verticellaris var. columbiana

Flowers yellow; leaves with 5 leaflets C. tangutica

3. Flowers yellowish or greenish; leaves with

3 leaflets C. virginiana

Flowers white; leaves with 5-7 leaflets C. ligusticifolia

Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. western virgin'S-bower

A climbing plant, with opposite leaves divided into 5-stalked leaflets
arranged pinnately on stalk, each leaflet pointed at tip, 2-8 cm long. Flowers
borne in clusters, each flower about 10-15 mm across with white sepals and no
petals. Fruit a cluster of achenes, each with a persistent feathery style. Com-
mon; in coulees and ravines, climbing over bushes and shrubs; Prairies.

Clematis tangutica (Max.) Korsh. clematis

Plant with greenish yellow flowers 3-5 cm across. Leaflets 2-5 cm long,
coarsely toothed. Introduced ornamental, locally escaped and established; in
coulees and shrubbery.

Clematis verticellaris DC. var. columbiana (Nutt.) A. Gray

PURPLE VIRGIN'S-BOWER

A climbing plant, with opposite leaves divided into 3 long-stalked leaflets,
each 2-8 cm long, pointed at the tip. Flowers 5-10 cm across, having 4 (some-
times 5) pale blue petal-like sepals. Petals reduced, resembling sterile stamens.
Achenes borne in clusters, each with a feathery style about 5 cm long. In shady
woodlands; in Cypress Hills and Foothills region. Syn.: C. columbiana (Nutt.)
T.&G.

369

Fig. 1 10. Marsh-marigold, Caltha palustris L.

370

Clematis virginiana L. virgin'S-BOWER

Plants climbing, with stems 3-A m long; leaflets usually 3, ovate, com-
monly coarsely toothed. Panicles from many of the leaf axils many-flowered.
Woods; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Coptis goldthread

Coptis thfolia (L.) Salisb. goldthread

Low, evergreen, perennial herbs 5-15 cm high. The leaves all basal, long-
stalked, each bearing 3 leaflets. The single flowers about 6 mm across, on a
long slender stem, and bearing 5-7 white sepals with yellowish bases, and
smaller club-shaped petals, each with a tiny drop of nectar in its summit. Fruit
a cluster of follicles, each about 6 mm long. Called goldthread because of its
fine yellow rootstocks. In moist spots; Boreal forest.

Delphinium larkspur

Perennial herbs with alternate much-divided or lobed leaves. Flowers in
racemes, perfect, irregular, with 5 petal-like colored sepals, the upper one
extended at the base into a spur. Petals 4, the upper pair extended into spurs
projecting into the sepal spur, the lower pair small with short claws. Fruit a
many-seeded follicle.

Plants tall and erect, 50-150 cm high; racemes
of flowers spike-like; lower flower stalks
shorter than flowers D. glaucum

Plants low, 15-50 cm high; racemes of flowers
loose and spreading; lower flower stalks
longer than flowers D. bicolor

Delphinium bicolor Nutt. (Fig. Ill) low larkspur

A perennial from a thick, fleshy, fibrous root, with hairy stems 15-50 cm.
Leaves finely hairy, much cleft and dissected, on long stalks. Flowers dark
blue, with a long blue spur at the rear. Flowers 15-35 mm across, borne on
long stalks in a loose terminal raceme. Blooming in early spring, May, or June.
Fruit a dry follicle 15-20 mm high, brownish, containing many seeds. Not
common, but locally very abundant; in large patches in openings in wood-
lands, hillsides, and sheltered areas; on Cypress loam soils throughout the
southwest, particularly in the Cypress Hills and Wood Mountains, also in the
Rocky Mountains. Very poisonous to cattle and causing some heavy losses, but
apparently harmless to sheep.

Delphinium glaucum Wats. (Fig. 1 12) tall larkspur

A tall erect plant 30-150 cm high, with smooth stem and deeply cut, dis-
sected slightly hairy leaves. Dark blue flowers borne on very short stalks in a
long close spike-like raceme. Fairly abundant; throughout the Foothills
region. Very poisonous to cattle. Growing in association with open stands of
aspen poplar and willows in the Rocky Mountains and western Boreal forest.
Syn.: D. brownii Rydb.; D. canmorense Rydb.

371

■ -L.

\

Fig. 111. Low larkspur, Delphinium bicolor Nutt.

372

Fig. 1 12. Tall larkspur, Delphinium glaucum Wats.

373

Hepatica hepatica

Hepatica nobilis Miller liverleaf

Plants with short thick brown rootstocks; scapes to 15 cm high. Leaves
overwintering and persisting until flowering, reniform in outline, 5-15 cm
broad, 3-lobed, the lobes obtuse-ovate; petioles 5-15 cm long, pubescent.
Flowers 15-25 mm across, varying in color from white or pinkish to bluish
purple; perianth with 6-9 segments, with 3 bract-like stem leaves appearing to
form a calyx. Achenes hirsute. Very rare; dry to moist woods; eastern Park-
lands and Boreal forest.

Myosurus mousetail

Small low-growing annual mud plants from fibrous roots. Leaves all basal
and linear or thread-like. Flowering scapes bearing 1 flower with 5 sepals and
5 narrow greenish petals. Occasionally 6 or 7 sepals and petals, and in some
instances the petals absent. Fruits numerous small achenes crowded on a tall
narrow spike, from which the name mousetail was given to the genus.

Myosurus minimus L. least mousetail

Small plants, 5-15 cm high. Sepals and petals 3-4 mm long; achenes 1-1.5
mm long, with a very short beak. Not common; in muddy slough margins and
marshy areas; throughout Prairies.

Ranunculus buttercup

A large genus, usually with alternate leaves. Flowers (Fig. 7) perfect and
regular, with 5 sepals and usually 5 petals, either yellow or white. Fruits
numerous achenes borne in a head or a short spike.

1. Plants aquatic; leaves submerged, finely

dissected 2

Plants not aquatic, mud or dryland

plants; leaves not finely dissected 3

2. Flowers white, axillary R. aquatilis

Flowers yellow, terminal or in cymes R. gmelinii

3. Basal leaves elliptic to linear, not deeply

divided 4

Basal leaves ovate to rhomboid, reniform,

entire to compound 6

4. Flowers white; leaves with a petiole

almost as wide as the blade R. pallassii

Flowers yellow 5

5. Basal leaves elliptic to lanceolate, entire;

stem leaves lobed R. glaberhmus

Basal leaves linear-lanceolate to filiform R.flammula

6. Achenes pubescent 7

Achenes glabrous 9

374

7. Basal leaves deeply 3-parted or lobed

almost to base R. uncinatus

Basal leaves crenate or lobed to almost

halfway 8

8. Stems and leaves pilose-pubescent or

villose R. cardiophyllus

Stems and leaves subglabrous or

puberulent R. inamoenus

9. Basal leaves crenate or lobed to almost

halfway 10

Basal leaves lobed almost to the base, or

divided 12

10. Plants stoloniferous, creeping; leaves cor-

date at the base R. cymbalaria

Plants not stoloniferous, stems upright 1 1

11. Leaves deltoid-ovate in outline, acute to

rounded at base R. rhomboideus

Leaves reniform in outline, more or less

cordate at base R. abortivus

12. Stem leaves and leaves in the

inflorescence sessile or subsessile 13

Stem and inflorescence leaves on well-de-
veloped petioles 15

13. Plants small, usually less than 10 cm high;

petals as long as or shorter than sepals R. pygmaeus

Plants usually more than 10 cm high; pet-
als as long as or longer than sepals 14

14. Segments of stem leaves linear, 1-3 mm

wide R. pedatifidus var. leiocarpus

Segments of stem leaves lanceolate, 3-6

mm wide R. nivalis

15. Plants small, rarely more than 5 cm high;

leaves mostly 3- or 5-lobed R, hyperboreus

Plants larger, with the stems usually erect 16

16. Leaves simple 17

Leaves compound 22

17. Stems bearing a single leaf and a single

flower R. lapponicus

Stems bearing several leaves and flowers 18

18. Sepals reflexed at the middle or base 19

Sepals spreading or curved inward 20

19. Petals and sepals about the same length,

3-5 mm R. uncinatus

Petals about 3 times as long as the sepals R. occidentalis

20. Plants villose-pubescent, especially the

petioles R. acris

375

Plants glabrous to subglabrous or puberu-

lent 21

21. Beak of the achene very short, to 0.1 mm

long R. sceleratus

Beak of the achene developed, 0.5-1.0

mm long R. gmelinii

22. Flowers 6-8 mm across, with the petals

shorter than the sepals R. pensyhanicus

Flowers larger, with the petals longer than

the sepals 23

23. Leaves divided into many narrow seg-

ments 24

Leaves trifoliate 25

24. Plants subglabrous; petals about 5 mm

long, 4-5 mm wide R. gelidus

Plants appressed pubescent; petals about

10 mm long, 5 mm wide R. fascicularis

25. Sepals reflexed at base, 3.5-5 mm long;

petals 4-7 mm long R. macounii

Sepals spreading or incurved; petals 7-15

mm long 26

26. Plants stoloniferous; beak of the achene

about 1 mm long R. repens

Plants not stoloniferous; beak of the

achene to 3 mm long R. septentrionalis

Ranunculus abortivus L. smooth-leaved buttercup

A biennial plant 15-50 cm high, with a rather fleshy smooth stem. Basal
leaves long-stalked, usually cordate-based, and round with wavy margins;
stem leaves usually 3-cleft, the upper ones without stalks. Petals usually
shorter than the reflexed (turned downward) sepals; flowers yellow, 6-10 mm
across. Found in open woodlands, ravines, and moist places. Plants growing
on margins of streams or sloughs and wet spots have large and branched
inflorescence with numerous small flowers; when growing in less favorable
spots, more erect, with fewer flowers and less-branched inflorescence. The two
phases may be mistaken for different species. Fairly plentiful throughout Prai-
ries and Parklands; rare in Boreal forest.

Ranunculus acris L. TALL BUTTERCUP

A tall erect perennial, branched above, with a hairy stem 30-80 cm high.
Basal leaves stalked and much cleft and divided; upper leaves divided into 3
lobes, with short stalks. Numerous yellow flowers 20-35 mm across, with pet-
als more than twice as long as sepals. Achenes smooth, flattened, with a short
beak. Introduced from Europe. Not common; found occasionally in moist
places and along railway grades; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Very plen-
tiful, however, in some irrigated areas, especially in southern Alberta.

376

Ranunculus aquatilis L. large-leaved watercrowfoot

A fully submersed aquatic plant, with leaves finely dissected, about 10-25
mm long, growing from a sheathing stipule. Flowers either floating on the
water or protruding above it, white, about 10-15 mm across. Achenes with a
short beak not more than one-third the length of the body of the achene. In
slowly moving water and brackish pools that are not saline; found throughout
the Prairie Provinces. A very variable species, of which the following varieties
occur:

1. Beak of the achene more than 0.5 mm

long var. longirosths (Godr.) Laws.

Beak of the achene less than 0.5 mm

long 2

2. Leaves stiff, with a grayish green petiole

included in the sheath var. subrigidus (Drew) Breit.

Leaves not stiff, with the green petiole to

1 cm long 3

3. Stem 1.0-1.5 mm thick; plants large var. capillaceus (Thuill.) DC.

Stem less than 1 mm thick; plants small

and reduced var. eradicatus Laest.

Ranunculus cardiophyllus Hook. (Fig. 1 13) heart-leaved buttercup

An erect species 15-50 cm high, with few branches. Basal leaves stalked,
round to ovate, sometimes lobed, and usually heart-shaped at the base; stem
leaves with narrow, almost linear lobes, very short-stalked. Yellow flowers
10-20 mm across. Not common; in moist places, meadows, and stream banks;
in western Parklands.

Ranunculus cymbalaria Pursh seaside buttercup

Low perennial plants with runners and predominantly basal leaves on
thin stalks. Leaves small, rounded with cordate bases and wavy margins, 5-15
mm long. Flowers with a conical center, yellow, and quite small, usually 5-8
mm across; the petals slightly shorter than the sepals. Achenes numerous, with
longitudinal grooves. Common; on margins of sloughs and lakes, on saline wet
areas and stream banks; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Ranunculus fascicularis Muhl. early buttercup

Plants with 2-5 stems 10-30 cm high, strigose. Leaves mostly basal, ovate
in outline, with the segments lobed. Flowers 15-25 mm across, long-pedun-
cled. Southern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Ranunculus flammula L. var. ovalis (Bigel.) Benson creeping spearwort

A low-growing trailing plant, with stems rooting at the nodes and linear
or spatulate leaves 10-25 mm long. Bright yellow flowers about 8 mm across
borne singly on short stems. Uncommon; on lakeshores and riverbanks;
Boreal forest, Parklands. In var. ovalis the leaves lanceolate and about 5 mm
wide. Plants with filiform leaves, usually 1-2 mm wide, are var. filiformis
(Michx.) Hooker.

377

M-V

Fig. 1 13. Heart-leaved buttercup, Ranunculus cardiophyllus Hook.

378

Ranunculus gelidus Kar. & Kir. dwarf buttercup

Plants very small, with stems 5-10 cm high, glabrous or nearly so, bearing
1-3 leaves, these 3-5 foliate. Flowers 1-3, long-peduncled. Scree slopes; Rocky
Mountains.

Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook. shiny-leaved buttercup

A very early low-growing smooth-stemmed buttercup. Basal leaves
stalked, some entire and not lobed, others 3-lobed. In the type the lower leaves
usually rounded or kidney-shaped and wavy-margined, but the plants usually
found are the var. ellipticus Greene (called R. buddii by Boivin), with entire
long-elliptical basal leaves. Flowers 10-20 mm across, yellow, usually with a
lavender or purplish tinge on the backs of the sepals. Occasionally large
patches of this species with only one floral ring are found (called R. buddii f.
monochlamydeus by Boivin). A very early spring flowering plant, local, and not
usually abundant; plentiful in certain parts of the Prairies.

Ranunculus gmelinii DC. small yellow watercrowfoot

A semiaquatic perennial with underwater leaves divided into very narrow,
flat segments, the floating leaves having wider lobes. Petals yellow, about 5
mm long; head of fruit globose, about 5 mm thick. Occasionally found in
ponds and lakes; throughout the Prairie Provinces except the Prairies.

Ranunculus hyperboreus Rottb. BOREAL buttercup

Glabrous aquatic plants, with the stems floating, freely branching. Leaves
with simple reniform blades, lobed or 3-parted. Petals 2-4 mm long, the same
length as the sepals. Wet areas; Boreal forest. Large plants with cordate leaves
and petals 3~4 mm long are var. intertextus (Greene) Boiv.; rare; Rocky
Mountains.

Ranunculus inamoenus Greene graceful buttercup

A species 15-30 mm high, with stalked basal leaves varying from almost
circular to fan-shaped and sometimes divided; stem leaves divided into 3 seg-
ments. Petals small, usually less than 6 mm long. Not common; has been
found in the Cypress Hills and Rocky Mountains.

Ranunculus lapponicus L. lapland buttercup

Plants with slender rootstocks; stems solitary, 10-20 cm high. Basal leaf 1
or rarely 2; cauline leaf solitary or absent. Flower solitary, with 3 sepals and
6-10 petals. Wet woods and muskeg; Boreal forest.

Ranunculus macounii Britt. macouns buttercup

A tall, branching hairy species 30-60 cm high, usually decumbent when
partly grown. Leaves in broad divisions, with the leaf segments usually stalked.
Yellow flowers 10-15 mm across; achenes having a sharp stout beak, about
one-quarter the length of the body. Fairly common; in moist and wet places;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

379

Ranunculus nivalis L. snow buttercup

Plants usually unbranched, 1Q-20 cm high. Basal leaves orbicular-reni-
form, deeply lobed. Sepals villous; achenes with a beak about as long as the
body. Tundra and alpine prairies. In var. nivalis the pubescence of the sepals
brown to blackish; Hudson Bay; in var. eschscholtzii (Schlecht.) Benson the
pubescence pale yellow; Rocky Mountains. Syn.: R. verecundus Rob.

Ranunculus occidentalis Nutt. western buttercup

Erect or somewhat decumbent plants, with stems 20-70 cm high, branch-
ing above. Basal leaves 3-parted, with the lobes cuneate, the petioles pubes-
cent. Flowers large, 15-25 mm across. Meadows and prairies; Rocky Moun-
tains. Several varieties have been described; most plants from Alberta are var.
brevistylis Greene, with narrowly obovate petals, and the achene 2-2.5 mm
long with a straight beak about half as long as the body.

Ranunculus pallassii Schlecht. pallas buttercup

Plants small, creeping, with stems 10-15 cm high. Leaves obovate-cuneate
in outline, deeply 3-lobed. Flowers solitary, 20-25 mm across, white or some-
what violet-tinged; achenes 5-7 mm long. Wet shores; Hudson Bay, Boreal
forest.

Ranunculus pedatiftdus J. E. Smith var. leiocarpus (Trautv.) Fern.

NORTHERN BUTTERCUP

An erect plant 10-30 cm high. Basal leaves deeply dissected into linear
divisions. In the typical species, flowers 8-15 mm across with yellow petals and
greenish yellow sepals. Fruit has a slender curved beak. The type is apparently
a mountain and arctic plant, but the apetalous form has been found on open
grassland in Prairies and Parklands. Formerly known as R. affinis R. Br. This
form has only one floral ring of greenish yellow petal-like sepals.

Ranunculus pensylvanicus L. f. bristly buttercup

An erect species, usually annual, very hairy, 30-60 cm high. Leaves
divided into 3-stalked segments, again divided into 3 lobes. Yellow flowers 6-8
mm across, with petals shorter than reflexed sepals; achenes with a sharp beak
about one-third the length of the body. Not common; occasionally found in
wet places; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Ranunculus pygmaeus Wahl. pygmee buttercup

Small plants with a rootstock, and erect stems 1.5-5 cm high. Leaves
about 1 cm long, glabrous. Flowers 5-10 mm across, with petals and sepals
about the same length; achenes about 1 mm long. Rare; alpine tundra; Rocky
Mountains.

Ranunculus repens L. creeping buttercup

Plants stoloniferous, with stems 30-45 cm high. Leaves 3-foliate. Flowers
20-30 mm across, yellow. Introduced species; occasionally found in wet areas.

Ranunculus rhomboideus Goldie prairie buttercup

A short hairy-stemmed low-growing species 15^45 cm high. Rounded or
oval wavy-margined basal leaves on long stalks; stem leaves deeply cleft or

380

divided and without stalks. Flowers yellow, 10-20 mm across; petals rather
narrow, appearing to be somewhat widely spaced. Flowering very early in the
spring. Fruiting head globular; achenes with a short beak. Perhaps the most
common species on the prairies; over all the open plains; the Prairie Provinces.
Syn.: R. oval is Raf.

Ranunculus sceleratus L. celery-leaved buttercup

A hollow-stemmed annual plant, with smooth stems 15-60 cm high.
Leaves deeply 3- to 5-lobed and thick; basal leaves with long stalks but upper
stem leaves stalkless. Yellow flowers small and numerous, 6-8 mm across, with
petals about the same length as sepals. Common; along shores of lakes and
sloughs and often the dominant plant of the hummocky bed of a drying
slough; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Its acrid poisonous juice blisters the
skin and produces intestinal inflammation if eaten. Sometimes called cursed
crowfoot because of its toxic nature.

Ranunculus septenthonalis Poir. swamp buttercup

Stout-stemmed plants 30-60 cm high, erect or ascending, often rooting at
the lower nodes of prostrate stems. Flowers 20-30 mm across; achenes 3-4
mm long, with a straight beak about half the length of the body. Wet areas;
southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Ranunculus uncinatus D. Don hairy buttercup

Plants with erect hirsute stems 30-60 cm high. Leaves uniform, cordate at
the base, 3-parted. Flowers about 5 mm across, with the petals 2-3 mm long,
the sepals reflexed; achenes 1.5-2 mm long, flattened, with a beak as long as
the body, strongly recurved. Moist areas; Rocky Mountains, Peace River.

Thalictrum meadow-rue

Perennial plants from rootstocks, with alternate leaves divided into 3
leaflets, each 3-lobed. The segments and the leaflets are usually stalked. Flow-
ers, either perfect or unisexual, with greenish white sepals and no petals, borne
in rather open panicles. The yellow stamens of the male flowers make the
inflorescence very attractive. Fruits achenes, usually ribbed, and borne in
small clusters.

1. Flowers perfect; achenes flat and half

obovoid with a straight back T. sparsiflorum var. richardsonii

Flowers unisexual 2

2. Stem leaves barely stalked; leaves oblong,

usually longer than wide, often very

finely hairy beneath; stems purplish T. dasycarpum

All leaves with stalks; leaflets almost

round, pale, and smooth beneath 3

3. Leaves thin, not distinctly veined;

achenes similarly pointed at both ends T. occidentale v&r.palousense

Leaves thick and prominently veined;
achenes obovoid and sharper at the
upper end than at the lower T. venulosum

381

Thalictrum dasycarpwn Fisch. & Lall. (Fig. 1 14) tall meadow-rue

A tall, erect purplish-stemmed plant 50-150 cm high. Leaves decom-
pound, the long leaflets usually longer than wide, with 3 pointed lobes, dark
green above, and pale and prominently veined beneath, often with very fine
hairs beneath. Flowers borne in a long open panicle 30 cm long or longer.
Flowering in midsummer. A fairly common species; in rich moist woodland;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Thalictrum occidentale A. Gray var. palousense St. John western meadow-rue

An erect smooth-stemmed perennial 30-60 cm high, with thin pale green
leaflets almost round but margins many-lobed. Flowers in an open panicle,
appearing fairly early in the spring. In shady moist places, woodlands, and
coulees; Cypress Hills, Rocky Mountains, Peace River.

Thalictrum sparsiflorum Turcz. var. richardsonii (Gray) Boiv.

FEW-FLOWERED MEADOW-RUE

A species with perfect flowers. Leaflets glandular below and scented.
Rare; listed from several localities.

Thalictrum venulosum Trel. veiny meadow-rue

Plants 15-200 cm high, with the leaflets rounded, strongly veined, bluish
green, pale below. Panicle of flowers narrow and dense. Achenes ovoid. Fairly
common; in woodlands; throughout most of the Prairie Provinces. Three
varieties can be recognized:

1. Plants 15^40 cm high; filaments 3^4 mm

long; fruit 3^4 mm long var. venulosum

Plants larger 2

2. Plants 60-80 cm high; filaments 4-5 mm

long; fruit 4-4.5 mm long var. turneri Boiv.

Plants 1-2 m high, lax; filaments 5-6 mm

long; fruit 5-6.5 mm long var. lunellii (Greene) Boiv.

Trollius globeflower

Trollius laxus Salisb. American globeflower

Plants with a thick caudex, and erect stems 20-40 cm high, glabrous, 2- to
4-leaved. Flowers usually solitary, 2-A cm across, whitish. Follicles about 1 cm
long. Marshy areas and alpine meadows; Rocky Mountains.

BERBERIDACEAE — barberry family

Plants shrubby, the leaves pinnate with spinu-
lose toothed leaflets Berberis

Plants herbaceous, with a single compound
leaf, the leaflets 5-8 cm long Caulophyllum

382

Fig. 1 14. Tall meadow-rue, Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch. & Lall.

383

Berberis barberry

Berber is aquifolium Pursh MAHONIA

Shrubby plants 10-100 cm high, the leaves alternate with 5-7 leathery
leaflets. Inflorescence a raceme with yellow flowers; fruit a blue berry with a
few large seeds. In mountain woods; southern Rocky Mountains. Plants with
trailing stems 10-30 cm high are forma repens (Lindl.) Boiv.

Caulophyllum blue cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx. blue cohosh

Plants erect, 30-80 cm high. The leaf inserted at about the middle of the
stem, consisting of 3 long-petioled leaflets each of which is twice divided into 3
segments; the ultimate leaflets obovate-oblong. A smaller leaf subtends the
inflorescence, consisting of a panicle of yellowish green or purplish flowers,
about 1 cm across; seeds drupe-like, blue. Rare; moist woods; southeastern
Parklands and Boreal forest.

MENISPERMACEAE — moonseed family

Menispermum moonseed

Menispermum canadense L. yellow parilla

Plants woody climbers 2-3 m high; leaves 10-15 cm long, suborbicular,
peltate near the margin. Inflorescence a panicle; flowers 3-5 mm across; fruit a
blackish drupe. Woods; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

PAPAVERACEAE — poppy family

Petals usually 4; stems leafy; capsule opening

by a circle of pores under the broad stigma Papaver

Petals 8-12; leaf solitary, basal; capsule 2-

valved Sanguinaria

Papaver P°ppy

1. Plants perennial; the leaves all basal 2

Plants annual; cauline leaves present 3

2. Flowers sulfur yellow; leaves hirsute to

subglabrous P. pygmaeum

Flowers red or reddish orange; leaves

glabrous and glaucous P. nudicaule

3. Cauline leaves cordate-clasping, glabrous,

not divided P. somniferum

Cauline leaves not clasping, pubescent,

pinnately divided P. rhoeas

384

Papaver nudicaule L. ICELAND poppy

Plants with a rosette of basal leaves, and scapose stems to 50 cm high
bearing solitary flowers to 6 cm across. Introduced ornamental; in various
locations escaped and established.

Papaver pygmaeum Rydb. alpine poppy

Plants with a rosette of basal leaves 2-3 cm long, subglabrous to pubes-
cent. Scape 4-10 cm high, hirsute; flower 2-3 cm across; capsule about 1 cm
long, densely bristly. Alpine areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Papaver rhoeas L. CORN POPPY

Plants 30-60 cm high, hirsute; leaves pinnately divided, with the pinnae
lobed or toothed. Flowers 5-7 cm across, scarlet. Introduced; occasionally
escaped and established.

Papaver somniferum L. common poppy

Plants 60-100 cm high, usually blue green, glabrous. Flowers 6-10 cm
across, white to purplish or red, with the petals black at the base; capsule 5-8
cm long, to 5 cm across. Introduced as ornamental and for poppy seed; occa-
sionally escaped and established.

Sanguinaria bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis L. red PUCCOON

Plants with a stout rootstock, a single basal leaf, and scape with a solitary
flower. Leaf orbicular in outline, 3- to 9-lobed, with the lobes undulate. Flow-
ers white or pinkish, 2-5 cm across. Capsule 3-5 cm long. The name derives
from the brilliant red sap, exuding when the plant is wounded. Rare; more or
less open woods; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

FUMARIACEAE — fumitory family

1. Plants climbers; corolla persistent, the

two outer petals saccate Adlumia

Plants not climbing; corolla deciduous,

only one of the petals saccate 2

2. Fruit an elongate capsule with more than

one crested seed Corydalis

Fruit globose, with a single noncrested

seed Fumaria

A dlumia fumi tory

Adlumia fungosa (Ait.) Greene climbing fumitory

A biennial vine, stemless in the first year, growing to a climbing vine
2-3 m long. Leaves pinnate-ternate, with the rachis of the uppermost leaflets
elongating and twining around supporting vegetation. Flowers pink, with the

385

corolla becoming spongy and enclosing the capsule. Very rare; moist woods;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Corydalis corydalis

Flowers yellow; plants usually somewhat pros-
trate C. aurea

Flowers pink with yellow tips; plants fairly
erect C. sempervirens

Corydalis aurea Willd. golden corydalis

A much-branched low, sometimes prostrate annual or biennial, with pale
green much-dissected leaves. Plants sometimes spread about 45 cm. Racemes
of narrow golden yellow flowers, each 10-15 mm long, with a spur at the base
about half as long as the body of the corolla. Fruits narrow pods 15-25 mm
long containing many small shiny seeds. Common; in edges of woodlands,
moist spots, railway grades; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Reported to be
somewhat poisonous to sheep.

Corydalis sempervirens (L.) Pers. (Fig. 1 15) pink corydalis

A slender-stemmed annual or biennial plant 30-75 cm high, with alter-
nate twice-divided leaves. Flowers 10-20 mm long, in a raceme, pinkish with
yellow tips. Fruits long, narrow cylindric capsules, turning brown at maturity,
and containing many seeds. Often found; in rocky woodlands and disturbed
areas; Boreal forest.

Fumaria fumitory

Fumaria officinalis L. earth-smoke

Annual plants 20-80 cm high, with the stems lax, diffusely branched.
Inflorescence a many-flowered raceme 2-4 cm long; flowers 7-9 mm long, red-
dish purple; fruit about 2.5 mm in diam. Introduced; occasionally a weed.

CAPPARIDACEAE — caper family

Pods borne on a stalk about 10 mm long
above the calyx; stamens 6 Cleome

Pods on a very short stalk above the calyx,
clammy to touch; stamens 8-32 Polanisia

Cleome spiderflower

Cleome serrulata Pursh (Fig. 1 16) spiderflower, pink cleome

An erect, branching annual plant 30-100 cm high. Stem smooth and hair-
less. Leaves trifoliolate with lanceolate leaflets 2-7 cm long. Flowers usually
pale pink, sometimes white, stamens protruding above the flower. Pods 2-5 cm
long, usually slightly curved, and containing one compartment with a single
row of large seeds. Plant strong and unpleasant smelling. Very common; along
roadsides and on light soil; Prairies. Syn.: Peritoma serrulatum (Pursh) DC.

386

/

W0

Fig. 115. Pink corydalis, Corydalis sempervirens (L.) Pers.

387

f\.C. &udd

Fig. 116. Spiderflower, Cleome serrulata Pursh.

388

Polanisia clammyweed

Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC. clammyweed

A sticky, glandular annual, branched, 15-50 cm high, with trifoliolate
leaves, leaflets 10—25 mm long. Flowers yellowish white or pink, about 6 mm
long, with pods 20-35 mm long, glandular. Not common; found on sandy
soils; throughout Prairies and southeastern Parklands. Syn.: P. graveolens Raf.
Large-flowered plants are distinguished as var. trachysperma (T. & G.) litis,
large-flowered clammyweed, with flowers 8-12 mm long, pale yellow, the sta-
mens protruding. Not common; on rocky banks, hillsides, and light soils;
same locations as the species.

CRUCI FERAE — mustard family

Annual, winter annual, biennial, or perennial plants with various-shaped
alternate leaves. Flowers perfect and regular, with 4 sepals, 4 petals, and 6 sta-
mens divided into 2 groups, 4 long and 2 short stamens. Fruit pods (siliques)
(Fig. 117) divided into 2 compartments by a thin partition and usually con-
taining many seeds (Fig. 1 17,4). This family contains many troublesome weeds
and also many edible plants.

1. Pods compressed at right angles to the

central partition 2

Pods not compressed at right angles to the

central partition 9

2. Plants with basal leaves only; aquatic,

usually submerged Subulaha

Plants with leafy stems; mostly

terrestrial 3

3. Pods strongly inflated Physaria

Pods not strongly inflated 4

4. One seed in each compartment of pod 5

More than one seed in each compartment

of pod 6

5. Pods not winged or notched at top Cardaria

Pods notched at apex, usually winged

above Lepidium

6. Pods strongly flattened 7

Pods not strongly flattened 8

7. Pods more or less winged, orbicular Thlaspi

Pods not winged, triangular Capsella

8. Stigma sessile; plants small, not fleshy Hymenolobus

Stigma not sessile; plants with fleshy

leaves Cochleaha

9. Pods usually not more than 3 times as

long as wide 10

389

Compressed at right-angles to
central partition

I

(D

•..-"Si-*.-

Compressed parallel to
central portition

i

Valve

Septum

Valve

/).C. &udd

Fig. 1 17. Pods of the mustard family (Cruciferae): A, a dehiscent pod; B,
small alyssum, Alyssum alyssoides L.; C, tower mustard, Arabis glabra (L.)
Bernh.; D, false flax, Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz; F, shepherd's-purse,
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic; F, hare's-ear mustard, Conringia orientalis
(L.) Dum.; G, yellow whitlow-grass, Draba nemorosa L. var. leiocarpa Lindbl.;
//, sand bladderpod, Lesquerella ludoviciana (Nutt.) Wats. var. arenosa (Rich.)
Wats.; /, ball mustard, Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv.; /, wild radish, Raphanus
raphanistrum L.; K, wild mustard, Brassica kaber (DC.) L. C. Wheeler; L,
stinkweed, Thlaspi arvense L.

390

Pods usually at least 4 times as long as

wide 20

10. Flowers white 1 1

Flowers yellow 14

11. Large plants; basal leaves 40 cm long or

longer; pods subglobose Armoracia

Plants not with very large basal leaves;

pods flattened 12

12. Seeds many in each cell of pod Draba

Seeds few in each cell of pod 13

13. Pods almost circular, with flat margins Alyssum

Pods short, oblong Berteroa

14. Pods not opening or breaking off at

maturity 15

Pods opening lengthwise 16

15. Pods globular, remaining on seed; seeds 1

or rarely 2 per pod Neslia

Pods elongate, breaking in two at the nar-
rowed middle Rapistrum

16. Pods much flattened, at least twice as

wide as thick Draba

Pods not much flattened, more or less

round in cross section 17

17. Stem leaves bipinnately divided to

bipinnatifid Descurainia

Stem leaves entire to pinnately lobed or

pinnatifid 18

18. Valves of pods with no nerves , 19

Valves of pods with one nerve Camelina

19. Hairs on plant branched or starry; seeds

flat Lesquerella

Hairs on plant simple, not starry; seeds

round Rorippa

20. Pods with a long, distinct beak 21

Pods scarcely beaked 26

21. Pods constricted between seeds, breaking

up Raphanus

Pods opening by valves, not constricted

between seeds 22

22. Leaves entire, clasping stem with a cor-

date base Conringia

Leaves dentate or divided, not entire 23

23. Beak of pod flattened, the body almost

round Eruca

Beak of pod and the body equal in cross

section 24

391

24. Pods flattened; seeds more or less in 2

rows Diplotaxis

Pods circular in cross section; seeds in a

single row 25

25. Beak joint of capsule containing a seed Erucastrum

Beak joint of capsule seedless Brassica

26. Flowers yellow 27

Flowers white to pinkish to purple, not

yellow 34

27. Stem leaves entire to dentate, not lobed 28

Stem leaves deeply lobed, lyrate to

tripinnate 31

28. Pubescence consisting of hairs, attached

at the middle Erysimum

Pubescence consisting of simple or sev-
eral-forked hairs 29

29. Stem leaves narrowly linear, long attenu-

ate at base Sisymbrium

Stem leaves broad, more or less auriculate

at base 30

30. Stem leaves clasping, with the base cor-

date; plants glabrous; flowers yellowish

white Conringia

Stem leaves with a sagittate base; plants
pubescent below; flowers greenish to
yellowish white Arabis

31. Stem leaves bi- to tri-pinnately divided;

pubescence of forked hairs Descurainia

Stem leaves lyrate to pinnatifid; plants

with simple hairs or glabrous 32

32. Pods 4-angled in cross section, with

valves of pod nerveless; seeds globose Rorippa

Pods circular or nearly so in cross

section 33

33. Leaf blades pinnatifid; seeds flat Barbarea

Leaf blades entire or merely toothed;

seeds plump Erysimum

34. Leaves deeply lobed to dissected 35

Leaves entire to more or less deeply

toothed 38

35. Plants densely grayish to silvery

pubescent Smelowskia

Plants glabrous to more or less

pubescent 36

36. Pods flattened; leaves and stem usually

with forked or starry hairs; leaves usu-
ally simple and not deeply pinnately
lobed Arabis

392

Pods cylindric or 4-angled in cross

section 37

37. Pods straight, linear; leaves and stem

hairless or with simple hairs; leaves

deeply pinnately lobed Cardamine

Pods more or less falcate, oblong to glob-
ular; leaves glabrous or somewhat
pubescent Rorippa

38. Flowers 20-25 mm across, purple; plants

to 1.5 m high Hesperis

Flowers much smaller 39

39. Central partition with an opening some-

times almost reduced to the margin Eutrema

Central partition entire 40

40. Plants glabrous, or the pubescence of sim-

ple hairs 41

Plants with pubescence mostly or entirely

of branched hairs 43

41. Stem leaves cuneate to petiolate at the

base Cardamine

Stem leaves sagittate or cordate at the

base 42

42. Stem leaves cordate at the base, clasping

the stem; pods 6-10 cm long Conringia

Stem leaves sagittate at the base; pods

10-15 mm long Thellungiella

43. Pods strongly flattened Arabis

Pods round in cross section 44

44. Flowers purple, 10-20 mm across; pods

6-10 cm long Erysimum

Flowers white, less than 10 mm across 45

45. Pods cylindric, swollen at intervals Braya

Pods not swollen at intervals, the same

width over entire length Halimolobos

Alyssum alyssum

Alyssum alyssoides L. small alyssum

A low annual 10-30 cm high, covered with starry hairs and bearing lin-
ear-oblong to spatulate leaves 6-12 mm long. Creamy white flowers about 5
mm across, in narrow racemes. Pods (Fig. 1175) yellowish, almost circular,
about 3 mm across, having a narrow flat margin around the edges. An intro-
duced weed, not common; in sandy areas and disturbed places; Prairies,
southeastern Parklands, southern Rocky Mountains.

393

Arabis rock cress

Biennial or perennial plants with straight erect stems. Basal leaves usually
in a rosette, with stem leaves stalkless and clasping. Flowers usually small and
in racemes; fruits long narrow pods containing many seeds.

1. Pods erect or ascending 2

Pods spreading or reflexed 7

2. Pods almost circular in cross section A. glabra

Pods flattened parallel to the partition 3

3. Plant tufted; basal leaves lyrately lobed;

stem leaves not eared or clasping A. lyrata var. kamchatica

Plant slightly tufted; basal leaves not
lyrately lobed; stem leaves often clasp-
ing or eared 4

4. Stem leaves sessile, not auricled or

sagittate 5

Stem leaves with the base auricled or

sagittate 6

5. Pods 0.5-1.5 mm wide, 1-3 cm long;

flowers white A. nuttallii

Pods 2-3 mm wide, 2-5 cm long; flowers

pinkish to purple A. lyallii

6. Leaves coarsely hairy; stem leaves eared

at base A. hirsuta

Leaves not coarsely hairy, the hairs, if

any, 2- or 3-forked A. drummondii

7. Pods spreading to reflexed and

pendulous 8

Pods spreading, never reflexed or

pendulous 10

8. Pods always sharply reflexed and

pendulous A. retrofracta

Pods in part spreading, in part

descending 9

9. Pods 2-5 cm long, 2-3.5 mm wide A. lemmonii

Pods 5-10 cm long, 1-2 mm wide A. divaricarpa

10. Plants 10-20 cm high; pods 1-3 cm long,

1.5-2.5 mm wide A. arenicola

Plants 20-80 cm high; pods 5-10 cm long,

1-2 mm wide A. divaricarpa

Arabis arenicola (Rich.) Gelert

Perennial plants with dentate basal leaves; stem leaves oblong, cuneate at
the base, slightly fleshy. Arctic and subarctic gravelly or sandy areas. Glabrous
plants are var. arenicola, those with lower stem leaves and basal leaves pubes-
cent are var. pubescens (Wats.) Gelert. Boreal forest.

394

Arabis divaricarpa A. Nels. purple rock cress

A biennial species, usually with a purplish stem 30-50 cm high. Basal
leaves 20-40 mm long with starry white hairs; stem leaves stalkless and nar-
row-lanceolate. Flowers white or pinkish purple, about 6 mm across. Pods
spreading or curved slightly downward, 35-60 mm long. Dry slopes, sandy
areas; Prairies and Parklands. A form with the pods sickle-shaped and spread-
ing at various angles, var. dacotica (Greene) Boiv., more common than the typ-
ical variety.

Arabis drummondii A. Gray drummond'S rock cress

A biennial species with a tall, smooth, erect stem 20-70 cm high. Leaves
generally smooth, but basal ones sometimes having a few 2-forked hairs. Stem
leaves have arrow-shaped clasping bases. Pink or white flowers borne in a ter-
minal raceme. Pods usually fairly erect, 5-8 cm long. Fairly plentiful; on dry
hillsides; throughout most of the Prairie Provinces.

Arabis glabra (L.) Bernh. tower mustard

A tall biennial species with erect stems 20-60 cm high; stems quite
smooth above but slightly hairy near the base. Basal leaves have short stalks
and are 5-15 cm long and slightly hairy. Stem leaves stalkless with an arrow-
shaped base. Flowers usually greenish white or yellowish white and quite
small. Pods (Fig. 117C) erect and closely pressed against the stem, 5-10 cm
long. Not particularly plentiful; in waste places and fields; throughout the
Prairie Provinces and quite common in the Cypress Hills.

Arabis hirsuta (L.) Scop. hirsute rock cress

An erect simple-stemmed species 30-60 cm high, either smooth or hairy-
stemmed, with leaves coarsely hairy, the basal ones forming a rosette, the stem
leaves stalkless and clasping. Flowers white or greenish white. The fairly erect
pods are 2-5 cm long. Not plentiful; on dry, rocky places; throughout the
Prairies and Parklands. A form with larger flowers, about 2 cm across, and
only the lower part of the plant very coarsely pubescent, is var. glabrata T. &
G. Southern Rocky Mountains.

Arabis lemmonii Wats.

Perennial plants with branching caudex, 5-30 cm high; pubescent, with
branching hairs. Basal leaves spatulate; stem leaves oblong-lanceolate. The
common form, var. drepanoloba (Greene) Rollins, usually 20-30 cm high, and
with pods 3-5 cm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide. Not common; alpine areas; south-
western Rocky Mountains.

Arabis lyallii Wats.

Perennial plants with branching caudex, few to several glabrous stems,
5-25 cm high. Basal leaves oblanceolate, glabrous or pubescent. Alpine areas;
Rocky Mountains.

Arabis lyrata L. var. kamchatica Fisch. lyre-leaved rock cress

A native, tufted perennial or biennial plant 10-30 cm high, with lyrately
lobed basal leaves and linear to spatulate stem leaves. Flowers usually white

395

but occasionally pinkish. Found sparingly; on sandy soils in lightly forested
areas; Boreal forest.

Arabis nuttallii Robins.

Perennial plants with several to many stems from a branching caudex,
5-30 cm high, glabrous above, usually hirsute below. Alpine areas; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Arabis retrofracta Graham reflexed rock cress

A biennial or perennial 10-60 cm high, with one or several stems from the
base, usually with appressed hairs. Leaves usually covered with fine hairs, the
lower leaves forming a rosette and the stem leaves often clasping the stem.
Flowers purplish pink to white and borne in a terminal raceme. Pods usually
straight, 2-6 cm long. Common; dry slopes, open areas; Prairies and Park-
lands. The var. collinsii (Fern.) Boiv. is similar, but has long spreading hairs at
the base of the stem instead of appressed hairs as in the typical variety; similar
locations. The var. multicaulis Boiv. is many-stemmed and has basal leaves
about twice as long as the stem leaves; pods somewhat longer and wider.
Western Parklands, Rocky Mountains.

Armoracia horse-radish

Armoracia rusticana P. Gaertner, B. Meyer & Scherb. horse-radish

Perennial plants with stems 20-100 cm high, glabrous, much-branched.
Basal leaves 10^40 cm long, crenate. Flowers white, 10-15 mm across. Intro-
duced; cultivated for its roots for making table relish; occasionally escaped
and established along roadsides and in moist areas.

Barbarea winter cress

Barbarea orthoceras Ledeb. American winter cress

A smooth-stemmed biennial 20-50 cm high. Leaves alternate and usually
lyrate with one or two pairs of narrow lobes and a large terminal lobe on each
leaf. Streams and wet places; in the Cypress Hills, Rocky Mountains, Boreal
forest. Plants with large flowers 10-15 mm across and the beak of the pod 2-3
mm long are B. vulgaris R. Br., an introduced species.

Berteroa hoary-alyssum

Berteroa incana (L.) DC. HOARY-ALYSSUM

A starry-haired plant 30-60 cm high, with numerous lanceolate leaves
10-25 mm long. Flowers about 3 mm across with white deeply notched petals.
Pods starry-hairy, broadly oval, about 6 mm long. An introduced weed
reported at various localities across the Prairies and Parklands.

Brassica mustard

1. Pods with a large flat or angled beak,

often containing a seed 2

396

Pods with a slender round or conical beak

without seeds 3

2. Pods densely pubescent; the beak usually

longer than the body B. hirta

Pods glabrous; the beak half as long as

the body B. kaber

3. Upper stem leaves cordate and clasping B. campestris

Upper stem leaves cuneate at the base,

not clasping B.juncea

Brassica campestris L. BIRD- rape

Annual or biennial plants 40-80 cm high. Inflorescence not elongating,
the opened flowers overtopping the buds; pods 3-7 cm long, with seeds red-
dish brown to blackish. Introduced; occasionally grown for seed; weedy in
several areas. Plants in which the inflorescence elongates have been distin-
guished as B. napus L.

Brassica hirta Moench white mustard

Annual plants 30-70 cm high, more or less pubescent. Flowers about 2 cm
across; pods about 3 cm long, spreading, hirsute, with seeds yellowish to pale
brown. Occasionally grown for seed; rare as a weed.

Brassica juncea (L.) Cosson Indian mustard

An annual erect, weedy plant 30-100 cm high, with almost hairless
smooth stems and leaves. Lower leaves lyrate-pinnatifid with a large end lobe,
stalked, 10-15 cm long; upper leaves slightly stalked and often not lobed,
much smaller. Flowers 10-15 mm across, yellow; pods 2-5 cm long, with a
conic beak. Introduced, common; in grainfields and waste places; throughout
the Prairies and Parklands.

Brassica kaber (DC.) L. C. Wheeler wild mustard

A more or less hirsute annual 20-80 cm high; the lower leaves usually
lyrate-pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe large, rounded. Flowers 10-15 mm
across; pods (Fig. 1 \1K) 2-5 cm long, with the beak half as long as the body
and seeds black or brown. Introduced weed; in waste places and disturbed
areas.

Braya

Braya humilis (C. A. Mey.) Robins.

Perennial plants with several stems arising from the caudex, 5-30 cm high,
more or less pubescent. Basal leaves linear oblanceolate, 1-3 cm long, thickish,
entire or somewhat toothed; stem leaves smaller, distant. Flowers white or
purplish-tinged, 6-10 mm across; pods 1-3 cm long, cylindric, pubescent,
swollen at intervals. Gravelly or sandy areas; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.
A very variable species, in which several varieties have been described that
overlap in characters.

397

Camelina false flax

Introduced annual or winter-annual weeds, with small yellow flowers and
long-stalked obovoid (or pear-shaped) pods containing numerous seeds, which
have a very short dormant period.

1. Stems and leaves hairy; lower leaves not

stalked C. microcarpa

Stems and leaves smooth or slightly hairy;

lower leaves with stalks 2

2. Lower leaves entire C. sativa

Lower leaves dentate or lobed C. dentata

Camelina dentata Pers. FLAT-SEEDED FALSE FLAX

Stem erect and smooth, 30-50 cm high. Lower leaves lobed, with winged
stalks, 35-70 mm long; upper leaves smaller and entire. Flowers yellow; pod
obovoid, 5-10 mm long. An introduced weed; sometimes found in grainfields
and waste places.

Camelina microcarpa Andrz. small-seeded false flax

A densely hairy plant 30-50 cm high. Leaves stalkless, with simple starry
hairs. Flowers yellow; pods ovoid, to 5 mm long. An introduced weed, fairly
common; in grainfields and waste places.

Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz false flax

An introduced annual or winter annual 30-100 cm high, with a few hairs
on the lower leaves and the lower part of the stem. Upper leaves stalkless and
clasping; lower ones tapering to a winged stalk. Flowers yellow, about 3 mm
across; pods (Fig. MID) 5-10 mm long, ovoid, containing about 10 seeds.
Introduced from Europe, found occasionally; a weed in grainfields and waste
places.

Capsella shepherd's-purse

Capsella burs a -past oris (L.) Medic. (Fig. 118) shepherd'S-purse

An introduced annual or winter-annual plant, with branched stems 15-50
cm high. Basal leaves forming a rosette and often deeply cut and lobed; stem
leaves usually clasping with ears at the base. Flowers in terminal racemes,
small and white. The seedpods (Fig. M1E) are characteristic of this species;
they resemble an inverted triangle, the flat base uppermost and notched, each
pod containing about 20 seeds. An introduced weed, common; in gardens and
waste places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Cardamine bitter cress

1. Stem leaves entire or dentate, not lobed

or divided 2

Stem leaves deeply divided to pinnate 3

2. Stem leaves entire C. bellidifolia

Stem leaves coarsely dentate C. bulbosa

398

Fig. 118. ShepherdVpurse, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic.

399

3. Flowers 15-25 mm across C. pratensis

Flowers 3-10 mm across 4

4. Plants perennial, with rootstocks;

inflorescence corymbose, appearing

umbellate; flowers 5-10 mm across C. umbellata

Plants annual or perennial, without root-
stocks; inflorescence elongate; flowers
3-5 mm across 5

5. Stems mostly pubescent at the base; ter-

minal leaflets obovate C. pensylvanica

Stems glabrous throughout; terminal

leaflets linear-oblanceolate C. parviflora

Cardamine bellidifolia L. alpine bitter cress

Perennial plants with branched caudex; stems 3-10 cm high, glabrous.
Flowers 1-5, white. Rare; alpine areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Cardamine bulbosa (Schreb.) BSP. spring cress

Perennial plants with a fleshy bulb; stem solitary, 15-30 cm high; leaves
mostly coarsely toothed. Rare; wet areas; southeastern Boreal forest.

Cardamine parviflora L. SMALL BITTER CRESS

Annual or biennial plants; stems usually solitary, 10-30 cm high, simple
to branched, glabrous. Flowers about 4 mm across. Rare; dry, usually rocky
areas; southeastern Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Cardamine pensylvanica Muhl. BITTER CRESS

A biennial or short-lived perennial plant 10-50 cm high. Leaves very
deeply pinnately lobed with 2-8 pairs of lateral segments and a larger terminal
segment. Stem usually bearing a few scattered hairs. Flowers small and white.
Fruits linear pods 10-30 mm long. Uncommon; in wet or very moist places;
Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills. Syn.: C. scutata Thunb.

Cardamine pratensis L. meadow bitter cress

A hairless perennial 20-50 cm high, with deeply pinnately lobed leaves
and white or pink flowers 15-25 mm across. Rare; a plant of bogs and swampy
places; Boreal forest, Peace River. Mostly represented by var. angustifolia
Hook., with stem leaves narrow, not decurrent.

Cardamine umbellata Greene mountain cress

Perennial with rootstocks; stems erect, 20-50 cm high, glabrous or nearly
so. Flowers 5-10 mm across; pods crowded, 2-2.5 cm long. Rare; wet areas;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Cardaria hoary cress

Introduced perennial weeds spreading by seeds and by running roots pen-
etrating deeply into the soil. Stem leaves alternate and clasping; basal ones

400

with a short stalk. Flowers white in a close raceme. Seedpods varying in shape,
a character useful in distinguishing the species.

1. Pods with downy hairs, globular and

inflated C. pubescens var. elongata

Pods smooth, flattened, not hairy 2

2. Pods heart-shaped at base, not inflated C. draba

Pods somewhat inflated, not heart-shaped

at base C. draba var. repens

Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. heart-podded hoary cress

Perennial from deep running roots, with dense heads of white flowers and
heart-shaped smooth seedpods. Introduced from Europe, found occasionally;
in gardens and shelterbelts; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

The var. repens (Schrenk) O. E. Schulz, lens-podded hoary cress, is similar
to the species, but with seedpods slightly inflated and almost round instead of
heart-shaped. Introduced, probably from Afghanistan; found in the same
locations as the species.

Cardaria pubescens (Meyer) Rollins var. elongata Rollins

GLOBE-PODDED HOARY CRESS

Plants similar to C. draba, but with leaves more hoary in appearance and
seedpods globular, inflated with fine, downy hairs. Apparently introduced
from Asia, becoming quite common; in gardens and shelterbelts and some-
times in fields and roadsides; southern part of the Prairie Provinces.

Cochlearia scurvy-grass

Cochlearia officinalis L. scurvy-grass

Annual plants of very variable size, 1-40 cm high; basal leaves reniform,
usually fleshy, glabrous. Flowers white, with petals 3-7 mm long; silicle ovoid
to globose, 4-7 mm long. Shores and beaches. Rare; Hudson Bay.

Conringia hare's-ear mustard

Conringia orientalis (L.) Dum. hare'S-ear mustard

An introduced annual or winter-annual weed with taproots and a per-
fectly smooth stem 15-60 cm high. Seedling leaves round, on stalks, but subse-
quent leaves clasping and elliptical, entire, eared at the base, quite smooth,
and the whole plant covered with a bluish bloom. Flowers creamy white,
about 6 mm across. Pods (Fig. W1F) narrow, 4-angled, erect, 7-10 cm long.
Common; roadside and field weed.

Descurainia tansy mustard

Annuals or biennials from taproots, usually with much-dissected leaves,
yellow flowers, and long narrow seedpods.

401

1. Both upper and lower leaves 2 or 3 times

divided 3

Upper leaves simply pinnate 2

2. Seeds in 1 row in each compartment of

pod; pods erect and closely pressed to

the stem; plant grayish D. richardsonii

Seeds in 2 rows in each compartment of

pod; pods divergent from stem D. pinnata var. brachycarpa

3. Pubescence of simple hairs; plants

glandular D. sophioides

Pubescence of mostly stellate hairs; plants

not glandular D. sophia

Descurainia pinnata (Walt.) Britt. var. brachycarpa (Richards.) Fern.

SHORT-FRUITED TANSY MUSTARD

Annual plants 20-60 cm high, erect, with a hairy and glandular stem.
Leaves dark green; the upper ones pinnate and the lower ones often 2 or 3
times divided, glandular. Flowers yellow. Pods somewhat club-shaped, 5-12
mm long, on stalks 8-15 mm long. Not very common; has been found in
southern part of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Sophia brachycarpa (Richards.)
Rydb.

Descurainia richardsonii (Sweet) O. E. Schulz GRAY tansy mustard

Tall, erect biennial plants 30-90 cm high, with pinnate leaves, sometimes
doubly pinnate. Whole plant covered with very fine hairs, giving it a grayish
appearance. Flowers small, pale yellow. Pods small, 5-10 mm long, tightly
compressed against stem, and crowded. Common; in fields and waste places;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Sophia richardsonii (Sweet) Rydb.

Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb. flixweed

An annual or biennial, branched, with all leaves 2 or 3 times dissected,
and with some star-like hairs. Flowers yellow. Pods linear, 10-30 mm long, on
stalks 6-12 mm long, and borne at an angle from the stem. An introduced
weed, which has become very common; in fields, waste places, and even on
prairie land; one of the commonest weeds in Western Canada. Syn.: Sophia
multifida Gilib.

Descurainia sophioides (Fisch.) O. E. Schulz northern flixweed

Much like D. sophia, but brighter green and glandular. Inflorescence tar-
dily elongating. Pods sickle-shaped, irregularly spreading to erect. Dry gravel
beds; Hudson Bay. Syn.: Sisymbrium sophioides Fisch.

Diplotaxis sand-rocket

Diplotaxis muralis (L.) DC. sand-rocket

Annual plants, branched from base, 30-60 cm high. Stems leafy only near
the base, with oblanceolate lobed leaves 5-10 cm long, usually with a slender
stalk. Flowers yellow. Pods 20-25 mm long with a short beak, on stalks 10-15
mm long. Introduced from Europe, but occasionally found; in waste places;
throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

402

Draba whitlow-grass

Low tufted plants, usually with a rosette of basal leaves, scapose or with a
few stem leaves. Flowers small, white or yellow, usually in racemes. Pods (Fig.
1 \1G) either oval or linear and flat, with seeds in 2 rows in each cell.

1. Flowering stems with 2 or more leaves 2

Flowering stems leafless, or at most with a

reduced leaf. 12

2. Flowers white 3

Flowers yellow 10

3. Stem leaves all or mostly opposite D. reptans var. micrantha

Stem leaves alternate 4

4. Stem leaves numerous, usually 6-25 D. incana

Stem leaves usually not more than 3-8 5

5. Pods glabrous 6

Pods pubescent 7

6. Basal leaves 1-2 cm long, narrowly lan-

ceolate; pedicels ascending D. hirta

Basal leaves 1-4 cm long, obovate to

oblanceolate; pedicels spreading D. stenoloba

7. Stems often with only 1 leaf; leaves ciliate

toward the base D. cinerea

Stems usually with 3-5 leaves; leaves not

ciliate 8

8. Pubescence, including that of the pods, of

stellate hairs D. lanceolata

Pubescence of the pods of simple or 2-

forked hairs 9

9. Pods mostly 10-15 mm long, linear, about

2 mm wide D. praealta

Pods mostly 7-10 mm long, lanceolate,

about 3 mm wide D. mccallae

10. Stem leaves usually numerous, often

10-15 D.aurea

Stem leaves usually 1-5 1 1

11. Plants annual; pedicels 1.5-4 times as

long as the pod D. nemorosa

Plants biennial or perennial; pedicels half

as long as the pod D. stenoloba

12. Plants annual; inflorescence short, with

stems flexuous; pods 10-15 mm long D. reptans var. micrantha

Plants biennial or perennial; inflorescence
elongate; pods usually less than 10 mm
long 13

13. Flowers white 14

Flowers yellow 17

403

14. Leaves ciliate, at least toward the base 15

Leaves densely stellate throughout, not

ciliate D. nivalis

15. Plants densely stellate, pubescent

throughout D. cinerea

Plants not densely pubescent 16

16. Basal leaves rather thick, oblong-spatu-

late, subglabrous D. crassifolia

Basal leaves oblong-obovate, usually

sparsely pubescent, not thick D. fladnizensis

17. Basal leaves glabrous, but ciliate toward

the tip D. crassifolia

Basal leaves more or less pubescent, at

least below 18

18. Stems glabrous; leaves very narrow,

mostly less than 1 mm,

stellate-pubescent D. oligosperma

Stems pubescent; leaves mostly 1 mm

wide or wider 19

19. Leaf margins conspicuously long-ciliate,

pubescent with long tangled hairs D. stenopetala

Leaf margins not long-ciliate 20

20. Pubescence of simple or forked hairs D. alpina

Pubescence mostly of stellate hairs D. incerta

Draba alpina L. alpine whitlow-grass

Plants with a dense rosette, the leaves elliptic-lanceolate, densely pubes-
cent, entire. Scape to 20 cm high, slightly elongating in fruit. Flowers 6—10 mm
across, bright yellow; pods glabrous. Open places in rocky arctic tundra;
Boreal forest, Manitoba.

Draba aurea Vahl golden whitlow-grass

Plants with basal rosettes and erect or decumbent leafy stems. Stem leaves
entire or somewhat dentate. Flowers 8-12 mm across, yellow; pods 8-16 mm
long, puberulent, often twisted. Open forest and alpine meadows; Rocky
Mountains. Plants with glabrous pods are var. leiocarpa (Payson & St. John) C.
L. Hitchc.

Draba cinerea Adams

Plants densely stellate-pubescent in all parts; stems 5-25 cm high, with
1-4 stem leaves. Flowers 6-10 mm across; pods 4-8 mm long, inflated. Sandy
or gravelly areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Draba crassifolia R. C. Graham thick-lea ved whitlow-grass

Dwarf perennial plants with dense rosettes; leaves rather thick, sparsely
pubescent. Stems usually leafless, 5-15 cm high, glabrous. Flowers 4-6 mm
across, with the petals little larger than the sepals; pods 4^7 mm long, glab-
rous. Alpine meadows and scree fields; southern Rocky Mountains.

404

Draba fladnizensis Wulf.

Small, often dwarf perennials, with stems rarely more than 10 cm high.
Stem leaves 0-2; basal leaves oblong-obovate, glabrous except the ciliate mar-
gins. Inflorescence 2- to 10-flowered; flowers 5-8 mm across; pods 5-7 mm
long. Arctic and alpine, usually stony areas; Boreal forest, southern Rocky
Mountains.

Draba hirta L. hairy whitlow-grass

Plants with stems to 25 cm high, and 1-4 stem leaves, usually unbranched.
Basal leaves to 2 cm long, narrowly lanceolate, subentire, ciliate, and more or
less densely stellate-pubescent. Flowers 6-10 mm across, creamy white or light
yellow; pods 6-12 mm long, glabrous, often somewhat twisted. Gravelly
shores and riverbanks; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Draba incana L.

Plants biennial or short-lived perennial; stems to 35 cm high, erect, simple
or branched, with 6-25 stem leaves. Basal leaves 1-2.5 cm long, pubescent
with simple or branched hairs. Stem, stem leaves, and inflorescence stellate-pu-
bescent. Flowers 6-10 mm across, white; pods 6-10 mm long, often somewhat
twisted. Dry gravel beds; Boreal forest, Manitoba.

Draba incerta Payson

Loosely tufted perennial; scapes 2-10 cm high, often with a reduced leaf
below the first flower, pubescent with branched hairs. Leaves linear-oblanceo-
late, stellate-pubescent below. Flowers 8-10 mm across, yellow; pods 5-10 mm
long, pubescent. Alpine meadows and slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Draba lanceolata Royle

Plants perennial, with leafy simple or branched stems 5-25 cm high,
pubescent; basal leaves 1-3 cm long, stem leaves 5-25 mm long, dentate,
pubescent with stellate or bushy hairs. Flowers 6-10 mm across, white; pods
4-12 mm long, often twisted, pubescent. Meadows and slopes; Rocky Moun-
tains.

Draba mccallae Rydb.

Plants to 25 cm high, with 3-5 or sometimes more stem leaves. Stem long
pilose below; leaves stellate pubescent. Flowers 6-10 mm across; pods 7—10
mm long, densely puberulent. Meadows, slopes, and gravel banks; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Draba nemorosa L. yellow whitlow-grass

A low plant, 10-30 cm high, branching from the rosette of basal leaves.
Flowers pale yellow, occasionally fading to white; pods 6-8 mm long, on oval
stalks 6-20 mm long. Fairly common; throughout southern part of the Prairie
Provinces. The var. leiocarpa Lindbl. differing from the type by having smooth
pods (Fig. 1 17(7) and being probably more plentiful, especially in the northern
and eastern parts. Both the species and the variety flowering quite early in the
spring. Syn.: D. lutea Gilib.

405

Draba nivalis Liljeb.

Perennial plants with rosettes on the caudex branches; leaves densely stel-
late-pubescent, with branched hairs mixed in. Stems 2-10 cm high, leafless or
with a single reduced leaf. Flowers 5-10 mm across, white. In var. nivalis, the
pods less than 1 cm long, flat to slightly twisted; rock outcrops; Boreal forest
and southern Rocky Mountains; in var. elongata Wats., the pods 10-15 mm
long, and conspicuously twisted; alpine areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Draba oligosperma Hook. few-seeded whitlow-grass

Small perennials with rosettes on the caudex branches. Scapes 1-10 cm
high; flowers 6-10 mm across, yellow; pods 3-5 mm long, ovate, pubescent to
glabrous. Rocky alpine areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Draba praealta Greene

Biennial or perennial plants with stems 10-30 cm high, and compact
rosettes. Basal leaves 1-3 cm long, entire or somewhat dentate, densely pubes-
cent with branched hairs. Stem leaves 2-6, densely pubescent. Flowers 4—8
mm across, white; pods 8-15 mm long, soft pubescent. Slopes and rocky areas;
Rocky Mountains.

Draba reptans (Lam.) Fern. var. micrantha (Nutt.) Fern.

CREEPING WHITLOW-GRASS

A small plant 2-15 cm high, with a leafy stem. Leaves usually 8-20 mm
long. White flowers, 4-6 mm across, but often without petals; pods linear, 8-12
mm long, clustered near the top of the stem, usually covered with fine, stiff
hairs. Flowering in early June. Not common; has been found in disturbed
sandy areas; Prairies.

Draba stenoloba Ledeb.

Biennial or perennial plants 5-30 cm high, with stems arising from a sim-
ple caudex, glabrous above, somewhat pubescent below, with 1-4 pubescent
leaves. Basal leaves 1^4 cm long, denticulate, stiffly pubescent. Flowers 6-10
mm across, yellow; pods 8-20 mm long. Alpine slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains. Plants with the pubescence mostly of simple hairs and the stem
coarsely pilose are var. nana (Schulz) C. L. Hitchc; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Draba stenopetala Trautv.

Perennial mat-forming plants with leafless stems 1-6 cm high; leaves
crowded, linear to linear-oblanceolate, the margins ciliate with simple or
branched hairs, pubescent below with simple or branched hairs. Flowers 5-9
mm across, light yellow; pods 3-5 mm long, ovate, pubescent to subglabrous.
Alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains. Syn.: D. paysonii Macbr. var.
treleasii (Schulz) C. L. Hitchc.

Eruca rocket

Eruca sativa L. garden-rocket

Annual plants, with stems 20-100 cm high; leaves lyrate-pinnatifid, with
the terminal lobe large, and 2-5 pairs of lateral lobes. Flowers 30-40 mm

406

across, whitish or yellowish, purplish-veined; pods 12-25 mm long. Intro-
duced; occasionally escaped from cultivation.

Erucastrum dog mustard

Erucastrum gallicum (Willd.) O. E. Schulz DOG MUSTARD

An annual plant 20-50 cm high, erect, with stem hairs pointing down-
ward. Leaves deeply cut, often to the midrib, making them appear pinnate,
and often deeply lobed. Leaves varying to 25 cm long. Flowers pale yellow;
pods 25-40 mm long, linear, circular in cross section, on a short stalk tipped
with a slender style, with one row of seeds in each compartment. An intro-
duced weed; in grainfields; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Erysimum treacle mustard

Annual or biennial plants with leafy stems and 2-branched hairs, yellow
flowers and linear 4-angled seedpods with seeds in one row in each compart-
ment.

1. Flowers large, 2.-4 cm across, purple E. pallassii

Flowers smaller, yellow 2

2. Petals longer than 10 mm E. asperum

Petals shorter than 10 mm 2

3. Stalks of seedpods almost half as long as

pods E. cheiranthoides

Stalks of seedpods not one-quarter as

long as pods , 4

4. Pubescence mostly or entirely of 2-

branched hairs E. inconspicuum

Pubescence mostly or entirely of stellate

hairs E. hieracifolium

Erysimum asperum (Nutt.) DC. (Fig. 1 19) western wallflower

A rough, usually erect plant 20-60 cm high, often much branched and
coarse, with appressed small white hairs. Flowers pale yellow, 10-15 mm
across; pods 3-10 cm long, narrow, rough, and 4-angled, with a short, thick
style at the end, and a very short, stout stalk. Spreading out considerably from
the stem in all directions. Common; on light and sandy soil; in Prairies, rare in
Parklands. Syn.: Cheirinia aspera (Nutt.) Rydb.

Erysimum cheiranthoides L. wormseed mustard

An erect plant 20-60 cm high, with lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate dark
green leaves 2-10 cm long. Flowers yellow and small, about 5 mm across, in
dense terminal clusters 2-3 cm across. Seedpods linear, 10-25 mm long, on
slender stalks 6-12 mm long. Not common; a weedy plant found in moist
places and fields; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Cheirinia
cheiranthoides (L.) Link.

407

Fig. 119. Western wallflower, Erysimum asperum (Nutt.) DC.

408

Erysimum hieracifolium L. GRAY rocket

Biennial or perennial plants 30-80 cm high; leaves linear or oblong, wavy-
dentate, greenish gray. Flowers 15-20 mm across; pods 30-55 mm long, 4-an-
gled. Rare, introduced weed; southeastern Parklands.

Erysimum inconspicuum (S. Wats.) MacM. small-flowered prairie-rocket

An erect grayish green perennial 20-50 cm high, and not much branched.
Leaves narrow, 2-8 cm long, the lower ones having stalks but the upper ones
stalkless. Yellow flowers about 6 mm across, on the top of the stem. Linear
seedpods 2-6 cm long on a very short stalk and borne erect on the stem. Com-
mon; on dry and sandy prairie; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: E.
parviflorum Nutt.

Erysimum pallassii (Pursh) Fern. purple rocket

Biennial plants 10-20 cm high, with numerous linear leaves. Pods 6-10
cm long, ascending. Shale and gravel slides; southern Rocky Mountains.

Eutrema

Eutrema edwardsii R. Br.

Rhizomatous perennial to 40 cm high, with rather fleshy ovate to orbicu-
lar leaves, truncate to cordate at the base. Flowers 5-8 mm across; pods 6-20
mm long, linear to oblong, erect or appressed. Arctic and alpine tundra;
Boreal forest, southern Rocky Mountains.

Halimolobos

Halimolobos virgata (Nutt.) O. E. Schulz

Perennial plants 15-40 cm high, much resembling Arabis ssp., densely
pubescent with branched and stellate hairs. Flowers 4-8 mm across, white;
pods 1-3 cm long, round, slightly constricted between the seeds, strongly
ascending. Dry grasslands; western Prairies.

Hesperis rocket

Hesperis matronalis L. DAME'S-ROCKET

A tall perennial species with erect stems 30-100 cm high, simple or
branched above. Leaves simple oblong- to ovate-lanceolate, dentate, pubes-
cent on both sides. Flowers 3-5 cm across, purple, fragrant; pods 5-10 cm
long, linear, ascending or spreading. Introduced ornamental, occasionally
escaped and established; in tree groves or shrubbery.

Hymenolobus

Hymenolobus procumbens (L.) Nutt.

Small annual or biennial plants 3-30 cm high, with stems procumbent or
erect. Lower leaves entire to deeply lyrate-pinnatifid; stem leaves entire,
pubescent throughout with sparse simple hairs. Inflorescence many-flowered,

409

the flowers 3-6 mm across; petals white, spatulate, the same length as or some-
what exceeding the sepals; pods 1.5-5 mm long, elliptic to obovate, with the
valves translucent. Very rare; wet, often saline areas; Hudson Bay, Prairies.
Syn.: Hutchinsia procumbens (L.) Desv.

Lepidium pepper-grass

Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or pubescent with simple hairs.
Inflorescence in dense, bractless racemes; flowers small, usually with whitish
petals, or apetalous. Fruit a silicle, strongly flattened at right angles to the sep-
tum, orbicular to ovate or obovate; seeds one in each locule. Weedy plants of
roadsides, waste places, and disturbed areas.

1. Upper leaves with a sagittate or cordate-

clasping base 2

Upper leaves tapering at the base 3

2. Auricles of the leaf base acute, much

shorter than the leaf blade; lower

leaves similar to the upper leaves L. campestre

Auricles of the leaf base rounded, about
the same length as the leaf blade; lower
leaves pinnate L. perfoliatum

3. Silicle not notched at the apex; perennial

plant L. latifolium

Silicle notched at the apex; annual plant 4

4. Silicle 5-7 mm long, distinctly winged;

stamens 6; petals 2 mm long L. sativum

Silicle 2-A mm long, not winged; stamens

2 or 4; petals minute or none 5

5. Plants with short axillary racemes as well

as terminal ones; petals linear, shorter

than the sepals L. ramosissimum

Plants with elongated terminal racemes;

petals none or rudimentary 6

6. Silicles oval or elliptic-ovate, gradually

narrowed toward the apical teeth;

basal leaves bipinnatifid L. ruderale

Silicles round-cordate or round-obovate,
rounded at the apex; basal leaves at
most pinnatifid L. densiflorum

Lepidium campestre (L.) R. Br. pepperwort

An annual or biennial species, with simple or branched stems 20-50 cm
high, grayish green, densely pubescent. Basal leaves entire or lyrate; lower
stem leaves petiolate, the upper ones clasping the stem with sagittately lobed
leaves. Flowers about 3 mm across, white; silicle about 5 mm long. Rare;
introduced weed, roadsides, railway grades; western Prairies.

410

Lepidium densiflorum Schrad. common pepper-grass

An annual or winter annual with erect stem, much branched above, 15-60
cm high. Stem leaves lanceolate, with a few coarse teeth; basal leaves often
deeply incised and divided. Flowers minute, with petals missing or very rudi-
mentary. Seedpods borne on short stalks and very numerous on the stem, the
spike of pods often 10-15 cm long; each pod about 2-3 mm wide, heart-
shaped with a notch at the top, and containing a single seed in each compart-
ment. Common; in fields, waste places, and roadsides; throughout the Prairie
Provinces. Syn.: L. apetalum A. Gray. Plants with flattened pedicels and some
axillary racemes are var. bourgeauanum (Thell.) C. L. Hitchc.

Lepidium latifolium L. broad-leaved pepper-grass

Tall plants 50-100 cm high, with a thick, branching rootstock, glabrous or
nearly so. Basal leaves petiolate, to 30 cm long; stem leaves subsessile, much
reduced. Racemes numerous in a large panicle; flowers about 3 cm across,
with the sepals white-margined. Very rare; introduced weed; southwestern
Prairies.

Lepidium perfoliatum L. perfoliate pepper-grass

An annual weed with a stem much branched and bushy above, 20-50 cm
high. Basal leaves pale green, very finely dissected and divided; subsequent
leaves more entire, the upper ones entire with a pointed end and a cordate to
entirely clasping base. Flower terminal in racemes and very small with yellow
petals. Numerous seedpods about 3 mm long, oval, and containing a seed in
each compartment. When growing, the plants have a reddish tinge to the
leaves, which, with the yellow petals, makes them easy to notice. An intro-
duced weed, common in dry areas of western USA but rare in Canada; west-
ern Prairies.

Lepidium ramosissimum A. Nels. branched pepper-grass

An annual or biennial, very similar to L. densiflorum, but branched
diffusely from the base, and with white petals shorter than the sepals. Seed-
pods rather pointed at the notched apex, whereas in L. densiflorum the pods
are more rounded. Probably fairly common throughout southern part of area,
but distinction between the two species is obscure.

Lepidium ruderale L. roadside pepper-grass

Annual or biennial with a single erect or ascending stem, 10-30 cm high,
sparsely pubescent. Basal leaves 5-7 cm long, long-petioled, pinnatifid to
bipinnatifid. Flowers about 1.5 mm across; silicle 2-2.5 mm long, deeply
notched. Introduced weed, rare; southeastern Parklands.

Lepidium sativum L. garden cress

Annual with a single erect stem, glabrous. Basal leaves long-petioled,
lyrate, with the lobes toothed; upper stem leaves linear, entire. Flowers 3-5
mm across; silicle 5-6 mm long, deeply notched. Introduced, occasionally
escaped from cultivation.

411

Lesquerella bladderpod

Low tufted annual or perennial plants with clustered basal leaves and a
few stem leaves. Plants with starry hairs. Flowers perfect, in racemes, yellow or
purple. Seedpods (Fig. 1 17//) inflated, globose or oval, with 2 to many seeds in
each compartment.

1. Pods ovate; plants densely tufted; flowers

bright yellow L. alpina var. spathulata

Pods globose; plants not densely tufted;

flowers reddish yellow 2

2. Pedicels ascending in fruit; pods glabrous

or nearly so L. arctica

Pedicels recurved in fruit; pods densely

pubescent L. ludoviciana var. arenosa

Lesquerella alpina (Nutt.) S. Wats. var. spathulata (Rydb.) Payson

SPATULATE BLADDERPOD

A deep-rooted tufted perennial 5-15 cm high, with several stems. Numer-
ous basal leaves 1-3 cm long; very few linear stem leaves. Flowers yellow,
about 6 mm across; pods ovoid, very slightly compressed. Not common; dry
hillsides and badlands; Prairies, southern Rocky Mountains.

Lesquerella arctica (Wormsk.) Wats. northern bladderpod

Small plants with spatulate or oblanceolate basal leaves. Flowers long-
pedicellate, yellow; pods on straight pedicels, 1-2 cm long. Gravelly areas;
Hudson Bay. Plants with the pods scurfy and few white stellate hairs are var.
purshii Wats.; southern Rocky Mountains.

Lesquerella ludoviciana (Nutt.) Wats. var. arenosa (Rich.) Wats. (Fig. 120)

SAND BLADDERPOD

A very slender stemmed spreading and decumbent plant 5-30 cm across,
with mostly basal linear-oblanceolate leaves. Flowers dull yellow or reddish-
tinged, about 6 mm across. Pods globose (Fig. 117//), 3-5 mm across, on
curved stalks. Common; on dry hillsides and prairie; throughout the southern
part of the Prairie Provinces, not necessarily on sandy soil, specimens having
been collected on Regina Plains.

Neslia ball mustard

Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv. ball mustard

A tall erect annual or winter annual 30-60 cm high, on much-branched
stems. The whole plant is pale yellowish green, with starry hairs. Lower leaves
somewhat stalked and lanceolate; stem leaves arrow-shaped and clasping the
stems at the base. Flowers small, orange yellow, about 3 mm across, and clus-
tered on the ends of the stems. Fruit pods (Fig. 117/) in long racemes, small,
round, about 2 mm long. Pods usually contain only 1 seed and remain on the
seed when ripe. Introduced from Europe, a weed of crop lands and waste
places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

412

Fig. 120. Sand bladderpod, Lesquerella ludoviciana (Nutt.) Wats. var. arenosa
(Rich.) Wats.

413

Physaria bladderpod

Physaria didymocarpa (Hook.) Gray twin bladderpod

A tufted perennial with dense rosettes and several stems 5-15 cm long.
Rosette leaves broadly obovate or spatulate, \-4 cm wide, densely silvery stel-
late; stem leaves few and small. Flowers 1-2 cm across, bright yellow; pods 2-
lobed, strongly inflated, often 2 cm or more across; seeds 4 in each locule.
Slopes and rocky areas; Rocky Mountains.

Raphanus radish

Raphanus raphanistrum L. wild radish

An erect annual or winter-annual weed 30-70 cm high. Basal and lower
leaves 10-20 cm long, deeply lobed, with a large terminal lobe; upper leaves
smaller. Flowers yellow with purplish veins, 10-20 mm across. Seedpods (Fig.
1 177) 3-4 cm long, constricted between each seed, and breaking rapidly into 1-
seeded sections when handled. Introduced from Europe, becoming increas-
ingly common; a weed of abandoned fields and waste places; in eastern Prai-
ries and Parklands.

Rapistrum

Rapist rum perenne (L.) All. perennial mustard

A biennial or perennial, with stems 30-80 cm high, densely hispid below,
glabrous above. Lower leaves pinnate, coarsely serrate. Flowers 10-15 mm
across, bright yellow; pods 7-10 mm long, the lower part cylindrical, the upper
part ovoid, strongly ribbed. Introduced, occasional weed; southeastern Park-
lands.

Rorippa yellow cress

1. Creeping-rooted perennials 2

Fibrous-rooted plants without creeping

roots; winter annual or biennial 4

2. Pods not more than 3 times as long as

wide; leaves entire or merely toothed R. austriaca

Pods 4 or more times as long as wide;

leaves dissected or lobed 3

3. Leaves with sharply toothed or incised

divisions R. sylvestris

Leaves with blunt lobes R. sinuata

4. Stems erect, branched above; petals 1.5-2

mm long; sepals 2 mm R. islandica

Stems branched from the base; petals

1.0-1.4 mm long; sepals 1.5 mm R. tenerrima

Rorippa austriaca (Crantz) Besser Austrian cress

A tall-growing introduced perennial 40-90 cm high, with running roots
and smooth stem. Leaves alternate, almost entire or merely toothed, not dis-

414

sected; the lower leaves with stalks and the upper ones without. Flowers yel-
low and small, in racemes. Pods small, almost globular, 2-3 mm long, on stalks
5-15 mm long. An introduced weed found occasionally; in grainfields in Prai-
ries and Parklands, but uncommon at present. However, it should be watched
to prevent its spread.

Rorippa islandica (Oeder) Borbas marsh yellow cress

Native annual or biennial branching plants 20-60 cm high, with deeply
dissected leaves. The lower leaves stalked, 6-15 cm long, and the upper ones
less dissected or lobed and without stalks. Yellow flowers, small, usually less
than 6 mm across. Pods either globose or linear, with two rows of seeds in each
compartment. Authorities have split this species into several varieties, two of
which are common in the Prairie Provinces. The va.r.fernaldiana Butt. & Abbe
with almost or entirely hairless stems and linear to linear-oblong pods 6-9 mm
long. It was formerly called R. palustris (L.) Besser. The var. hispida (Desv.)
Butt. & Abbe has the stem covered with bristly hairs and the pods globose or
oval, not more than 6 mm long. This was formerly known as R. hispida (Desv.)
Britt. Both varieties common on lakeshores, sloughs, and wet places; through-
out the Prairie Provinces.

Rorippa sinuata (Nutt.) Hitchc. spreading yellow cress

A native perennial with smooth stems 10-40 cm high, and cleft or divided
leaves with rather obtuse lobes. Leaves 3-8 cm long. Yellow flowers about 4
mm across. Pods 8-12 mm long, linear-oblong. Not particularly common; but
has been found in several locations throughout the Prairie Provinces as far
north as northern Alberta.

Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Besser creeping yellow cress

An introduced perennial with creeping roots, smooth stem, and pinnate-
ly-divided leaves with sharp-toothed divisions. Yellow flowers 6-8 mm across.
Pods linear, 8-12 mm long, on slender stalks, with 1 row of seeds in each com-
partment. Found in a few isolated places in the Prairie Provinces. Another
potential pest that should be watched to prevent its spread.

Rorippa tenerrima Greene slender cress

An annual species 10-30 cm high; stems numerous from the root crown,
slender, prostrate or erect. Leaves deeply pinnatifid, with the lobes rounded,
sinuately toothed. Wet places; southern Rocky Mountains.

Sisymbrium sisymbrium

1. Pods 1-2 cm long, conical, closely

appressed to the stem S. officinale

Pods 2-10 cm long, linear, spreading or

ascending 2

2. Leaves all or mostly entire, very narrow S. linifolium

Leaves all pinnatifid to pinnate 3

3. Stem with spreading hairs; upper leaves

with narrow, linear divisions; pods

5-10 cm long S. altissimum

415

Stem with reflexed hairs; upper leaves
with lanceolate divisions; pods about 4
cm long S. loeselii

Sisymbrium altissimum L. TUMBLING mustard

An introduced annual or winter-annual weed 30-100 cm high. Basal
leaves a rosette of pale green soft hairy divided leaves; the stem leaves of vari-
ous shapes from deeply lobed or pinnate to entire. Flowers pale yellow, about
8 mm across. Very thin pods 5-10 cm long, each containing over 100 small
light brown seeds. At maturity the plant dries and breaks off, acting as a tum-
bling weed and rolling with the wind, leaving seeds in its wake. A very com-
mon weed; on cultivated land; throughout Prairie Provinces, but more preva-
lent on open plains where it can travel with the wind.

Sisymbrium linifolium Nutt. narrow-leaved mustard

Perennial plants, with much-branched glabrous stems and narrow mostly
entire leaves. Pods spreading, 3-6 cm long. Rare weed, introduced from the
west; western Parklands.

Sisymbrium loeselii L. tall hedge mustard

A tall branched annual weed 40-100 cm high. Lower parts with down-
ward-pointed hairs; upper parts usually smooth. Leaves deeply lobed. Flowers
bright yellow; seedpods linear, 2-4 cm long. Introduced, fortunately not com-
mon; found in disturbed areas; Prairies and Parklands.

Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. hedge mustard

Annual or biennial plants 5-80 cm high, erect, branched above. Lower
leaves petiolate, pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe rounded. Flowers yellow,
4-6 mm across; pods 10-20 mm long, pubescent, or glabrous as in var.
leiocarpum DC. Introduced, not common; a weed of waste areas.

Smelowskia rockcress

Smelowskia calycina (Stephan) C. A. Mey.

var. americana (Regel & Herder) Drury & Rollins silver rockcress

Densely tufted perennial, with branched caudex. Stems 5-20 cm high,
more or less pubescent; leaves pinnately divided, silvery gray pubescent, with
the hairs mostly branched; basal leaf bases ciliate. Flowers white or cream-col-
ored, about 1 cm across; pods 5-10 mm long, linear or narrowly oblong. Rock
slides, stony areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Subularia awl-wort

Subularia aquatica L. water awl-wort

A glabrous annual, with the leaves all basal, 2-7 cm long, terete, awl-
shaped, entire. Flowers 2-12, white; silicle 2-5 mm long. In shallow waters;
eastern Boreal forest.

416

Thellungiella

Thellungiella salsuginea (Pall.) O. E. Schulz mouse-ear cress

An erect divaricately branched annual 10-35 cm high. Stem leaves
oblong-ovate, with rounded auricles. Flowers 6-8 mm across, white; pods
linear, 12-16 mm long, ascending or erect. Saline areas; Prairies and Park-
lands.

Thlaspi pennycress

Thlaspi arvense L. stinkweed

An introduced annual or winter-annual weed 2^10 cm high, with hairless
stems and smooth leaves. Basal leaves stalked and oblanceolate, soon wither-
ing and falling off; stem leaves oblong to lanceolate, eared at the base and
clasping the stems. Flowers small and white, about 3 mm across, in a cluster at
the head of the stem. Pods (Fig. 1 ML) flat, oval, and broadly winged, 6-12 mm
across, deeply notched at the top, on stalks 1-2 cm long. They form large race-
mose clusters, at first bright green but turning yellow or orange when mature.
Seeds purplish chocolate brown, about 1 mm across, and bearing concentric
grooves like a fingerprint on each side. A very common unpleasant-smelling
weed, which when eaten by cattle taints their milk, butter, and meat. Often
flowering and producing seed when only 3-6 cm high in early spring. Because
of its early spring growth, it depletes soil of moisture. In fields and waste
places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

RESEDACEAE — mignonette family

Reseda mignonette

Introduced perennials with lobed or pinnatifid alternate leaves bearing
small glandular stipules. Flowers in narrow racemes, with the stamens on one
side of the flower. Seeds contained in numerous globose capsules.

Petals greenish yellow, 3 or 4 of them divided R. lutea

Petals white, all cleft or divided R. alba

Reseda alba L. white cut-leaved mignonette

An erect hairless plant 30-50 cm high, with deeply cut or pinnate leaves,
and spikes of white flowers. Rarely found, but has been introduced in seeds in
some places.

Reseda lutea L. yellow cut-leaved mignonette

An erect plant, sometimes slightly hairy, 20-60 cm high, with deeply cut
leaves, which have spatulate lobes. Flowers yellowish green in a long spike-like
raceme. Occasionally found as a weed in imported lawn grass seed.

417

DROSERACEAE — sundew family

Perennial bog herbs with basal leaves bearing glandular sticky hairs that
close over insects and entrap them. Flowers in a 1 -sided raceme on an elon-
gated stem, and numerous seeds enclosed in a capsule.

Drosera sundew

1. Leaf blades almost round, broader than

long D. rotundi folia

Leaf blades longer than broad 2

2. Leaf blades spatulate or oblanceolate D. anglica

Leaf blades linear D. linearis

Drosera anglica Huds. oblong-leaved sundew

Leaves sticky-haired, spatulate, 15-25 mm long. Flowers white, on a stem
4-10 cm high. Found in cold bogs; Boreal forest.

Drosera linearis Goldie slender-leaved sundew

Leaves linear, 1-6 cm long. Flowers white, solitary or a few on a stem
4-10 cm high. Rare; in bogs; Boreal forest.

Drosera rotundifolia L. ROUND-LEAVED SUNDEW

Leaves roundish, 6-10 mm long, broader than long, with the upper sur-
face covered with fine glandular insect-catching hairs. Flowers white, about 4
mm wide, on a stem 10-20 cm high. The commonest of the sundews; in moist
swamps and bogs; Boreal forest.

SARRACENIACEAE — pitcherplant family

Sarracenia pitcherplant

Sarracenia purpurea L. pitcherplant

A peculiar and conspicuous bog plant, with pitcher-shaped leaves 10-30
cm long, erect, greenish yellow with purple veins, and hood-like top containing
downward-pointing bristly hairs that trap insects. The hollow lower part of the
leaf usually containing water in which insects drown and are absorbed by the
plant. Flower large, about 5 cm across, nodding, yellow and purple, and borne
on a long stalk 20-50 cm high. Not common; occasionally in cold bogs; in
Boreal forest.

CRASSULACEAE — orpine family

Sedum stonecrop

Succulent or fleshy-leaved perennials with perfect flowers borne in cymes.
They have 4 or 5 sepals and 4 or 5 petals and their numerous seeds are con-

418

tained in follicle-like capsules. Plants of rocky places, usually associated with
mountainous locations.

1. Leaves very thick, less than 3 mm wide 2

Leaves flat, mostly more than 5 mm

wide 4

2. Stem leaves less than 5 mm long, persist-

ent in drying S. acre

Stem leaves about 10 mm long, deciduous

in drying 3

3. Leaves narrowed at the base, not

bulbiferous S. lanceolatum

Leaves broadened at the base, bulbiferous

in upper part of the stem S. stenopetalum

4. Flower parts mostly in 4's; flowers dark

purplish S. rosea

Flower parts mostly in 5's; flowers yellow

or pinkish 5

5. Flowers pinkish red S. telephium

Flowers yellow 6

6. Leaves lanceolate, with the margins

serrate S. aizoon

Leaves spatulate, with the margins den-
tate toward the apex S. hybridum

Sedum acre L. mountain moss

Glabrous, tufted, mat-forming plants with numerous short, sterile shoots,
and flowering stems 5-12 cm high. Leaves 3-6 mm long, elliptic in cross sec-
tion. Flowers about 15 mm across, yellow, in small cymes. Introduced, rarely
escaped from cultivation; dry rocky places.

Sedum aizoon L.

Plants with erect stems 30-40 cm high; leaves 5-8 cm long, lanceolate.
Flowers 15-20 mm across, yellow, in dense compound cymes. Introduced
ornamental, occasionally escaped from cultivation.

Sedum hybridum L.

Plants with creeping woody stems, short sterile shoots, and flowering
stems 15-20 cm high. Leaves 2-3 cm long, oblong-cuneate. Flowers 10-20 mm
across, golden yellow, numerous in terminal corymbs. Introduced ornamental,
and rarely escaped; dry rocky places.

Sedum lanceolatum Torr. lance-leaved stonecrop

Plants mat-forming, with numerous sterile shoots, and flowering stems
5-15 cm high. Leaves 6-15 mm long, linear, round in cross section. Flowers
about 1 cm across, yellow, borne in a terminal cyme. Not common; dry stony
slopes and hillcrests; western Prairies, Cypress Hills.

419

Sedum rosea (L.) Scop. var. integrifolium (Raf.) Berger. ROSE-ROOT

Plants with a thick, fleshy rootstock, fragrant when cut. Flowering stems
5-35 cm high, erect; leaves linear-oblong to orbicular-ovate, entire. Flowers
6-10 mm across, dark purple to dull reddish yellow, borne in a terminal cyme.
Alpine meadows and scree fields; Rocky Mountains.

Sedum stenopetalum Pursh narrow-petaled stonecrop

A low fleshy-leaved tufted perennial, branched, 5-15 cm high. Leaves
round in cross section (terete), 6-15 mm long, usually crowded around the
base, and overlapping. Yellow flowers borne at the head of a stem 5-15 cm
long, fruiting follicles erect and close to the stem. On gravelly slopes and rocky
places; southern Rocky Mountains.

Sedum telephium L. STONECROP

Plants with tuberous roots, usually simple stems 15-60 cm high, with
leaves 2-7 cm long, suborbicular to oblong. Flowers 6-10 mm across, pinkish
to reddish, borne in large terminal corymbs. Introduced, rarely escaped from
cultivation.

SAXIFRAGACEAE — saxifrage family

Shrubs and herbs with opposite or alternate leaves with no stipules. Usu-
ally 5 sepals and 5 petals, and flowers perfect and regular. Stamens 5 or 10.
The fruit usually, but not always, a capsule.

1. Shrubs 2

Herbs 3

2. Fruit a berry; stamens 5 Ribes

Fruit a capsule; stamens 20-40 Philadelphus

3. Petals missing; low plants 4

Petals present 5

4. Leaves reniform, crenate; leaves and

flowers clustered at tip of stem Chrysosplenium

Leaves lanceolate, serrate; flowers in ter-
minal cymes Penthorum

5. Bundles of sterile stamens (staminodia)

alternating with stamens; flowers singly

on long stems „ Parnassia

Sterile stamens not present 6

6. Petals divided 7

Petals entire 8

7. Petals 3- to 5-lobed; leaves deeply lobed

or divided Lithophragma

Petals finely lobed, filament-like; leaves

shallowly to more or less deeply lobed Mitella

8. Inflorescence a simple raceme Conimitella

Inflorescence not a raceme 9

420

9. Stamens 5 10

Stamens 10 1 1

10. Inflorescence a spike-like panicle; root-

stock elongate Heuchera

Inflorescence a loose panicle; rootstock

corm-like Suksdorfia

11. Petals linear, filiform Tiarella

Petals spatulate or wider 12

12. Leaves leathery, 3-8 cm long, glossy

green above Leptarrhena

Leaves not leathery, smaller, not glossy

green 13

13. Flowers pink to purple; leaves reniform;

styles slender, elongate, partly fused Telesonix

Flowers white or yellowish; leaves vari-
ous; styles short, not fused Saxifraga

Chrysosplenium golden saxifrage

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum (Lund) Fries. golden saxifrage

Stems erect, 5-15 cm high, with alternate round leaves. Flowers greenish,
mostly at the end of the stems, with no petals, but the sepals usually orange
yellow inside. Rare; found in wet coniferous forests; Boreal forest. Plants with
outer sepals larger and wider, and 4-8 stamens are often distinguished as C.
iowense Rydb.

Conimitella

Conimitella williamsii (Eat.) Rydb.

Plants with basal leaves only, these reniform, glandular puberulent.
Scapes 15-30 cm high, bearing 5-10 flowers, with white petals 4-5 mm long.
Montane forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Heuchera alumroot

Perennial plants from scaly rootstocks, with broad, rounded cordate or
reniform, stalked, all-basal leaves; the flowers in a narrow panicle on a long
stem. Fruits are capsules opening at top, with spreading beaks.

1. Flowers small; the calyx 2-A mm long 2

Flowers large; the calyx 5-12 mm long 3

2. Panicle open; teeth of the leaves acute H. glabra

Panicle very narrow; teeth of the leaves

rounded H. parvifolia var. dissecta

3. Stamens exserted; the calyx strongly

oblique H. richardsonii

Stamens included; the calyx not strongly

oblique H. cylindrica

All

Heuchera cylindrica Dougl. STICKY alumroot

Plants 20-50 cm high; leaves 2-5 cm long, to 4 cm wide, deeply cordate at
the base, glabrous, 5- to 7-lobed. Inflorescence a narrow panicle; petals
included and inconspicuous or absent; base of the calyx glandular pubescent.
Plants with the leaves crenate, with broad, somewhat mucronate teeth are var.
glabella (T. & C.) Wheelock. Not common; rocky slopes, ledges, and ridges;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Heuchera glabra Willd. alpine alumroot

Leaves ovate to rounded in outline, deeply 5- to 7-lobed, cordate at the
base, sparingly pubescent when young, soon glabrous, 3-10 cm long, almost as
wide as long. Stems 10-60 cm high, with the panicle 5-20 cm long, lax, glandu-
lar puberulent, open. Rare; riverbanks, rock slides; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Heuchera parvifolia Nutt. var. dissecta M. E. Jones small-leaved alumroot

Leaves 15-30 mm broad, rounded cordate, but deeply cleft one-third to
half their length in 7-9 wedge-shaped lobes. The space between the lower
lobes of the leaves is very narrow and the lobes frequently overlap. Flowering
stalk 20-30 cm high; flowers greenish. Found only in southern Rocky Moun-
tains and in Cypress Hills.

Heuchera richardsonii R. Br. (Fig. 121) alumroot

Leaves coarse, basal, rounded cordate with broadly ovate teeth, 2-6 cm
across, dark green. Flowering stalks 30-50 cm high with a few glandular hairs,
especially near the top. Petals purplish, a trifle longer than sepals. Indians and
early settlers chewed the scaly rootstocks of this plant as a cure for diarrhea.
Common; on the prairie, especially in lower or moister places; throughout
Prairies, Parklands, and southern fringe of Boreal forest.

Leptarrhena leather-leaved saxifrage

Leptarrhena pyrifolia (D. Don) R. Br. leather-leaved saxifrage

Plants with creeping or ascending rootstocks. Stems 10-40 cm high, glan-
dular pubescent above, with 1 or 2 clasping leaves. Leaves alternate and rather
crowded on the caudex, 3-8 cm long, glabrous, deep green above, pale green
or brownish below; stem leaves few and distant. Flowers arranged in dense
cymules in a short panicle, whitish or pinkish, 4-5 mm across. Not common;
wet areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Lithophragma starflower

Upper leaf axils usually bearing bulblets L. bulbifera

Upper leaf axils not bearing bulblets L. parviflora

Lithophragma bulbifera Rydb. rockstar

A small plant from bulblet-bearing fibrous rootstocks. Stems erect, 10-20
cm high, glandular hairy. Leaves small, thrice-divided, stalked, 5-10 mm

422

Fig. 121. Alumroot, Heuchera richardsonii R. Br.

423

across; stem leaves usually having several very tiny bulblets in the axils. Flow-
ers white or rose, with petals 3- to 5-cleft, 3-6 mm long. Very uncommon; on
dry hills; southern Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills.

Lithophragma parviflora (Hook.) Nutt. small-flowered rockstar

Plants with more or less densely glandular hairy stems 10-30 cm high.
Basal leaves white pubescent, 3- to 5-lobed to the base, with the divisions ter-
nately divided into entire or toothed segments. Raceme 3- to 9-flowered; the
calyx densely glandular hairy; petals 4-10 mm long, 3- to 5-cleft. Eroded,
gravelly slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Mitella miterwort

1. Petals 3-cleft at the tip, white or purplish M. trifida

Petals pinnatifid or fringed, greenish or

yellow 2

2. Stamens 10; rootstocks creeping, very

slender M. nuda

Stamens 5; rootstocks short, thick 3

3. Stamens opposite sepals; leaves reniform,

obscurely lobed M. breweri

Stamens opposite petals; leaves broadly

cordate, shallowly lobed M. pentandra

Mitella breweri Gray brewer's miterwort

Plants with brown scaly rootstocks, and scapes 10—25 cm high. Leaves 4-8
cm wide, orbicular to reniform, with a deep basal sinus; petioles long pubes-
cent. Petals usually with 3 pairs of filiform divisions. Moist woods; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Mitella nuda L. bishops-cap

A low-growing perennial with scaly rootstocks and long-stalked, mostly
basal, rounded cordate leaves 2-5 cm across. Flowers borne in a raceme on a
stalk 5-20 cm high, 5-6 mm across, with 4 greenish sepals and 5 greenish white
petals, very finely divided and branched, pinnatifid. Fairly common; in cold,
wet woodlands; throughout Rocky Mountains, Boreal forest, and also in the
Cypress Hills.

Mitella pentandra Hook.

Much like M. breweri, but with the petioles glabrous to subglabrous and
the calyx often purplish inside. Mountain forests; Rocky Mountains.

Mitella trifida Graham

Perennials with scaly rootstocks, 1 to several scapes, 10-40 cm high.
Leaves round-reniform to cordate, 2-4 cm wide, 7- to 9-lobed, with the lobes
shallow, rounded, obscurely glandular-toothed, pubescent with white hairs.
Inflorescence a one-sided raceme; the flowers subtended by small, fringed
bracts; petals white, wedge-shaped, 3-cleft. Mountain woods; southern Rocky
Mountains.

424

Parnassia grass-of- Parnassus

Perennials with rootstocks and stalked, entire, basal leaves. Flowers single
on a long stalk, with sometimes a leaf on the stalk, and 5 sepals and 5 white
petals with green veins. There are 5 fertile stamens, alternating with 5 clusters
of gland-tipped infertile stamens termed staminodia. Fruit a 1 -celled capsule
opening at the top.

1. Petals fringed on margins, at least below;

leaves reniform to reniform-cordate P. fimbriata

Petals not fringed; leaves ovate to

cordate 2

2. Petals shorter than, to as long as, the sep-

als; stem leafless or with a leaf at base P. kotzebuei

Petals much larger than sepals; stem

leafless or with a leaf near the middle 3

3. Petals 3 or more times longer than sepals;

stem leafless P. glauca

Petals 1.5 times longer than sepals; stem

bearing 1 leaf near the middle P. palusths var. tenuis

Parnassia fimbriata Konig fringed grass-of-parnassus

Plants with leaves 2-A cm wide, reniform, with a broad sinus. Stems 10-30
cm high, with a single ovate leaf near the middle. Flowers about 20 mm
across; petals 5-nerved. Moist, springy areas and banks; Rocky Mountains.

Parnassia glauca Raf. glaucous grass-of-parnassus

Low plants with broadly ovate basal leaves 2-5 cm long. Flowers white,
strongly veined, 15-30 mm across, and borne singly on stems 20-40 cm high;
3-5 staminodia in each cluster. In cold bogs; Boreal forest. Syn.: P. americana
Muhl.

Parnassia kotzebuei Cham. & Schl. small grass-of-parnassus

Plants about 10 cm high, with leaves ovate or oval and the base rounded
or subcordate. Stem leafless or sometimes with an oval leaf near the base.
Flowers 8-12 mm across; petals 3-nerved. Wet areas, bogs; Boreal forest and
Rocky Mountains.

Parnassia palustris L. var. tenuis Wahl. (Fig. 122)

NORTHERN GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS

Cordate leaves 10-25 mm wide. The flowering stalk 10-30 cm high with a
single clasping stem leaf and at the top the white flower 15-25 mm across. Pet-
als much longer than sepals, distinguishing this variety from var. montanensis.
The most common species of the genus; found in wet shady places; through-
out Boreal forest and less plentiful in favorable sites in Parklands. In var.
montanensis (Fern. & Rydb.) C. L. Hitchc. the petals slightly longer than the
sepals, the plants generally smaller; wet areas; Rocky Mountains. Still smaller
is v&r.parvifiora (DC.) Boiv., usually less than 20 cm high, and with most of the
flowers less than 15 mm across; wet areas; Boreal forest and Rocky Moun-
tains.

425

Fig. 122. Northern grass-of- Parnassus, Pamassia palustris L. var. tenuis
Wahl.

426

Penthorum stonecrop

Penthorum sedoides L. ditch stonecrop

Perennial plants with stems 20-70 cm high arising from a creeping base.
Leaves 5-10 cm long, lanceolate, serrate. Inflorescence terminal, glandular;
flowers 4-6 mm across; petals none, in cymes 2-8 cm long. Rare; shores and
ditches; southeastern Boreal forest.

Philadelphus mock orange

Philadelphus lewisii Pursh mock orange

Shrubs with freely branching stems 1-3 m high; young twigs reddish,
glabrous; leaves 2-6 cm long, ovate-lanceolate, opposite. Flowers showy, fra-
grant, in racemose cymes; 4 or 5 white petals 1-2 cm long; sepals usually 4,
rarely 5, pubescent at the inside of the tips; stamens 20-40. Rare; mountain
slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Ribes currant

Shrubs, with palmately divided and veined leaves, and regular perfect
flowers. Fruit a globose or ovoid pulpy berry. Some plants armed with prick-
les, especially at the nodes of the stem. Fruit edible, but sometimes not very
tasty.

1. Inflorescence a reduced raceme, 1- to 3-

flowered; most of the stems spiny R. oxyacanthoides var. oxyacanthoides

Inflorescence an elongated raceme,

flowers numerous 2

2. Stems densely spiny along the internodes R. lacustre

Stems not spiny, or spines only at the

nodes 3

3. Flowers golden yellow to somewhat red-

dish; leaves rolled in buds R. aureum

Flowers not golden yellow; leaves folded

in buds 4

4. Ovary and fruit more or less densely glan-

dular pubescent 5

Ovary and fruit glabrous, or with a few

sessile glands 7

5. Leaves and young stems glandular

puberulent R. viscosissimum

Leaves and young stems not glandular 6

6. Fruit red, glandular only R. glandulosum

Fruit purplish black, pubescent and

glandular R. laxiflorum

7. Leaves abundantly glandular dotted on

the underside 8

Leaves without glands 9

427

8. Pedicels much longer than the bracts R. hudsonianum

Pedicels much shorter than the bracts R. americanum

9. Lobes ofleaves closely and uniformly ser-

rate from base to tip R. rubrum var. propinquum

Lobes of leaves coarsely dentate above

the middle R. diacanthum

Ribes americanum Mill. wild black currant

A low shrub 1-2 m high, with unarmed stems and 3- to 5-lobed leaves 2-7
cm across and somewhat hairy and resinous-dotted on the underside. Flowers
greenish white, with a tubular calyx 3-5 mm long, and borne in drooping
racemes. Fruit black, 6-10 mm across, and smooth. Fairly common; in moist
woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: R.floridum L'Her.

Ribes aureum Pursh golden currant

An erect shrub 1-2 m high, with 3-lobed leaves 2-5 cm across. Flowers
bright yellow tipped with red, with a long cylindric calyx tube 6-10 mm long,
clove-scented, in small racemes. Fruit, about 6 mm in diam, varying from pale
yellow through shades of red to black. Often grown as an ornamental garden
shrub. Only found in the Prairies; plentiful in some localities on the southern
slope of Cypress Hills. Syn.: Chrysobotrya aurea (Pursh) Rydb.

Ribes diacanthum Pall. red currant

Shrubs 1-2 m high; leaves 2-6 cm long, rather deeply 3-lobed. Flowers in
racemes, functionally dioecious, with the organs of one sex rudimentary; each
flower subtended by a conspicuous bract; corolla greenish; fruit scarlet. Intro-
duced and cultivated, occasionally escaped.

Ribes glandulosum Grauer skunkberry

A low spreading or reclining shrub about 1 m long, with no thorns or
prickles. Leaf blades 5- to 7-lobed, cordate at base, hairy on the veins below,
2-7 cm across, and having a somewhat skunk-like odor. Flowers in a short
raceme. Fruit a red, glandular, bristly berry about 6 mm across. Common; in
damp woodlands; throughout Parklands and Boreal forest.

Ribes hudsonianum Richards. northern black currant

An erect shrub 1-1.5 m high, with unarmed stems and 3-lobed (occasion-
ally 5-lobed) leaves, wider than long, 2-10 cm wide, more or less hairy, and
dotted with resinous glands on the undersides. Flowers white, in racemes.
Fruit black, 5-10 mm in diam. Common in shady woodland; in the northern
parts of the Prairie Provinces and in the Cypress Hills.

Ribes lacustre (Pers.) Poir. swamp gooseberry

Shrubs 1-2 m high, with clusters of slender spines; stems and branches
densely bristly. Leaves 2-5 cm long, deeply 5- to 7-lobed. Flowers in racemes,
green or purplish. Fruit a densely hairy, glandular reddish berry about 6 mm
in diam. Found occasionally; in swamps; in Boreal forest and in the Riding
Mountain. Syn.: Limnobotrya lacustris (Pers.) Rydb.

428

Ribes laxiflorum Pursh mountain currant

Shrubs with ascending or spreading stems; leaves more or less orbicular
in outline, 5- to 7-lobed, cordate at base. Flowers in ascending racemes, with
the pedicels glandular, the corolla red, the petals 3-4 mm long, pubescent on
the outside; berry purplish black to blue black. Swamps and woods; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Ribes oxyacanthoides L. var. oxyacanthoides (Fig. 123) northern gooseberry

A low, bristly shrub or bush to 1 m high, with lobed leaves 1-4 cm broad
and greenish purple or white sepals and petals; bracts glandular ciliate. Calyx
tube not longer than lobes. Fruit a globose berry 10-15 mm across, turning
reddish purple when ripe. Common in woodlands and shrubbery, especially in
Boreal forest. Syn.: R. setosum Lindl. The var. saxosum (Hook.) Cov. having
the bracts long-ciliate but not glandular, generally less spiny, particularly at
the nodes and on older stems. Woodlands; in northern Parklands and Boreal
forest. Syn.: R. hirtellum Michx.

Ribes rubrum L. \&x.propinquum Trautv. & Mey. swamp red currant

A shrub about 1 m high, unarmed; leaves paler beneath, usually 3-lobed,
sometimes 5-lobed, 3-8 cm across. Flowers usually purplish; fruit a smooth
red berry, very similar to the garden red currant, about 6 mm across. Found
occasionally; in rich poplar woods; especially in Parklands, Boreal forest, and
Riding Mountain. Syn.: R. triste Pall.

Ribes viscosissimum Pursh sticky currant

A rather stout shrub 50-100 cm high, with spreading branches. Leaves
4-7 cm across, orbicular or reniform in outline, 3- or sometimes 5-lobed, cor-
date, sticky. Racemes 3- to 7-flowered, glandular puberulent; flowers greenish
white tinged with pink; fruit black, glandular hairy, about 1 cm long. Moun-
tain forests and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga saxifrage

1. Leaves opposite, densely crowded, 4-

ranked on matted stems; petals 6-8

mm long, purple S. oppositifolia

Leaves alternate or basal 2

2. Stems leafless, except for reduced leaves

subtending branches of inflorescence 3

Stems with several well-developed leaves 9

3. Basal leaves 10-20 cm long; scapes 30-80

cm high S. pensylvanica

Basal leaves much smaller; scapes lower 4

4. Leaves subcordate to deeply cordate at

base 5

Leaves cuneate to acute at the base 6

5. Flowers in part replaced by clusters of

bulblets 5". mertensiana

429

Fig. 123. Northern gooseberry, Ribes oxyacanthoides L. var. oxyacanthoides.

430

Flowers normal, bulblets absent S. punctata va.r. porsildiana

6. Sepals sharply reflexed, pendent 7

Sepals spreading or ascending 8

7. Plants glabrous or somewhat puberulent

above S. lyallii

Plants densely glandular pubescent

throughout S. ferruginea

8. Petals 2-4 mm long, obovate to oblong 5". occidentalis

Petals 4-5 mm long, oblanceolate to

lanceolate S. virginiensis

9. Leaves 3-parted to palmately lobed 10

Leaves shallowly 3-lobed to entire 12

10. Plants with bulblets in the upper axils S. cernua

Plants not bulbiferous 1 1

11. Lobes of leaves linear to

linear-lanceolate S. cespitosa

Lobes of leaves ovate to rounded S. rivularis

12. Flowers white, the petals often

purplish-dotted 13

Flowers yellow, the petals not dotted 15

13. Leaves soft, not spine-tipped S. adscendens ssp. oregonensis

Leaves stiff, thick, spine-tipped 14

14. Leaves entire, spinulose on the margins S. bronchialis var. austromontana

Leaves 3-toothed at the apex, the teeth

spine-tipped S. tricuspidata

15. Plants long-stoloniferous, the stolons

whip-like S. flagellar is

Plants not stoloniferous 16

16. Leaves all sessile S. aizoides

Basal leaves long-petioled, stem leaves

subsessile S. hirculus

Saxifraga adscendens L. ssp. oregonensis (Raf.) Bacig.

WEDGE-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE

A small perennial, with stems 2-8 cm high; several stem leaves. Basal
leaves in compact rosettes 5-15 mm long, oblong-spatulate or cuneate, entire
or 3-toothed; stem leaves cuneate, 3-toothed. Petals 3-5 mm long, white. Moist
slopes and ledges; southern Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga aizoides L. yellow mountain saxifrage

Perennial plants with stems from a multiple caudex; flowering stems 5-20
cm high, with several stem leaves. Lower leaves 1-2 cm long, linear-oblong,
thick, often ciliate. Cymes usually several-flowered; flowers erect, 5-8 mm
across, yellow, predominantly orange-dotted. Dry, gravelly slopes; southern
Rocky Mountains.

431

Saxifraga bronchialis L. var. austromontana (Wieg.) G. N. Jones

Plants forming dense mats or cushions; the flowering stem 5-15 cm high.
Leaves 8-15 mm long, loosely imbricate, linear to narrowly lanceolate, with
the margin spinulose. Inflorescence a corymbose cyme; flowers 6-12 mm
across, pale yellow or whitish, often red-spotted. Usually on rock outcrops;
Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga cernua L.

Plants with usually simple stems 10-20 cm high, more or less glandular
puberulent. Basal leaves reniform, 15-25 mm wide, 5- to 7-lobed; the cauline
leaves similar but progressively smaller, all with reddish bulblets in the axils.
Usually a solitary terminal flower 15-20 mm across, white. Alpine rockslides;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga cespitosa L.

Plants with short leafy shoots, more or less erect, forming lax to rather
dense cushions. Stems 4—10 cm high. Leaves 5-15 mm long, mostly 3-lobed,
cuneate, glandular pubescent. Flowers 8-10 mm across, dull white or slightly
greenish. Arctic and alpine gravel slopes; northeastern Boreal forest, southern
Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga ferruginea Graham

Plants with stems 10-30 cm high, more or less glandular pubescent. Basal
leaves crowded, 2-6 cm long, spatulate to oblanceolate, densely pubescent.
Flowering stems with branches ascending, flowers white, the 3 upper petals
with 2 yellow spots at the base. In f. vreelandii (Small) St. John & Thayer, some
flowers replaced by bulblets. Moist ledges and banks; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Saxifraga flagellar is Stemb. & Willd.

Plants with erect stems 5-20 cm high, with whip-like stolons to 15 cm long
from the base, each terminating in a rosette. Leaves mainly in a basal rosette,
more or less glandular pubescent. Flowers few, in a lax cyme 15-20 mm
across, bright yellow. High alpine soils; southern Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga hirculus L.

Plants cespitose or with short stolons; stems 15-25 cm high; leafy below.
Leaves 10-25 mm long, lanceolate, pubescent with reddish brown hairs. Flow-
ers solitary or 2-4 in a loose corymb 25-30 mm across, bright yellow, some-
times red-spotted. Wet tundra; northeastern Boreal forest.

Saxifraga lyallii Engler

Plants with a prominent caudex; leaves fan-shaped to cuneate-obovate,
\-At cm long, usually coarsely toothed above the middle. Scapes 5-10 cm high,
glabrous or sparsely glandular pubescent above. Inflorescence open; flowers
5-8 mm across, white, with deep red sepals. In var. hultenii Calder & Savile,
plants 10-30 cm high, with larger basal leaves and paniculate inflorescence. In

432

var. laxa Engler, plants to 40 cm high, with the basal leaves orbicular, cuneate
to subtruncate at base, and paniculate inflorescence. Along alpine creeks and
rivulets; southern Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga mertensiana Bong.

Plants with stout, erect, often bulb-forming rootstocks. Leaves basal,
glandular pubescent, with the blades orbicular or ovate-reniform, cordate at
the base, shallowly lobed; the lobes 3-toothed. Flowering stems 10-30 cm
high, minutely glandular pubescent, with 1 or 2 leaves at the base, bracteose
above. Inflorescence few-flowered; often all but the terminal flower replaced
by bulblets; flowers white, with the filaments conspicuously club-shaped.
Moist cliffs; southern Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga occidentalis Wats. rhomboid-leaved saxifrage

A low plant with fleshy basal leaves, usually ovate, 1^ cm long, wavy-
margined, and smooth. Flowers borne in a branched inflorescence at the head
of a glandular haired stalk 8-20 cm high. Flowers about 5 mm across, with
white petals. Fruits are follicle-like capsules. Moist meadows and slopes;
southern Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills. Syn.: Micranthes rhomboidea
(Greene) Small; S. rhomboidea Greene.

Saxifraga oppositifolia L. red-flowered saxifrage

Mat-forming plants, with stems procumbent or ascending. Leaves 2-6
mm long, suborbicular to obovate-lanceolate, dull bluish green, thick, keeled
below. Flowering stems very short, leafy, glandular pubescent; flowers soli-
tary, pale pink to deep purple. Rocky and gravelly areas, arctic-alpine; north-
eastern Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga pensylvanica L. (Fig. 124) marsh saxifrage

Stout plants with erect stems 30-80 cm high. Basal leaves 10-20 cm long,
oblong to lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, entire to sparsely glandular serru-
late, sparingly pubescent. Inflorescence at first compact, becoming elongate,
lax; flowers 5-8 mm across, greenish white. Rare; bogs and wet meadows;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Saxifraga punctata L. v&x.porsildiana (Calder & Savile) Boiv.

SPOTTED SAXIFRAGE

Plants with scapes 8-15 cm high. Basal leaves long-petioled, with the
blades nearly orbicular, deeply cordate at base, 2-5 cm across, crenate-den-
tate, glabrous or nearly so. Scapes solitary or few tufted; inflorescence closely
corymbose, glandular puberulent; flowers 6-10 mm across, white; sepals
reflexed, ciliate. Moist areas; Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga rivularis L. alpine brook saxifrage

Plants with short creeping rootstocks; erect stems 6-15 cm high, glabrous
to glandular puberulent. Basal leaves 10-15 mm wide, 3- to 5-lobed; cauline
leaves soft pubescent. Flowers 6-10 mm across, white or pale pink. Moist,
springy areas; Rocky Mountains, northeastern Boreal forest.

433

Fig. 124. Marsh saxifrage, Saxifraga pensylvanica L.

434

Saxifraga tricuspidata Rottb. three-toothed saxifrage

Plants with branched caudex, the branches mat-forming; leaves closely
crowded, 1-2 cm long, narrowly oblong, ciliate, the apex with 3 sharp erect
teeth. Stems 10-20 cm high, with several stem leaves 3-10 mm long; flowers in
a cyme 12-15 mm across, white with light purplish dots. Rock outcrops and
rocky slopes; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga virginiensis Michx. EARLY saxifrage

Plants with basal leaves 2-5 cm long, oblong to ovate, entire or serrate,
the base narrowed to a petiole, glandular pubescent. Scapes 10-20 cm high,
glandular pubescent; inflorescence branched, at first compact, later elongating
and open; flowers 8-12 mm across; sepals spreading to ascending. Moist or
dry open woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Suksdorfia suksdorfia

Suksdorfia violacea Gray blue suksdorfia

A slender perennial, with more or less glandular pubescent stems 10-20
mm high. Basal leaves kidney-shaped, 1-3 cm wide, with 5-7 rounded lobes,
on petioles 2-8 cm long, glandular puberulent; upper leaves sessile.
Inflorescence a few-flowered panicle; flowers long-pediceled, 10-15 mm
across, violet. Wet rocks along streams; southern Rocky Mountains.

Telesonix

Telesonixjamesii (Torr.) Raf. var. heucheriformis (Rydb.) Bacig.

Low perennial plants with a thick scaly rootstock; stems 5-15 cm high,
glandular pubescent. Basal leaves reniform to orbicular, 2-A cm wide, deeply
crenate-dentate, with sessile glands; upper cauline leaves fan-shaped to
cuneate, short-petioled or sessile. Inflorescence a short, leafy panicle; flowers
3-5 mm long, deep violet. Rock crevices; southern Rocky Mountains.

Tiarella false miterwort

Leaves compound, usually trifoliate T. trifoliata

Leaves simple, shallowly 3- to 5-lobed T. unifoliata

Tiarella trifoliata L. laceflower

Perennial plants with slender, sparsely hirsute stems 20-60 cm high, 2- to
4-leafed, glandular hirsute above. Leaves with 3 leaflets, on petioles 5-15 cm
long, glabrous to villous-hirsute; middle leaflet more or less 3-lobed, 2-8 cm
long. Inflorescence an elongated, narrow panicle; sepals about 1.5 mm long,
white; petals white, linear, about 5 mm long. Moist coniferous forests; Rocky
Mountains.

Tiarella unifoliata Hook. sugarscoop

Slender perennial, with stems 10-50 cm high, glabrous or hirsute with
white hairs, glandular puberulent above. Basal leaves cordate in outline, 4—10

435

cm wide, 3- to 5-lobed, with the lobes broadly ovate, acute or obtuse, crenate-
dentate, and the petioles 5-15 cm long. Stem leaves 1^4, similar to but smaller
than the basal leaves. Inflorescence a narrow panicle; sepals white to pinkish,
1.5-2.5 mm long; petals white, linear, about 6 mm long. Moist woods; Rocky
Mountains and northwestern Boreal forest.

ROSACEAE — rose family

An extremely variable family, including herbs, shrubs, and small trees, all
having alternate leaves with stipules. Flowers in racemes or cymes, perfect and
regular, with 5 petals and 5 sepals, often with 5 bracts below, alternating with
the sepals. Many stamens and from one to many pistils. Fruits varying: dry
achenes, follicles, fleshy receptacles (strawberry), fleshy drupes or drupelets
(raspberry), and berry-like pomes (saskatoon).

1. Shrubs or trees 2

Herbs or half-shrubs 14

2. Leaves simple 3

Leaves compound or lobed 9

3. Flowers solitary on a long peduncle;

creeping dwarf shrubs Dryas

Flowers usually more numerous; plants

taller 4

4. Spiny shrubs or small trees 5

Shrubs or trees not spiny 6

5. Spines never leafy Crataegus

Spines leafy in the first year, leafless

thereafter Prunus

6. Leaves entire; ovary inferior Cotoneaster

Leaves serrate or toothed 7

7. Fruit a leathery follicle Spiraea

Fruit fleshy 8

8. Fruit a red or black drupe with a single

stone Prunus

Fruit a berry-like pome with several

seeds Amelanchier

9. Leaves lobed, not distinctly divided 10

Leaves compound, distinctly divided into

leaflets 11

10. Shrubs tall; flowers in dense racemose

clusters Physocarpus

Shrubs usually low; flowers in loose

racemes or solitary Rubus

1 1. Flowers yellow; fruit dry; leaves with 3-7

small leaflets Potentilla

436

Flowers white or pink; fruit more or less

fleshy 12

12. Small trees; leaflets 11-17; flowers white

in flat-topped racemes Sorbus

Shrubs; leaflets 3-11 13

13. Leaves with 3-5 leaflets; flowers white;

fruit a cluster of many fleshy drupelets Rubus

Leaves with 5-1 1 leaflets; flowers pink or

white; fruit a bottle-shaped "hip." Rosa

14. Leaves much dissected into linear lobes 15

Leaves compound 16

15. Plant a half-shrub, with trailing woody

stems Luetkea

Plant with dense rosettes, entirely

herbaceous Chamaerhodos

16. Calyx simple, of 5 lobes 17

Calyx double, with 2 rings of lobes, the

outer ones smaller than the inner 18

17. Flowers yellow, in a spike-like raceme;

fruit with hooked prickles Aghmonia

Flowers white, in a terminal panicle; fruit

not prickly Sorbaha

18. Fruit fleshy; leaves with 3 leaflets; plants

stoloniferous Fragaria

Fruit not fleshy; leaves. various 19

19. Style much longer than the achene,

hooked or plumose Geum

Style much shorter than the achene, often

deciduous Potentilla

Agrimonia agrimony

Agrimonia striata Michx. AGRIMONY

An erect-stemmed perennial herb 30-80 cm high, sometimes branched
above, with soft, fine brownish hairs. Leaves pinnate, with 7-9 leaflets, deeply
indented, 2-7 cm long, smooth above, and softly hairy below. Small yellow
flowers borne in a spike-like raceme. The fruiting calyx reflexed (pointing
downward), with short hooked bristles at the top, and containing 2 seeds.
Found occasionally; in small poplar woods and along roadsides; throughout
the Prairie Provinces, but very rare in Prairies.

Amelanchier juneberry

Small trees or bushes without spines or prickles, with simple alternate
leaves, and with white flowers in racemes. Fruit a berry-like, sweet-flavored,
several-seeded pome.

437

1. Pedicels short, mostly 6-8 mm A. alnifolia

Pedicels long, the lower ones 15-20 mm

long 2

2. Leaves glabrous or nearly so, rounded to

cordate A.florida

Leaves white pubescent below, obtuse to

rounded A. sanguinea

Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt. (Fig. 125) saskatoon

A tall shrub or small tree \-A m high, with smooth chocolate brown stems
and branches. Leaves simple, rounded at the ends, 1-5 cm long, with a few ser-
rate teeth at the apex. Flowers white, about 8-12 mm across, in racemes quite
early in the season. Fruits purple and berry-like, very sweet when ripe, globu-
lar, 6-10 mm across, and used for preserves. Used by the Indians and early
settlers as a constituent of pemmican. Very common; in coulees, bluffs, and
open woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces. The most commonly
found Amelanchier in the area.

Amelanchier florida Lindl. serviceberry

A shrub or small tree 2-5 m high, with reddish brown branchlets. Leaves
broadly oblong to suborbicular, 3-4 cm long, subcordate to rounded at base,
coarsely toothed above the middle, more or less tomentose below. Flowers
20-30 mm across; fruit dark purple. Slopes of valleys and along rivers; Rocky
Mountains, Peace River, and Cypress Hills.

Amelanchier sanguinea (Pursh) DC. eastern serviceberry

An erect or straggling shrub or small tree 1-3 m high, usually in clumps of
several stems. Leaves densely tomentose at flowering time, only half-grown;
later becoming glabrous, oblong to subrotund, to 7 cm long, finely to coarsely
toothed above the middle. Racemes loose; flowers 20-30 mm across; fruit pur-
ple. Forest margins and openings; southeastern Boreal forest.

Chamaerhodos chamaerhodos

Chamaerhodos erecta (L.) Bunge M&x.parviflora (Nutt.) C. L. Hitchc.

CHAMAERHODOS

Low-growing perennial or biennial glandular herbs 10-30 cm high, from a
single stem, but sometimes branching above; the usual form, however, being a
very narrow pyramid. Basal leaves, from a stout root, usually forming a
rosette, and later becoming a small clump; leaves small, with 3 leaflets, each
leaflet again divided into 3 lobes, and sometimes these lobes again 3 times
cleft. Stem leaves similar to the basal ones, but less divided. Inflorescence
much-branched, of many small white flowers about 3 mm across. Very com-
mon; on dry hillsides and light soil; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Syn.:
C. nuttallii Pickering.

Cotoneaster cotoneaster

Young shoots and leaves yellowish tomentose
on underside, later pubescent C. acutifolia

438

Fig. 125. Saskatoon, Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.

439

Young shoots and leaves white tomentose on
underside, remaining so C. melanocarpa

Cotoneaster acutifolia Turcz. COTON EASTER

Shrubs with branches and leaves 2-ranked, forming flattish sprays. Leaves
3-4 cm long, ovate, dark green above, pale green below; tomentum of young
leaves bright to brownish yellow. Inflorescence a small corymb; flowers yel-
low; fruit black with 2 nutlets. Introduced and cultivated as an ornamental or
hedge; occasionally spreading into native woodlands or shrubbery.

Cotoneaster melanocarpa Lodd. cotoneaster

Similar to the previous species, but smaller, with the tomentum denser,
pure white, and persistent; the fruit with 4 nutlets. A cultivated introduction,
occasionally escaped.

Crataegus hawthorn

Shrubs or small trees with sharp thorns or spines on the stem, and alter-
nate, sometimes lobed, leaves. Flowers white, in clusters. Fruit a round berry-
like pome. A difficult genus to separate into species because of apparent
hybridizing between species, thereby obscuring the characters.

1. Sepals short, triangular, acute but not

attenuate; fruit black or very dark

purple C. douglasii

Sepals attenuate, long-pointed; fruit pur-
ple or red 2

2. Teeth of leaves not gland-tipped; nutlets

deeply pitted on faces C. succulenta

Teeth of leaves gland-tipped; nutlets not

pitted C. rotundifolia

Crataegus douglasii Lindl. Douglas hawthorn

A tall shrub or small tree 3-6 m high with short spines 6-25 mm long.
Leaves ovate to obovate, 15-50 mm long; fruit black or very dark purple.
Found occasionally; in western part of the Prairie Provinces and in Cypress
Hills.

Crataegus rotundifolia Moench (Fig. 126) round-leaved hawthorn

A round-topped shrub 1-3 m high with stout thorns, usually about 3 cm
long, on the stems and branches. Leaves usually almost round, 2-5 cm across,
sometimes lobed, but usually double-toothed. Flowers white, 10-15 mm
across, borne in clusters at the ends of the branches, and followed by red
berry-like fruits about 1 cm across containing several bony carpels. Fairly
common; in coulees, stream banks, and open woods; throughout the Prairie
Provinces. Syn.: C chrysocarpa Ashe; C. columbiana Howell.

Crataegus succulenta Link long-spined hawthorn

A shrub very similar to C. rotundifolia with no dark glandular tips on the
leaf teeth and with deeply pitted nutlets. Plentiful in eastern parts but appears
to be replaced by C. rotundifolia in the west.

440

Fig. 126. Round-leaved hawthorn, Crataegus rotundifolia Moench.

441

Dryas mountain-avens

1. Leaves entire or nearly so D. integrifolia

Leaves crenate to the tip 2

2. Flowers yellow; leaves tapering to base D. drummondii

Flowers white; leaf base blunt D. octopetala var. hookeriana

Dryas drummondii Richardson yellow mountain-avens

Depressed, mat-forming shrubs; the young branches white tomentose.
Leaves elliptic to obovate, 1-3 cm long, densely white tomentose below, dark
green and rugose above. Scape 5-20 cm long, tomentose; calyx black glandu-
lar pubescent; petals yellow, about 1 cm long; styles plumose in fruit, 3-5 cm
long. Gravel banks, scree fields, and slopes; Rocky Mountains, northern
Boreal forest.

Dryas integrifolia Vahl white mountain-avens

Depressed, densely mat-forming shrub, very leafy. Leaves 8-15 mm long,
oblong-lanceolate, entire, often cordate at base. Scape 3-10 cm high; calyx
tomentose; petals about 1 cm long, white; styles 15-25 mm long in fruit.
Gravel banks along rivers and rocky slopes; northeastern Boreal forest, Rocky
Mountains.

Dryas octopetala L. var. hookeriana (Juz.) Breit. mountain-avens

Similar to D. drummondii, but forming small mats. Leaves strongly rugose
above, truncate to subcordate at base, and black glandular as well as tomen-
tose; calyx white tomentose and black pubescent; petals white. Alpine gravels
and rock outcrops; Rocky Mountains.

Fragaria strawberry

Perennial low-growing herbs with 3-foliolate leaves, and running stems
rooting at tips and producing new plants. Flowers white, with 5 petals, 5
sepals, and 5 sepal-like bracts. Fruit is the enlarged fleshy receptacle of the
flower, bearing very juicy and sweet achenes on the surface.

Hairs on the stems ascending and closely

pressed to stems F. virginiana

Hairs on the stems spreading in various

directions F. vesca var. americana

Fragaria vesca L. var. americana Porter American wild strawberry

Similar to the following species, but with leaves paler, flowers smaller, and
leaflets stalkless (leaflets of F. virginiana having short stalks). Fruit ovoid or
conical, with seeds borne on the surface. Rocky woodlands; in Boreal forest.
Syn.: F. americana (Porter) Britt.

Fragaria virginiana Dene. SMOOTH wild strawberry

A low-growing herb with coarsely toothed, broadly ovate leaflets, some-
times silky beneath. Flowers white, 15-20 mm across, appearing fairly early in
the season. Fruit almost round, 10-15 mm in diam, with seeds sunk in shallow

442

pits. The commonest strawberry; in low spots on prairie, open woodlands, and
moist areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: F. virginiana Dene. var.
glauca Wats.; F. glauca (S. Wats.) Rydb.

Geum avens

Perennials from stout rootstocks, with lyrate or pinnate leaves, perfect
regular flowers, and many achenes. The long styles, remaining on the achenes,
either jointed or feathery.

1. Styles feathery and not jointed; leaves

pinnate G. thflorum

Styles not feathery, but jointed; leaves

lyrately pinnate 2

2. Sepals erect or spreading; flowers purple

or flesh-colored; upper part of style at

least half as long as lower part G rivale

Sepals reflexed; flowers yellow; upper
portion of style less than one-third the
length of lower part 3

3. Upper portion of style hairy G. aleppicum

Upper portion of style not hairy, or with

only a few stiffhairs G. perincisum

Geum aleppicum Jacq. yellow avens

A hairy erect plant 40-120 cm high, with broad leafy stipules and basal
leaves lyrately pinnate (terminal lobe longer than others) with 5- to 7-toothed
or divided leaflets and often a few very small interspersed leaflets. Stem leaves
with 3-5 leaflets, and either with or without very short stalks. Flowers bright
yellow, 10-25 mm across, and followed by a fruiting head about 15 mm in
diam, on which the characteristic hooked or bent styles are located. Common;
in wet or moist locations on prairies and in meadows and open woods;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: G. strictum Ait.

Geum perincisum Rydb. large-leaved avens

Very similar to G. aleppicum, but the terminal segment of the basal leaves
large, often 3-lobed, and having 5-15 leaflets. Flowers yellow and the fruiting
head similar to that of the preceding species except that the upper portion of
the style on the fruit is entirely or almost hairless. Not so common as yel-
low avens; found in moist meadows and open woods; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Geum rivale L. purple avens

An erect, simple, and little-branched herb, more or less hairy, 30-60 cm
high, with lyrate-pinnate basal leaves and thrice-divided stem leaves. Sepals
not bent abruptly downward as those of the two preceding species. Flowers
15-20 mm across, flesh-colored or purple, often with a yellowish tinge. Fruit-
ing heads very similar to those of the preceding species, but the upper portion
of the style at least half as long as the lower part. Found occasionally; in moist
places and wet, swampy ground; Boreal forest and the Cypress Hills.

443

Geum triflorum Pursh (Fig. 127) three-flowered avens, torchflower

Erect perennial herbs 15-40 cm high from a thick, coarse, almost black
rootstock, with coarse black roots. The many basal leaves pinnate, with many
wedge-shaped lobed leaflets, often with smaller leaflets mixed with the larger
ones. Flowering stem usually with a tuft of small leaves halfway up, and some
thin leafy bracts at summit. Flowers usually 3, 12-20 mm across; sepals pur-
plish pink; petals pink, yellowish, or flesh-colored. Fruiting head bearing long,
persistent, feathery styles 2-5 cm long. A very common spring flower on the
prairies, the bright green leaves being among the first new foliage to show in
spring and the flowers among the very early spring blooms. Plentiful; every-
where on open prairie; Prairies, Parkland, and Rocky Mountains. Syn.:
Sieversia triflora (Pursh) R. Br.

Luetkea luetkea

Luetkea pectinata (Pursh) Ktze. luetkea

A cespitose plant, semishrubby, with prostrate, stoloniferous branches.
Leaves dissected into linear divisions, 10-15 mm long, acute, grooved above.
Raceme narrow, 1-5 cm long; petals 3-3.5 mm long, white; sepals 2 mm long,
ovate, acute. Moist slopes and mountain meadows; southwestern Rocky
Mountains.

Physocarpus ninebark

Physocarpus malvaceus (Greene) Ktze. mallow-leaved ninebark

A shrub 1-2 m high, with brown branches, these glabrous or stellate
pubescent. Leaves 2-6 cm long, round-ovate, 3- to 5-lobed, more or less dou-
bly crenate, mostly cordate at base, and stellate pubescent on both sides.
Inflorescence of half-round corymbs, 3-5 cm wide; flowers white, about 1 cm
across. Rare; thickets and forest openings; southern Rocky Mountains.

Potentilla cinquefoil

Generally perennial, but some species annual or biennial, with alternate
leaves, either palmately or pinnately compound. Flowers perfect, with 5 sepals,
5 petals, and many stamens. Fruit a head with many achenes.

1. Flowers reddish purple; leaves with 5-7

leaflets P. palustris

Flowers white or yellow 2

2. Plant shrubby or with woody bases;

achenes hairy 3

Plant herb-like, not woody based;

achenes generally smooth 4

3. Shrub 15-150 cm high; flowers yellow;

pinnate leaves P.fruticosa ssp. floribunda

Low plant, woody at base; flowers white;

palmate leaves P. tridentata

444

Fig. 127. Three-flowered avens, Geum triflorum Pursh.

445

4. Low creeping plant with runners; leaves

basal and pinnate; yellow flowers
singly on long stalks from base of
plant P. anserina

Plant without runners; flowers borne in

terminal cymes and not singly 5

5. Annual or biennial plant without peren-

nial rootstocks; inflorescence many-
flowered and leafy 6

Perennial plant with stout rootstocks;

often showing old bases of leaves 8

6. Lower leaves pinnate, with 5-1 1 leaflets 7

Lower leaves digitate, with 3 leaflets P. norvegica

7. Lower leaves with 7-11 leaflets; achenes

ribbed with a corky enlargement on

one side P. paradoxa

Lower leaves with 5-7 leaflets; achenes

smooth P. rivalis

8. Plants glandular pubescent; petals white

or yellowish; stamens 25-30 9

Plants not usually glandular; petals yel-
low; stamens 5-20 10

9. Cymes short, crowded; petals white,

slightly longer than the sepals P. arguta

Cymes open; petals white to yellowish, as

long as the sepals P. glandulosa var. intermedia

10. Leaves all or mostly pinnate, with the

upper stem leaves sometimes trifoliate 1 1

Leaves all trifoliate or digitate with 5-7

leaflets 21

11. Leaflets serrate to shallowly lobed 12

Leaflets dissected or incised more than

halfway to midrib 15

12. Leaflets green on both sides 13

Leaflets gray or white tomentose below 14

13. Plants with 0-2 stem leaves P. drummondii

Plants with 4—7 stem leaves P. paradoxa

14. Leaves white tomentose below P. hippiana

Leaves grayish pilose to hirsute below P. pensylvanica

15. Leaflets green on both sides P. plattensis

Leaflets white or a different shade of

green below 16

16. Leaflets pale green or grayish pilose to

glandular below P. pensylvanica

Leaflets white tomentose below 17

17. Leaflets pectinately toothed or lobed; leaf

margins revolute 18

446

Leaflets not pectinately incised; leaf mar-
gins flat 19

18. Stipules of the upper stem leaves ovate,

more or less laciniate P. bipinnatifida

Stipules of the upper stem leaves linear to

lanceolate, entire P. multifield

19. Leaflets 5; flowers solitary; plants

cushion-forming P. concinna

Leaflets 3-5; plants usually

several-flowered 20

20. Plants low, tufted; basal leaves usually

digitate P. nivea

Plants tufted; stems to 20 cm high; basal

leaves pinnate P. saximontana

21. Leaves all or mostly trifoliate 22

Leaves all or mostly digitate 24

22. Leaves wedge-shaped, 3-toothed at apex P. sibbaldii

Leaves not wedge-shaped, with more than

3 teeth or lobes 23

23. Leaflets densely and more or less white

tomentose below P. nivea

Leaflets green below; stem leaves one or

none P. flabellifolia

24. Leaflets densely grayish or white tomen-

tose below 25

Leaflets green below, and less densely

pubescent 29

25. Stems leafy above and in the

inflorescence P. argentea

Stems with 0-3 leaves 26

26. Stems usually less than 10 cm high; plants

densely tufted 27

Stems usually more than 10 cm high;

plants not densely tufted 28

27. Flowers solitary; basal leaves usually

digitate P. concinna

Flowers 1 to several; basal leaves usually

3-foliolate P. nivea

28. Leaflets commonly 3-5; plants usually

less than 25 cm high P. quinquefolia

Leaflets commonly 5-9; plants usually

more than 25 cm high P. gracilis

29. Petals minute; flowers in a leafy cyme P. rivalis

Petals large; inflorescence leafy only at

base 30

30. Stem leaves 4 or more P. recta

Stem leaves 1-3 below the inflorescence 31

447

31. Leaflets entire below the middle, dentate

above P. diversifolia var. glaucophylla

Leaflets dentate along the margins P. gracilis

Potentilla anserina L. silverweed

A low tufted perennial plant, spreading by runners. Leaves pinnate, 10-45
cm long, with 7-25 leaflets, often with some smaller interspersed leaflets. In the
typical form, the leaflets are green above and silky white woolly beneath, but
in forma sericea (Hayne) Hayek the leaves are silvery white on both sides.
Both the type and the form have been found in the same clump of plants.
Flowers bright yellow, 20-25 mm across, borne singly on a long stalk, bloom-
ing early in season until fall. Very common; in low, wet places and slough
margins; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Potentilla argentea L. silvery cinquefoil

Perennial with white woolly freely branching stems 10-50 cm high,
ascending or erect. Lower leaves mostly 5-digitate, with the leaflets white
tomentose on underside, toothed to pinnatifid above the middle and the mar-
gins revolute. Cyme leafy, many-flowered; petals yellow, about the same
length as the sepals. Roadsides and waste areas; eastern Prairies, Parklands,
and Boreal forest.

Potentilla arguta Pursh white cinquefoil

Perennial glandular erect herbs 30-90 cm high, with pinnate leaves; the
lower leaflets smaller than the upper ones. Leaflets 7-11 on the stalked basal
leaves, fewer on the stem leaves. Flowers in a rather dense inflorescence, 12-20
mm in diam; petals white. Common; in moist places, slough margins on prai-
rie; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Drymocallis agrimonioides
(Pursh) Rydb.

Potentilla bipinnatifida Dougl. plains cinquefoil

A many-stemmed perennial 20-50 cm high, with pinnate leaves of 3-7
leaflets. Leaflets silky and green above, snowy white woolly beneath, deeply
cut into narrow lobes. Fairly well distributed; on dry prairies; across Prairies
and Parklands. Syn.: P. pensylvanica L. var. bipinnatifida (Dougl.) T. & G.

Potentilla concinna Richardson early cinquefoil

A low-growing perennial from a very coarse, woody rootstock, with 5
(rarely 7) oblong or obovate leaflets, either palmately or pinnately arranged.
Leaflets 12-30 mm long and toothed, greenish silky above and whitish below.
Flowers yellow, 6-12 mm across, opening early in the season. Common; on
dry hillsides and prairie; throughout Prairies, Parklands, and southern Rocky
Mountains.

Potentilla diversifolia Lehm. var. glaucophylla Lehm.

SMOOTH-LEAVED CINQUEFOIL

A perennial plant 15-50 cm high, with palmately lobed leaves; the leaflets
green and almost hairless on both sides. Leaflets usually coarsely toothed
along the upper two-thirds of their margins, with forward-pointing teeth. A

448

mountain species found in the southern Rocky Mountains and occasionally in
the Cypress Hills.

Potentilla drummondii Lehm. drummond'S cinquefoil

Plants with a short caudex; the stems 30-60 cm high, more or less hirsute.
Basal leaves 5-10 cm long, more or less hirsute; leaflets 2-5 cm long, deeply
incised. Flowers in a cyme, long-pedicelled; petals 6-10 mm long. Mountain
meadows, riverbanks; southern Rocky Mountains.

Potentilla flabellifolia Hook. MOUNTAIN CINQUEFOIL

Plants with branching, scaly rootstocks; the stems slender, 15-30 cm high,
minutely puberulent. Basal leaves 3-foliate, very thin; leaflets fan-shaped,
deeply incised to serrate, short-pubescent. Cymes few-flowered; petals 8—10
mm long. The var. emarginata (Pursh) Boiv. includes more densely pubescent
plants, about 10 cm high, and the marginal teeth with tufts of hairs. Moist
mountain meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Potentilla fruticosa L. ssp. floribunda (Nutt.) Elk. (Fig. 128)

SHRUBBY CINQUEFOIL

A much-branched shrub from branching rootstocks, 15-150 cm high.
Leaves pinnate, leathery, with 5-7 leaflets, 12-25 mm long, linear-oblong and
pointed at both ends. Flowers yellow, 15-25 mm across. Achenes densely
hairy. Much used as a garden ornamental. Very abundant on low moist
ground; especially on Cypress Hills - Wood Mountain bench and in the
Rocky Mountains, but also found across the Prairie Provinces. Syn.:
Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb.; P. fruticosa Auct.; P. floribunda Pursh.

Potentilla glandulosa Lindl. var. intermedia (Rydb.) C. L. Hitchc.

STICKY CINQUEFOIL

Plants with slender, viscid, and glandular hirsute stems 15-30 cm high.
Basal leaves with 5-9 leaflets, glabrous above, or nearly so, sparingly glandular
hirsute below; leaflets 1-3 cm long, obovate, serrate; stem leaves reduced.
Cymes many-flowered; sepals 6-7 mm long, glandular hirsute; petals about
the same length as the sepals. Alpine slopes and mountain meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Potentilla gracilis Dougl. graceful cinquefoil

A somewhat tufted species with root crowns bearing brownish remains of
old stipules, and several stems 30-60 cm high. Basal leaves long-stalked and
digitate, of 5-7 narrowly oblanceolate leaflets. Flowers yellow, 15-20 mm
across. A very variable plant, some of its varieties have been considered sepa-
rate species. Two varieties are distinguished here.

Leaflets oblanceolate, serrate to pinnatifid,

green silky to white tomentose below var. gracilis

Leaflets fan-shaped, deeply incised, densely

tomentose below vsir.flabelliformis (Lehm.) Nutt.

449

Fig. 128. Shrubby cinquefoil, Potent ilia fruticosa L. ssp.floribunda (Nutt.)
Elk.

450

Both varieties occur throughout the Prairie Provinces, north to the south-
ern parts of the Boreal forest; var. flabelliformis is usually found in swampy
or somewhat alkali meadows; var. gracilis in moist grasslands, slopes, and
thickets.

Potentilla hippiana Lehm. woolly cinquefoil

A perennial from a stout rootstock, with several woolly stems 10-25 cm
high, and mostly basal pinnate leaves with 7-11 leaflets 1-5 cm long, toothed,
densely silky above and white woolly below. Stem leaves smaller, with fewer
leaflets. Flowers fairly numerous, in a terminal cyme 6-10 mm across. Found
fairly often on prairie land and in valleys in southwestern parts of the Prairie
Provinces. The var. argyrea (Rydb.) Boivin, silvery cinquefoil, has leaflets
white woolly on both upper and lower sides; found occasionally on dry hill-
sides; in the Prairies and in the Cypress Hills.

Potentilla multifida L. branched cinquefoil

Plants with strigose stems 20-40 cm high. Basal leaves with 7 leaflets;
stem leaves with 5-7 leaflets; the leaflets deeply incised, green below, with rev-
olute margins. Cymes few- to many-flowered; the petals 6-10 mm long. Open
areas and gravel banks; Boreal forest.

Potentilla nivea L. snow cinquefoil

A cespitose perennial with a stout caudex; the flowering stems 10-20 cm
high. Leaves mostly basal, 3-foliolate or rarely 5-digitate; leaflets 1-3 cm,
oblong or obovate, densely white tomentose beneath, deeply 3- to 5-dentate on
each side. Flowers 10-15 mm across. Alpine, subarctic, and arctic meadows;
Boreal forests, Rocky Mountains. Besides the typical variety described, two
other varieties occur: var. villosa (Pall.) Regel & Tiling, more coarsely and
densely villous throughout, including the upper surface of the thick, rugose
leaflets; and var. pulchella (R. Br.) Durand, with the leaves mostly short-pin-
nate with 5 coarse leaflets, and rather large, brown stipules.

Potentilla norvegica L. rough cinquefoil

A very coarse hairy annual or biennial plant, with erect branched stems
15-60 cm high. Leaves digitately 3-foliolate, with leaflets 2-10 cm long,
obovate or elliptic, and much-toothed. Flowers numerous, 6-12 mm across,
yellow, in a fairly dense cyme; the sepals a little longer than the petals. A com-
mon plant; moist meadows and waste places, a bad weed in gardens; through-
out the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: P. monspeliensis L.

Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop. marsh cinquefoil

A somewhat decumbent herb 20-50 cm high, from long, creeping, weedy
rootstocks. Leaves pinnate, often purple; the lower ones long-stalked, with 5-7
oblong or oval leaflets 2-7 cm long, tapering to the base and toothed. Upper
leaves short-stalked, with 3-5 leaflets. Flowers conspicuous, 15-35 mm across,
purple or maroon; the sepals much longer than the petals and also purplish.
Found in shallow water and bogs; in Boreal forest and rarely in Parklands.
Syn.: ComarumpalustreL.

451

Potentilla paradoxa Nutt. BUSHY CINQUEFOIL

An annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial species, with spreading or
somewhat ascending stems 20-50 cm high. The pinnate leaves of 5-1 1 almost
smooth leaflets. Flowers about 6 mm across, in a leafy cluster. Achenes or
fruits ribbed lengthwise and having a corky enlargement on one side. Found
occasionally in low moist places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Potentilla pensylvanica L. (Fig. 129) PRAIRIE CINQUEFOIL

A low-growing tufted species, 10-40 cm high, with the crown usually
bearing the brown remains of previous leaf stipules. Two varieties of this
species occur throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Hairs on stem very short and appressed.
Leaflets grayish and hairy on underside var. pensylvanica

Hairs on stem obvious and spreading. Leaflets
lobed to about halfway to midrib var. atrovirens (Rydb.) T. Wolf

The var. atrovirens common in dry grasslands in the Prairies; var.
pensylvanica common in moister grasslands of the Prairies, Parklands, and
Cypress Hills.

Potentilla plattensis Nutt. low CINQUEFOIL

A low decumbent or spreading perennial 10-20 cm high, with many basal
pinnate leaves of 9-17 leaflets. Leaflets light green, deeply divided into oblong
to nearly linear divisions. Flowers few and in rather open terminal cymes; pet-
als yellow. Found occasionally in valleys; Prairies.

Potentilla quinquefolia Rydb. FIVE-FINGERED CINQUEFOIL

A low tufted perennial 10-20 cm high, with small leaves, palmately
divided into 3-5 leaflets. Leaflets green above and white woolly beneath,
deeply divided into narrow lobes. Flowers about 1 cm across, in a fairly dense
cluster. Quite rare; but has been found in Parklands and Boreal forest.

Potentilla recta L. rough-fruited cinquefoil

A leafy-stemmed erect plant 15-50 cm high, with loosely hairy stems and
leaf stalks. The deeply toothed leaves are digitate, usually of 5-7 leaflets, more
or less hairy, but paler on the underside. Flowers on erect stalks 15-25 mm
across, pale yellow or sulfur. This introduced plant has been found at various
places throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Potentilla rivalis Nutt. brook cinquefoil

An erect annual or biennial species, branching above, and with finely
hairy, sometimes sticky, stems 20-40 cm high. The lower leaves have 5 obovate
coarsely toothed leaflets 2-5 cm long; upper stem leaves have 3 leaflets. Yellow
flowers less than 5 mm across, with petals shorter than sepals. Many authori-
ties consider this species and P. millegrana as forms of the same species, differ-
ing mainly in the number of leaflets on the basal leaves. Found occasionally;
in river valleys; Prairies.

452

A.G. Budd

Fig. 129. Prairie cinquefoil, Potentilla pensylvanica L.

453

Potentilla saximontana Rydb. alpine cinquefoil

A low perennial with stout caudex; the stems 10-20 cm high, glabrous to
pubescent. Leaves mostly basal, pinnate, usually with 5 leaflets 1-5 cm long,
deeply cleft, the divisions narrow, white tomentose or strigose below, silky
hairy above. Flowers few to several, 10-15 mm across. Alpine slopes; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Potentilla sibbaldii Hall. f. sibbaldia

A low densely tufted herb with short decumbent or creeping woody
stems. Leaves 3-foliolate, with slender petioles; leaflets 3- to 5-toothed at the
apex, obovate, cuneate at the base, sparsely pubescent on both surfaces. Flow-
ers on axillary peduncles; sepals 2-3 mm long; petals minute, yellow. Alpine
slopes and scree fields; Rocky Mountains.

Potentilla tridentata Ait. three-toothed cinquefoil

A tufted, low-growing, woody-based subshrub, much-branched, 10-20 cm
high. Stems have silky, appressed hairs. Leaves mostly stalked with 3 narrow
wedge-shaped leaflets 12-25 mm long, dark green and shiny on the upper side
and paler beneath, having 3 teeth at their apex. Flowers 1-6 in a cyme, white,
about 6-8 mm across. Fairly common; in dry sandy places, in pine forests;
Boreal forest. Syn.: Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Ait.) Rydb.

Prunus plum

Shrubs or trees with bark almost black; alternate leaves; perfect regular
flowers with 5 petals and 5 sepals; fruit a fleshy drupe with a smooth bony
stone.

1. Flowers in long racemes at the ends of the

branches 2

Flowers'in small umbels or corymbs 3

2. Fruit red or purplish, very astringent;

leaves thin P. virginiana

Fruit black and sweetish; leaves thick P. virginiana van melanocarpa

3. Stone more or less flattened, with a

groove on the end 4

Stone not flattened or grooved 5

4. Teeth of leaves not very deep and tipped

with a small gland; lobes of sepals

toothed and glandular; fruit oval P. nigra

Teeth of leaves deeper and not gland-tip-
ped; lobes of sepals not toothed or glan-
dular; fruit round P. americana

5. Tall shrub or small tree; flowers 12-25

mm across, in corymbs P. pensylvanica

Low shrub; flowers 6-12 mm across, in

umbels P. pumila

454

Prunus americana Marsh. AMERICAN PLUM

A tree 3-8 m high, with more or less thorny branches. Leaves narrowly
obovate, 3-10 cm long, with double teeth and a pointed apex. Flowers white,
15-25 mm across, appearing before the leaves. Fruit a red or yellow plum,
almost round, 15-25 mm long. Found occasionally; in moist woods and along
riverbanks; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Prunus nigra Ait. CANADA PLUM

A tree or shrub 2-8 m high, with oval or obovate leaves 7-12 cm long,
pointed at the apex, dark green with gland-tipped teeth. Flowers white, turning
pink, about 15-30 mm across, opening before the leaves. Fruit a yellow to
orange plum, oval, 25-35 mm long. Found occasionally in woodlands and
bluffs; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Prunus pensylvanica L. f. pin cherry

A small tree 4-8 m high, with lanceolate finely toothed leaves 3-10 cm
long. Flowers small, white, on long stalks in corymbose clusters 6-10 mm
across, opening about the same time as the leaves. Fruit a small, sour, bright
red cherry, 5-8 mm in diam. Fairly common; in bluffs, ravines, and hillsides;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Prunus pumila L. low sand cherry

A low, spreading bush with oblanceolate to spatulate leaves, dark green
above and pale beneath. Flowers in clusters of 2-4, white, about 1 cm across.
Fruit a dark brown to purplish cherry, 6-12 mm across. Found on dry prairie
and in sandhills; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Prunus virginiana L. red-fruited choke cherry

A shrub 1-3 m high, with grayish stems and thin ovate leaves 5-10 cm
long. Flowers white, about 12 mm across, in loose racemes. Fruit a red, very
astringent cherry 8-10 mm in diam. Quite common; on riverbanks and open
woodlands; in the southeastern Parklands. It is replaced further west by the
var. melanocarpa.

Prunus virginiana L. var. melanocarpa (A. Nels.) Sarg. (Fig. 130)

BLACK-FRUITED CHOKE CHERRY

A small tree or large shrub 2-6 m high, with smooth reddish brown stems.
Leaves obovate or oval, rather thick, 2-8 cm long, smooth on both sides. Flow-
ers numerous, white or pale cream, about 1 cm across, in dense racemes. Fruit
a black cherry, slightly astringent, round, 6-8 mm in diam. Very common; in
bluffs, ravines, sandhills, and open woodlands; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces. Leaves of choke cherry injured by frost or extreme drought are reported
to be poisonous to sheep and cattle.

Rosa rose

From low shrubs or herbaceous plants to large bushes, usually with
prickly stems. Leaves pinnate, with odd number of small leaflets. Flowers large
and showy, generally pinkish and fragrant. Fruit a hip, or berry-like enlarged

455

Fig. 130. Black-fruited choke cherry, Prunus virginiana L. var. melanocarpa
(A. Nels.) Sarg.

456

calyx tube containing numerous achenes. A difficult genus to identify, local
variations in form being so common that authorities do not agree on nomen-
clature, and some specialists have separated them into many species. Probably
only about 4 species, with many slight variations, occur in the Prairie Prov-
inces.

1. Plant with few, if any, bristles R. blanda

Plant definitely bristly 2

2. Thorns present below the stipules; bristles

broad and usually flattened at the base;

fruit globose without constricted neck R. woodsii

Thorns not present; bristles usually not

broad or flattened at base 3

3. Plant shrubby; leaflets usually 5-9 (9 on

young shoots); flowers usually borne

singly; fruit oval with distinct neck R. acicularis

Plant partly shrubby, often dying back
close to the ground in winter; leaflets
9-11 R. arkansana

Rosa acicularis Lindl. prickly rose

A low bushy plant 30-120 cm high, with stems densely covered with
straight weak bristles. Leaves usually of 5-7 hairy leaflets 12-50 mm long,
elliptic or oval. Stipules broad, usually both hairy and glandular. Flowers usu-
ally borne singly, 5-7 cm across. Fruit usually ovoid with a constricted neck,
about 1.5 cm long. Common; in bluffs, around woods, in fields, and along
roadsides; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Rosa arkansana Porter low prairie rose

Low shrubs 20-30 cm high with densely prickly stems, which usually die
off annually close to the root. Leaflets 9-11, usually without hairs, smooth and
shiny, 2-5 cm long. Flowers in corymbs of 2 or 3 flowers. Fruit almost globu-
lar, about 12 mm across. Common; on hills and sandy open prairie; through-
out the Prairies.

Rosa blanda Ait. SMOOTH ROSE

A low bush 60-120 cm high, with an unarmed stem or with a very few
straight prickles. Stipules rather broad; leaves of 5-7 leaflets 25^40 mm long.
Flowers pink, usually borne singly, may be up to 7 cm across. Not common;
but has been found in eastern Parklands.

Rosa woodsii Lindl. wood's rose

A bush 50-200 cm high, with the stems armed with straight or slightly
curved prickles, often broad and flattened at the base. Spines below the stip-
ules usually well-defined. Leaves of 5-9 oval or obovate leaflets 15-35 mm
long. Flowers 2-5 cm across. Fruit globular without a constricted neck, about
1 cm across. In bluffs, on ravines, and in sandhills; throughout the Prairies and
Parklands.

457

Rubus raspberry

Perennial or biennial, shrubby or herbaceous, from rootstocks, often with
prickly stems. Leaves various, from simply lobed to 3-5 times pinnately or pal-
mately compound. Flowers regular, unisexual or perfect, usually with 5 sepals
and 5 petals, either pink or white. Fruit a berry composed of many fleshy
drupelets.

1. Stems more or less woody; leaves 3-5 foli-

olate, usually pinnate or lobed 2

Stems herbaceous, dying down annually,
not prickly; leaves with 3 leaflets or
merely lobed 3

2. Stems prickly as well as bristly; leaves

compound R. idaeus var. aculeatissimus

Stems not prickly; leaves lobed, 10-20 cm

wide R. parviflorus

3. Leaves merely lobed; petals spreading;

flowers unisexual R. chamaemorus

Leaves compound; petals erect 4

4. Leaves 5-digitate R. pedatus

Leaves 3-foliolate 5

5. Central leaflet with rounded tip R. acaulis

Central leaflet with pointed tip R. pubescens

Rubus acaulis Michx. stemless raspberry

A low, herbaceous, unarmed perennial 5-20 cm high, with pinnately
divided leaves of 3 broadly ovate leaflets 15-35 mm long. Flowers usually
borne singly, pink; fruit red. Only found in bogs and meadows; in Boreal for-
est.

Rubus chamaemorus L. cloudberry

A herbaceous perennial 5-20 cm high, with 2 or 3 stalked round leaves
2-7 cm across, each with 5-9 rounded lobes. Flowers borne singly, terminal,
white, 10-25 mm across; fruit reddish, turning golden yellow when ripe.
Found in bogs and swamps on Boreal forest.

Rubus idaeus L. var. aculeatissimus Regel & Tiling (Fig. 131)

WILD RED RASPBERRY

A large bush 1-2 m high, with brownish more or less bristly stems and
pinnate leaves with 5 leaflets (the floral branches with 3 leaflets). Leaflets
ovate, the terminal one often being 3-lobed, 5-10 cm long, dark green above
and white woolly beneath. New shoots fairly bristly, but rarely glandular.
Flowers white, 8-12 mm across; fruit round, light red, about 1 cm across.
Probably the most common raspberry; in shady, wooded places, on burned-
over woodlands, bluffs, riverbanks; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: R.
melanolasius Focke; R. strigosus Michx.

458

Fig. 131. Wild red raspberry, Rubus idaeus L. var. aculeatissimus
Regel & Tiling.

459

Rubus parviflorus Nutt. thimbleberry

An erect shrub 50-200 cm high, unarmed, with the young growth more or
less glandular hairy. Leaves 10-20 cm wide, simple, round to reniform in out-
line, few-lobed, with the lobes triangular, glabrous or pubescent below. Flow-
ers 2-4 cm across, white; fruit red, 15-20 mm across. Forest margins and
openings; common in southern Rocky Mountains, rarer in northern Rocky
Mountains and Cypress Hills.

Rubus pedatus J. E. Smith dwarf bramble

A low or creeping unarmed herbaceous species, with glabrous stems root-
ing at the nodes, to 1 m long. Branches short; leaves 1^4, digitately 5-foliolate,
or rarely 3-foliolate; leaflets 1-5 cm long, obovate, irregularly incised, glabrous
or very sparsely pubescent. Flowers solitary on slender peduncles 4—10 cm
long; sepals green, 8-10 mm long; petals white, the same length as the sepals;
fruit reddish, 8-10 mm long. Moist woods; Rocky Mountains, western Park-
lands, and Boreal forest.

Rubus pubescens Raf. dewberry

A trailing or climbing herbaceous plant, with pinnate leaves usually of 3
leaflets (rarely 5), ovate or rhombic, 2-10 cm long, sharply toothed, and green
on both sides. Flowers borne in groups of 2 or 3 with white or pink petals, 8-12
mm across, with reflexed sepals. Fruit reddish purple, about 1 cm across. Com-
mon; in rich woods and bluffs; Parklands, Boreal forest, and Cypress Hills.

Sorbaria false spiraea

Sorbaria sorbifolia (L.) A. Braun ash-spiraea

Shrubs to 2 m high; young branches tomentose with stellate hairs. Leaves
pinnate; leaflets 3-7 cm long, acuminate, sharply double serrate. Inflorescence
a panicle to 30 cm long, flowers white, 5-6 mm across. Introduced ornamental,
occasionally escaped and persisting.

Sorbus rowan

1. Trees 6-10 m high S. aucuparia

Shrubs or small trees less than 5 m high 2

2. Leaflets usually 11-13, serrate to close to

the base; inflorescence broad,

flat-topped S. americana

Leaflets usually 7-11, entire toward the

base; inflorescence small, rounded 5. sitchensis

Sorbus americana Marsh. western mountain ash

A small tree 1-4 m high, with pinnate leaves of 11-13 elliptic-lanceolate
leaflets 3-6 cm long, bright green on both sides. Flowers white, in dense termi-
nal clusters, 6-10 mm across, with the flower clusters up to 10 cm broad; fruit

460

globose, red, about 1 cm across. Not common; but found in Parklands, Boreal
forests, Riding Mountain, and Cypress Hills. Syn.: Sorbus scopulina Greene.

Sorbus aucuparia L. rowan tree

A tree to 10 m high, round-topped, with young branches more or less
pubescent; winter buds white villose. Leaflets 9-15, oblong, 3-5 cm long, ser-
rate, usually long-pubescent below. Inflorescence to 20 cm broad, flat-topped;
fruit bright orange red. Introduced from Europe, extensively planted, and
occasionally escaped.

Sorbus sitchensis Roemer mountain ash

A tall shrub, usually 1-3 m high, with stems dull brown, sparsely
branched; twigs pubescent with red brown hairs. Leaves commonly with 7-1 1
leaflets, 2-4 cm long, serrate above the middle. Inflorescence small, round-top-
ped; fruit orange, red, or purplish. Woods and openings in mountains; south-
ern Rocky Mountains.

Spiraea meadowsweet

Shrubs with simple leaves and no stipules. Flowers perfect, with 5 sepals
and 5 petals; fruit a follicle opening along one side.

1. Inflorescence flat-topped 2

Inflorescence elongate S. alba

2. Petals pink or roseate; inflorescence

small, dense S. densiflora

Petals white; inflorescence broad, open S. lucida

Spiraea alba Du Roi narrow-leaved meadowsweet

An erect shrub 50-100 cm high, with brown twigs and narrowly oblanceo-
late leaves, pointed at both ends, 3-6 cm long, sharply toothed, and sometimes
with fine hairs beneath on the veins. Inflorescence finely hairy in dense termi-
nal panicles; flowers small and white. Fairly common; Parklands and Boreal
forest.

Spiraea densiflora Nutt. PINK meadowsweet

A slender shrub 50-150 cm high, with branches ascending, reddish brown.
Leaves oval to elliptic, 15-30 mm long, rounded at base and tip, crenate or ser-
rate above the middle, glabrous or nearly so. Inflorescence 2-5 cm broad,
dense; flowers showy, very sweet-scented, with petals about 1.5 mm long.
Moist thickets and meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Spiraea lucida Dougl. shining-leaved meadowsweet

A low shrub 30-100 cm high; stems and branches erect, usually dying
down to close to the base annually. Leaves 2-5 cm long, obovate to oval, on
short stalks, shiny green above, paler below. Flowers white, small, in a flat-
topped panicle. Common; in the Cypress Hills and Rocky Mountains.

461

LEGUMINOSAE — pea family

Shrubs or herbs with alternate compound leaves with stipules. Flowers
(see Fig. 7) perfect and irregular, having 5 more or less united sepals and 5 pet-
als. The upper petal, larger than the others, is called the standard; the two side
petals are called wings, the two lower ones, united, form the keel. The pistil
and stamens are contained in the keel. The stamens, usually 10, are arranged
in various groupings, their arrangement being one of the characters used in
separating the genera of this large family. They can all be distinct and sepa-
rate, or all joined in one group, or diadelphous (separated into two groups of 9
and 1). The fruit is either a 1- or 2-compartment pod (legume) or a pod con-
stricted between the seeds (loment).

1. Shrubs 2

Herbs 3

2. Flowers yellow; leaves pinnate, leaflets

even-numbered, the terminal leaflet

lacking Caragana

Flowers purple; leaves pinnate, leaflets
odd-numbered, the terminal leaflet
present Amorpha

3. The terminal leaflet replaced by a tendril 4

The terminal leaflet normal 5

4. Styles filiform, bearded at the tip; wings

of flower coherent with the keel Vicia

Styles flattened, bearded along the inside;

wings free from the keel Lathyrus

5. Leaves palmately divided 6

Leaves pinnately divided 16

6. Plants very low cushion plants 7

Plants not cushion plants 8

7. Flowers white, 2 cm long Astragalus gilviflorus

Flowers purple, 6-8 mm long Astragalus spatulatus

8. Leaves glandular-dotted Psoralea

Leaves not glandular-dotted 9

9. Leaflets clearly toothed 10

Leaflets entire 12

10. Pods strongly curved or coiled Medicago

Pods straight or almost straight 1 1

11. Flowers in long spike-like racemes; the

deciduous petals free from the stamen

tube Melilotus

Flowers in short loose or dense heads; the
petals more or less adhering to the sta-
men tube Trifolium

12. Stems twining on vegetation; upper

flowers with petals, the lower ones

apetalous Amphicarpa

462

Stems not twining; flowers all alike 13

13. Pods usually with 3-5 one-seeded segments,

which separate at maturity. Desmodium

Pods not segmented 14

14. Flowers about 4 mm long, usually solitary

in the leaf axils Lotus

Flowers 1 0-20 mm long, in spikes or racemes 15

15. Plants with rootstocks; flowers yellow;

pods 4-7 cm long, sickle-shaped Thermopsis

Plants tufted; flowers purple or yellow;

pods 2-4 cm long, straight Lupinus

16. Pods segmented or jointed, breaking up at maturity. 17

Pods not segmented or jointed 18

1 7 . Inflorescence a loose few-flowered head-like umbel Coronilla

Inflorescence an elongated raceme Hedysarum

1 8 . Leaves glandular-dotted 19

Leaves not glandular. 20

19. Pods with hooked prickles; flowers 10-15 mm long Glycyrrhiza

Pods not prickly; flowers small

to 5 mm; stamens 5 Petalostemon

Pods not prickly; flowers 10-12 mm

long, purple with yellowish base; stamens 10 Oxytropis viscida

20. Keel tipped with a point Oxytropis

Keel not tipped with a point Astragalus

Amorpha false indigo

Shrubs with pinnate leaves, bearing odd number of glandular-dotted leaflets;
midrib projecting from end of leaflets. Flowers having the standard petal only, other
petals missing. Flowers borne in long narrow spikes. Fruit a short, oblong, curved,
1- or 2-seeded pod.

1 . Plants densely pubescent A . canescens

Plants sparsely pubescent to glabrous 2

2. Low shrubs; leaflets to 1 cm long A . nana

Tall shrubs; leaflets to 3 cm long A . fruticosa

Amorpha canescens Pursh LEADPLANT

A bushy shrub, densely white hairy, 30-100 cm high. Leaves very dense, 5-10
cm long, with 21-51 oval leaflets, each 8-12 mm long. Flowers in dense, clustered,
spike-like racemes 5-15 cm long, small, with a bluish purple petal. Pods single-
seeded, about 3-5 mm long. Found occasionally on dry prairies; southeastern
Parklands.

Amorpha fruticosa L. FALSE INDIGO

A fairly tall shrub 2-5 m high, with stalked leaves 15-40 cm long and 1 1-25
oval leaflets 10-30 mm long. The spike-like racemes of flowers either

463

clustered or borne singly, 7-15 cm long, with a violet purple petal. Found
occasionally on riverbanks; southeastern Parklands.

Amorpha nana Nutt. dwarf false indigo

A low shrub, usually less than 30 cm high, almost hairless, with numerous
leaves 2-8 cm long, each having 13-31 stiff elliptic leaflets 6-12 mm long.
Spike-like racemes of flowers borne singly, 2-7 cm long, fragrant with a
purplish petal. Not common; moist prairie and waste places; southeastern
Parklands.

Amphicarpa hog-peanut

Amphicarpa bracteata (L.) Fern. HOG-PEANUT

Twining plants with stems to 1 m long, pubescent with retrorse appressed
hairs. Leaflets thin, somewhat pubescent, with the terminal one 2-6 cm long.
Racemes with 2-10 flowers, white to pale purplish; pods sparsely pubescent,
mainly at maturity, those of the upper flowers 3-seeded, those of the basal ones
1 -seeded and often underground. Not common; woods along rivers and in
ravines; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Astragalus milk-vetch

Perennial herbs with pinnate leaves of 3 to many leaflets, and perfect
irregular flowers having a blunt keel. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9 being united
in a bundle and 1 separate). Flowers in spikes or racemes. Fruit a pod, some-
times only 1 -celled and often appearing 2-celled because of the ingrowth of
one or both of the joints between the halves of the pods. Astragalus is of con-
siderable importance in the Prairie Provinces, most of the species occurring in
the native grasslands and woodlands, where they are accessible to grazing live-
stock. Several species are poisonous or potentially poisonous to livestock, and
although poisoning by these species seems to be rare, in periods of drought or
under other unfavorable conditions they can be dangerous. In the Rocky
Mountains, A. miser, and possibly some other species, produce an alkaloid
that causes partial paralysis, which has led to the name "locoweed," because of
the erratic movements of affected animals. Other species, such as A. pectinatus
and A. bisulcatus, can accumulate the element selenium, which can cause sick-
ness or death when eaten.

Some authors have divided the genus Astragalus into several small genera,
or sections, by using the characters of the legumes. The legumes (or pods) vary
from short to long, compressed to inflated, papery to woody, 1 -celled to 2-
celled, and few to many seeds. The inflorescence is a raceme with few to many
flowers more or less long peduncled, and axillary in the leaf axils.

1. Plants low, cushion-like, matted or

straggling 2

Plants with erect or decumbent stems. ., 12

2. Leaflets spine-tipped, plants prickly A. kentrophyta

Leaflets not spine-tipped 3

464

3. Flowers white, borne in the crown of the

plant; leaves with 3 leaflets, densely

villous A. gilviflorus

Flowers purplish or yellowish, borne on

more or less well developed peduncles 4

4. Leaves usually with a single leaflet, occa-

sionally with 3 or 5 leaflets; flowers

purple A. spatulatus

Leaves with at least 7 leaflets 5

5. Flowers yellowish, with or without pur-

plish tips 6

Flowers purple or blue, occasionally

whitish 8

6. Plants cushion-like; leaves silky villous,

tomentose; flowers about 2 cm long A. purshii

Plants not cushion-like; stems spreading 7

7. Plants large; flowers about 2 cm long;

leaves with 17-25 leaflets; pods

glabrous A. crassicarpus

Plants small; flowers about 1 cm long;
leaves with 7-15 leaflets; pods densely
pubescent A. lotiflorus

8. Plants with taproots and caudex 9

Plants with rootstalks 1 1

9. Flowers about 2 cm long; leaves silvery

pubescent A. missouriensis

Flowers about 1 cm long; leaves not sil-
very pubescent 10

10. Stems long, few-leafed; leaflets 15-21;

inflorescence elongating at maturity;

pods cylindric A. flexuosus

Stems short, densely leafed; leaflets 7-11;
inflorescence not elongating; pods
flattened A. vexilliflexus

11. Inflorescence a dense, head-like raceme;

flowers and pods erect; pods densely

pubescent A. danicus

Inflorescence a short, loosely flowered
raceme; flowers spreading; pods
reflexed, black hairy A. alpinus

12. Flowers white, yellow, or greenish 13

Flowers at least partly reddish, purplish,

or bluish 21

13. Leaflets very narrowly linear A. pectinatus

Leaflets not narrowly linear 14

14. Plants densely hairy A. drummondii

Plants not densely hairy 15

465

15. Inflorescence densely flowered 16

Inflorescence loosely flowered 19

16. Flowers ascending, greenish white; pods

woody A. canadensis

Flowers ascending to spreading, creamy

white or yellowish; pods not woody 17

17. Flowers creamy white, spreading; pods

triangular in cross section A. racemosus

Flowers greenish yellow or yellow; pods

not triangular in cross section 18

18. Flowers yellow; pods inflated, globular to

ovoid, black pubescent A. cicer

Flowers greenish yellow; pods inflated,

ellipsoid, glabrous A.frigidus

19. Leaflets glabrous or nearly so; pods

oblong, pointed at both ends,

drooping A. tenellus

Leaflets strigose, at least beneath; pods

not pointed at both ends 20

20. Pods sessile, linear-oblong, straight on

both sutures, drooping A. miser

Pods long-stipitate, elliptic, with the lower
suture arched, spreading, arched
downward A. aboriginum

21. Inflorescence a short, dense, head-like

raceme, about as long as wide; flowers

and pods all erect 22

Inflorescence not head-like, if densely
flowered an elongated raceme; some
flowers pendent 23

22. Plants with slender rootstalks; pubes-

cence of the leaflets composed of basi-

fixed hairs A. danicus

Plants with taproots and caudex; pubes-
cence of the leaflets composed of mal-
pighian hairs A. striatus

23. Flowers brick red to purplish;

inflorescence a loose raceme; pods

strongly inflated A. iochrous

Flowers purplish to whitish purple; pods

not inflated 24

24. Plants low; stems erect or ascending,

10-30 cm high 25

Plants up to 60 cm high; stems erect 27

25. Plants with slender rootstalks A. alpinus

Plants with taproots or caudex 26

26. Pods erect, 5-7 mm long; leaflets 7-15 A. yukonis

466

Pods drooping, 10-15 mm long; leaflets

13-23 A. bourgovii

27. Flowers in a dense raceme, somewhat

reflexed; pods 2-grooved on the upper

side A. bisulcatus

Flowers in loose racemes; pods not

2-grooved 28

28. Pods stipitate, 1.5-2 cm long, spreading or

arched downward A. robbinsii

Pods sessile, 1 cm long, drooping A. eucosmus

Astragalus aboriginum Richardson Indian milk-vetch

Plants with a stout taproot, few- to many-stemmed from a branched cau-
dex. Stems 20-40 cm long, ascending or erect, densely and finely pubescent
with spreading hairs. Leaves with 7-15 leaflets 1-3 cm long, elliptic to linear-
lanceolate, pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long in flower, elon-
gating to 10-15 cm in fruit; flowers 6-10 mm long, whitish, bluish purple tip-
ped; calyx 3-4 mm long, black pubescent. Legumes 1.5-2.5 cm long, straight
to somewhat falcate, flattened, glabrous to white pubescent, drooping, borne
on a stipe 5-8 mm long. An almost glabrous form has been named var. major
Gray. Gravel banks along rivers and on slopes; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces. Syn.: A. aboriginorum Richardson; Atelophragma aboriginum (Richard-
son) Rydb.

Astragalus alpinus L. alpine milk-vetch

Plants with extensively creeping roots; stems 10^40 cm high, solitary or in
small tufts, slender, decumbent or ascending, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves
with 1 1-25 leaflets 1-2 cm long, oblong to oval, with the apex retuse or obtuse,
glabrous above or somewhat pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence 3-4 cm
long, at first dense, soon elongating to 5-8 cm in fruit; flowers 7-13 mm long,
light purplish blue to almost white; calyx 3^t mm long, black pubescent.
Legume 8-12 mm long, straight or falcate, compressed, black pubescent,
reflexed, stipitate. The var. brunetianus Fern, is distinguishable by having a
short glabrescent calyx, 2-2.5 mm long, and a glabrescent pod. Forest mar-
gins, open and disturbed areas; Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains. Syn.:
Atelophragma alpinum (L.) Rydb.

Astragalus bisulcatus (Hook.) Gray (Fig. 132,4) two-grooved milk-vetch

Plants densely tufted, often many-stemmed, erect; stems stout, 30-80 cm
high, usually reddish to purplish, finely pubescent to glabrous. Leaves with
13-29 leaflets 1-3.5 cm long, oblong-elliptic, somewhat pubescent to glabrous.
Inflorescence 10-18 cm long, dense; flowers 10-15 mm long, reddish purple,
usually somewhat pendent; calyx about 4 mm long, inflated at base. Legume
18-22 mm long, pendent, linear oblong, the upper side deeply 2-grooved. Plant
with an unpleasant odor. Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Diholcos bisulcatus
(Hook.) Rydb.

467

Fig. 132. A, Two-grooved milk-vetch, Astragalus bisulcatus (Hook.) Gray; B,
narrow-leaved milk-vetch, Astragalus pectinatus Dougl.

468

Astragalus bourgovii Gray

Plants densely tufted from a stout caudex. Stems erect or ascending,
10-30 cm high. Leaves with 13-25 leaflets 5-12 mm long, lanceolate to oblong-
elliptic, pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence lax, loosely flowered; flowers
8-11 mm long, bluish purple or violet; calyx 4-5 mm long, black pubescent.
Legume 1-1.5 cm long, oblong elliptic, flattened, black pubescent. Montane
and alpine meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Astragalus canadensis L. CANADIAN MILK-VETCH

Plants with creeping roots; stems single or a few together. Stems stout,
40-100 cm high, glabrous or thinly pubescent. Leaves with 13-27 leaflets 2^.5
cm long, elliptic to oblong, glabrous to thinly pubescent. Inflorescence dense,
8-10 cm long; flowers greenish white to white, 1.0-1.5 cm long, ascending to
spreading; calyx 4—5 mm long, strigose. Legume 1.2-1.6 cm long, woody, glab-
rous or nearly so, terete, sessile. Moist areas, woodland; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Astragalus cicer L. cicer milk-vetch

Plants with creeping roots; stems single, 40-60 cm high. Leaves with
23-33 leaflets 5-20 mm long, pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence dense, 4—6
cm long, black pubescent; flowers yellow, 10-15 mm long; calyx 6-8 mm long,
black pubescent. Legume 10-15 mm long, ovoid to globose, inflated, thin-
walled, black pubescent. An introduced species, rare as a weed; Manitoba,
Alberta.

Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. GROUND-PLUM

Plants with a stout caudex; many-stemmed; stems procumbent, strag-
gling, 20-35 cm long, finely pubescent. Leaves with 13-27 leaflets 8-20 mm
long, oblong to linear, strigose below, glabrous above. Inflorescence 4-5 cm
long, few-flowered; flowers 1.5-2.0 cm long, whitish with purplish tip or bluish
purple; calyx 5-8 mm long, pubescent with black and white hairs. Legume
subglobose, 1.5-2.5 cm in diam, deep reddish purple when ripe. Grasslands;
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: A. caryocarpus Ker; Geoprumnon crassicarpum
(Nutt.) Rydb.

Astragalus danicus Retz. purple milk-vetch

Plants with slender creeping roots; stems single or tufted, slender, 10-30
cm high, sparsely pubescent to glabrous. Leaves with 11-21 leaflets 1-2 cm
long, lanceolate to linear-oblong, sparsely pubescent on both sides.
Inflorescence dense, 2-A cm long; flowers 14-17 mm long, purplish, erect;
calyx black pubescent, 5-6 mm long. Legume about 1 cm long, densely pubes-
cent. A Eurasian steppe species. North American plants are considered to be
var. dasyglottis (Fisch.) Boiv. A white-flowered form is f. virgultulus (Sheld.)
Boiv. Grasslands; Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: A. goniatus Nutt.; A.
hypoglottis Richardson.

Astragalus drummondii Dougl. drummond'S milk-vetch

Plants with well-developed caudex; many-stemmed; stems 30-60 cm high,
more or less densely pubescent with long, spreading hairs. Leaves with 23-33

469

leaflets 10-15 mm long, linear-oblong to elliptic, glabrous or nearly so above,
densely soft pubescent below. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long, dense at first, soon
elongating; flowers 1.5-2.0 cm long, white, pendent; calyx 5-6 mm long,
pubescent with mixed white and black hairs. Legumes pendulous, 2-3 cm long,
linear, glabrous, with the stipe 6-8 mm long. Grassland; western Prairies
and Parklands. Syn.: Tium drummondii (Dougl.) Rydb.

Astragalus eucosmus Robinson

Plants with creeping roots; stems solitary or in small tufts, 30-60 cm high,
glabrous or nearly so. Leaves with 11-17 leaflets 8-25 mm long, elliptic to
oblong, glabrous or nearly so above, sparsely pubescent on underside.
Inflorescence at first dense, soon elongating to 10-15 cm long; flowers 7-10
mm long, purple to whitish purple or almost white; calyx 3^4 mm long, black
pubescent. Legume 8-10 mm long, obliquely elliptic, reflexed, sessile, densely
pubescent. The var. eucosmus has black hairy pods; plants with white hairy
pods are f. leucocarpus Lepage. Open woods, riverbanks; Boreal forest and
Rocky Mountains.

Astragalus flexuosus Dougl. slender milk-vetch

Plants with stout creeping roots; stems solitary or few together, 30-50 cm
long, straggling, thinly pubescent. Leaves with 13-23 leaflets 5-15 mm long,
linear to oblong, glabrous above, somewhat pubescent below. Inflorescence
5-10 cm long in flower, elongating to 15 cm in fruit; flowers white, tipped pur-
plish to reddish purple; calyx 3-3.5 mm long, pubescent. Legume 1-2 cm long,
almost terete, linear, spreading or reflexed, with the stipe shorter than the calyx
tube. Prairies and Parklands throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Pisophaca
flexuosa (Dougl.) Rydb.

Astragalus frigidus (L.) Gray American milk-vetch

Plants with a stout caudex; stems usually several, erect, seldom branch-
ing, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves with 9-15 leaflets 2-5 cm long, oblong-ellip-
tic to elliptic, glabrous above, somewhat pubescent below. Inflorescence 5-7
cm long in flower, elongating to 10 cm in fruit; flowers 13-15 mm long, yellow-
ish white, at first ascending, later reflexed; calyx oblique, about 5 mm long,
with very short teeth. Legume 1.5-2.0 cm long, ellipsoid, inflated, pendent,
with the stipe about 5 mm long. In the var. frigidus of Eurasia, the legume is at
first black pubescent, and later glabrescent. In Canada, the legume is glabrous,
or very sparsely pubescent; the plants are distinguished as var. americanus
(Hook.) Wats. (Fig. 133). Moist woods, riverbanks, and openings; Boreal for-
est, Rocky Mountains. Syn.: A. americanus (Hook.) M. E. Jones; Phaca
americana (Hook.) Rydb.

Astragalus gilviflorus Sheld. cushion milk-vetch

Plants with a caudex and deep taproot, stemless, forming a dense cushion.
Leaves with 3 leaflets 1-2.5 cm long, densely silvery silky villous on both sides.
Inflorescence 1 or 2 flowers, subsessile at base of leaves; flowers white, with
purplish-spotted keel, 1.5-3.0 cm long; calyx 15 mm long, densely pubescent.
Legume about 15 mm long, oblong-ovate, terete, silky pubescent. Dry eroded
hills, slopes, and disturbed areas; western Prairies. Syn.: A. triphyllus Pursh.;
Orophaca caespitosa (Nutt.) Britt.

470

-

Fig. 133. American milk-vetch, Astragalus frigidus (L.) Gray var.
americanus (Hook.) Wats.

471

Astragalus iochrous Barneby (Fig. 134) AUSTRIAN FIELD-PEA

Plants with long creeping roots; stems solitary or few together, 40-90 cm
high. Leaves with 11-17 leaflets 5-25 mm long, oblong to elliptic, glaucous
green. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, loosely flowered; flowers 10-15 mm long,
brick red; calyx 3-5 mm long. Legume 15-25 mm long, ovoid, glabrous, with
the stipe about twice as long as the calyx. An introduced species, rare; known
from Maple Creek, Sask. Syn.: Swainsona salsula (Pall.) Taub.

Astragalus kentrophyta Gray prickly milk-vetch

Plants with a deep taproot; stems pubescent, straggling. Leaves 2-3 cm
long; leaflets 1-2 cm long, tipped with a sharp spine. Inflorescence 1-2 cm
long, almost hidden among the leaves; flowers 4—5 mm long, white with pur-
plish tinge; calyx 2-3 mm long, pubescent. Legume about 5 mm long, ovoid,
somewhat compressed. Rare; sand dunes and other sandy areas; southwestern
Prairies. Syn.: Kentrophyta montana Nutt.

Astragalus lotiflorus Hook. low milk-vetch

Plants with a deep taproot; stems erect, pubescent, 10-15 cm high. Leaves
with 9-13 leaflets 8-15 mm long, elliptic to oblong, thinly pubescent above,
densely pubescent below. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long; flowers 8-10 mm long,
yellow white, often purplish-tipped; calyx 3-3.5 mm long, densely pubescent.
Legumes 1.5-2.0 cm long, long-pointed, densely pubescent, usually sessile
amongst the leaf bases, sometimes on stems about 5 cm long. Not common;
grassland and openings on light soils; Prairies and Parklands. Syn.:
Batidophaca lotiflora (Hook.) Rydb.

Astragalus miser Dougl. timber milk-vetch

Plants with several stems arising from caudex. Stems slender, 5-20 cm
high, ascending, somewhat pubescent or glabrous. Leaves with 9-15 leaflets
3-10 mm long, linear to linear-oblong, pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence
6-10 cm long; flowers 8-10 mm long, white to yellowish, purple-tipped; calyx
3^1 mm long, pubescent with mixed white and black hairs. Legume 15-20 mm
long, linear, subsessile, drooping, somewhat pubescent. Rare; in Rocky Moun-
tains. The var. serotinus (Gray) Barneby, with the calyx 2-2.5 mm long, flowers
6-8 mm long, purple. More common; open woods, slopes; Rocky Mountains.
Syn.: Homalobus serotinus (A. Gray) Rydb.; A. serotinus A. Gray.

Astragalus missouriensis Nutt. Missouri milk-vetch

Plants with a deep stout taproot and caudex. Stems tufted, to 20 cm long,
usually ascending, more or less densely gray or silvery pubescent. Leaves with
9-21 leaflets 5-15 mm long, elliptic to obovate, densely silvery pubescent.
Inflorescence 1.5-5 cm long, dense at first, and elongating in fruit; flowers
15-20 mm long, deep reddish purple to bluish purple; calyx 7-8 mm long, sil-
very pubescent. Legume 2.5-3 cm long, oblong, pubescent, erect. Slopes and
eroded hillsides; Prairies. Syn.: Xylophacos missouriensis (Nutt.) Rydb.

Astragalus pectinatus Dougl. (Fig. 1325) narrow-leaved milk-vetch

Plants with a deep taproot, and few-stemmed caudex. Stems 20-50 cm
long, decumbent to ascending, glabrous, often reddish at base. Leaves with

472

Fig. 134. Austrian field-pea, Astragalus iochrous Barneby.

473

9-17 leaflets 2-6 cm long, narrowly linear, 1-2 mm wide, sparingly pubescent.
Inflorescence 5-8 cm long; flowers 1.5-2.5 cm long, white to yellowish; calyx
7-8 mm long. Legume 10-20 mm long, oblong, terete, glabrous, fleshy at first,
becoming woody when dry. Grasslands and slopes; Prairies. Syn.:
Cnemidophacos pectinatus (Dougl.) Rydb.

Astragalus pur shii Dougl. pursh'S milk-vetch

Cushion-like plants with a deep taproot and caudex. Stems 5-8 cm long,
densely pubescent. Leaves with 9-15 leaflets 8-12 mm long, oblanceolate to
ovate, densely long pubescent. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long; flowers 2-2.5 cm
long, yellowish white, purple-tipped; calyx to 10 mm long, densely pubescent.
Legume 15-20 mm long, ovoid, densely long pubescent. Rare; dry prairie
slopes and eroded hills; western Prairies. Syn.: Xylophacos purshii (Dougl.)
Rydb.

Astragalus racemosus Pursh racemose milk-vetch

Plant several-stemmed from a stout taproot and caudex. Stems 40-80 cm
high, sparingly pubescent. Leaves with 15-27 leaflets 1-2 cm long, glabrous
above, somewhat pubescent below, linear to linear-oblong. Inflorescence 5-7
cm in flower, elongating to 10 cm in fruit; flowers 15-20 mm long, yellowish
white; calyx 2.5-3 mm long. Legume 1.5-2.5 cm long, glabrous, triangular in
cross section, drooping, with the stipe 5-7 mm long. Rare; dry prairie slopes
and hillsides; Saskatchewan. Syn.: Tium racemosum (Pursh) Rydb.

Astragalus robbinsii (Oakes) Gray

Plants with several stems arising from caudex. Stems 30-50 cm high,
erect, pubescent. Leaves with 9-17 leaflets 1.5-2.5 cm long, elliptic to oval or
oblong, glabrous above, pubescent below. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long in
flower, elongating to 15 cm in fruit; flowers 8-10 mm long, bluish purple to
almost white; calyx 3-4 mm long, black hairy. Legume 15-20 mm long,
flattened, black pubescent, drooping, stipitate. Riverbanks, lakeshores; Rocky
Mountains.

Astragalus spatulatus Sheld. tufted milk-vetch

Cushion-like plant with a deep taproot and caudex. Stems 5-7 cm long,
silvery gray pubescent. Leaves usually with a single leaflet, occasionally 3
leaflets 1-4 cm long, oblong to linear oblong, densely silvery gray pubescent.
Inflorescence 2-3 cm long in flower, the peduncle elongating to 7-8 cm in
fruit; flowers 6-8 mm long, bluish purple; calyx 2-2.5 mm long, pubescent.
Legume 6-12 mm long, flattened, elliptic, glabrous, erect. Locally moderately
common; eroded hillsides and slopes; western Prairies. Syn.: A. caespitosus
(Nutt.) Gray; Homalobus caespitosus Nutt.

Astragalus striatus Nutt. ascending purple milk-vetch

Plants with several to many stems arising from a stout taproot. Stems
decumbent or ascending, 15-40 cm high, pubescent. Leaves with 9-19 leaflets
1-2 cm long, elliptic to oblong, pubescent, with the hairs attached in the mid-
dle. Inflorescence 4-5 cm long, dense; flowers 12-15 mm long, purplish, rarely
white; calyx 5 mm long, pubescent with black and white hairs. Legume 7-15

474

mm long, ovoid, pubescent. Open grasslands and slopes; Prairies and Park-
lands. Syn.: A. adsurgens Hook.

Astragalus tenellus Pursh loose-flowered milk-vetch

Plants with few to several stems from a stout caudex. Stems 20-50 cm
high, somewhat pubescent, erect. Leaves with 11-21 leaflets 8-12 mm long,
linear to linear-oblong, glabrous above, somewhat pubescent below.
Inflorescence 4—5 cm long in flower, elongating to 7 cm in fruit; flowers 8-10
mm long, whitish; calyx 2-2.5 mm long, pubescent. Legume 8-12 mm long,
flattened, glabrous, drooping, stipitate. Coulees, forest margins, lakeshores;
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Homalobus tenellus (Pursh) Britt.

Astragalus vexilliflexus Sheld. few-flowered milk-vetch

Plants matted, many-stemmed from a deep taproot and caudex. Stems
10-30 cm long, straggling, pubescent. Leaves with 7-11 leaflets 5-18 mm long,
oblong to oblong-lanceolate, pubescent. Inflorescence 1.5-3.0 cm long; flowers
6-8 mm long, purplish, occasionally whitish; calyx 2 mm long, pubescent.
Legume 7-10 mm long, somewhat pubescent, flattened, sessile. Rare, locally
moderately common; eroded slopes and hills; western Prairies, Rocky Moun-
tains. Syn.: Homalobus vexilliflexus (Sheld.) Rydb.

Astragalus yukonis M. E. Jones

Plants with several to many stems arising from a stout taproot and cau-
dex. Stems 5-30 cm high, slender, decumbent to ascending, glabrous. Leaves
with 7-15 leaflets 4—12 mm long, oblong, apex often retuse, glabrous above,
pubescent below. Inflorescence 2-4 cm long on a long peduncle; flowers 7-10
mm long, bluish- or purple-tipped; calyx 2-2.5 mm long, black pubescent.
Legume 5-10 mm long, ellipsoid, black pubescent, erect. Grassy openings;
Boreal forest.

Caragana Siberian peatree

Caragana arborescens Lam. common caragana

A bush 3^ m high; leaves pinnate with 8-12 pale green leaflets 10-25 mm
long; the leaf stem ending in a short spine. Flowers bright yellow, 15-25 mm
long, followed by dark brown linear pods 3-5 cm long. Introduced as a hedge
and ornamental plant from Siberia and now established in many places.

Coronilla crown-vetch

Coronilla varia L. FIELD crown-vetch

Perennial plants with stems 20-100 cm high. Leaves with 6-10 pairs of
oblong or elliptic leaflets 6-20 mm long. Heads mostly 10- to 20-flowered;
corolla 10-15 mm long, white to purplish; pods 20-60 mm long, with 3-7
joints, 4-angled. Introduced and occasionally spreading from cultivation;
southeastern Parklands.

475

Desmodium tick-trefoil

Desmodium canadense (L.) DC. beggar'S-lice

Plants perennial, with erect pubescent stems, mostly about 1 m, occasion-
ally to 2 m high. Leaves trifoliate, with the leaflets oblong to oblong-lanceo-
late, the terminal one petioled, 5-9 cm long; racemes densely flowered; flowers
10-15 mm long, purplish; legume 2-3 cm long, with 3-5 joints. Rare; moist
open areas; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Glycyrrhiza wild licorice

Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Nutt.) Pursh (Fig. 135) wild licorice

A coarse erect branching herb 30-100 cm high, from a thick sweet-tasting
rootstock having a slight licorice flavor. Leaves of 1 1-19 lanceolate or oblong
leaflets, pale green, glandular-dotted, 20-35 mm long, and pointed at both
ends. Flowers yellowish white, 10-15 mm long, and borne in rather dense
racemes 2-6 cm long, arising from the axils of the leaves. Fruit in clusters of
oblong reddish brown pods 10—15 cm long, densely covered with long hooked
prickles, and containing several large seeds. Rootstocks were chewed by
Indians. Palatable as hay, but seldom grazed. Very common in southern
portion, but becoming scarcer toward the north; found in low spots on the
prairie, slough margins, riverbanks, and coulees; throughout the Prairies
and Parklands.

Hedysarum sweet-broom

Perennial herbs with pinnate leaves; the flowers usually reflexed in long,
spike-like racemes, and the pods flat and jointed or constricted between the
seeds. The plants make good forage.

1. Calyx teeth very unequal, the upper ones

nearly triangular, shorter than the
calyx tube; veins of leaflets
conspicuous 2

Calyx teeth almost equal, linear, about as
long as the calyx tube; veins of leaves
not conspicuous H. boreale

2. Flowers violet or pale pink H. alpinum var. americanum

Flowers sulfur yellow H. sulphurescens

Hedysarum alpinum L. var. americanum Michx. (Fig. 136)

AMERICAN HEDYSARUM

An erect plant 15-80 cm high, usually with few branches. Leaves of 1 1-21
oblong leaflets 10-30 mm long. Flowers on a long raceme, pinkish or violet,
10-15 mm long, usually pointing downward. Pods usually have 3-5 internodes
or enlargements, hairless except perhaps on the margins. Common; in semi-
open prairie and open woods; especially in the Boreal forest and the Cypress
Hills. The most common species of the genus in the Prairie Provinces, and
readily eaten by livestock. A variety with hairy pods has been found in the
southwestern part of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: H. americanum (Michx.)
Britt.

476

Fig. 135. Wild licorice, Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Nutt.) Pursh.

477

Fig. 136. American hedysarum, Hedysarum alpinum L. var. americanum
Michx.

478

Hedysarum boreale Nutt. northern hedysarum

Somewhat similar to H. alpinum but the lobes of the calyx longer and very
narrow and the veins on the leaflets not distinct. Leaflets almost smooth and
flowers reddish purple and somewhat reflexed.

Three forms of this species occur:

1. Inflorescence short and dense; flowers to

20 mm long; stipules whitish var. mackenzii

Inflorescence elongate and loose; flowers

about 15 mm long; stipules brownish 2

2. Leaflets glabrous or sparsely pubescent;

pods rather smooth var. boreale

Leaflets densely silky hairy; pods rugose var. cinerascens

Both var. boreale and var. cinerascens (Rydb.) Rollins occur on slopes of
ravines and coulees in Prairies; var. cinerascens in drier areas, var. boreale in
moister situations and also occasionally in Parklands. The var. mackenzii
(Richardson) C. L. Hitchc, Mackenzie's hedysarum, is fairly common in
meadows and on slopes in Parklands and Boreal forest.

Hedysarum sulphurescens Rydb. yellow hedysarum

An erect species 30-60 cm high; leaves with 11-15 oblong to oval leaflets
10-85 mm long. Flowers 12-15 mm long, sulfur yellow, in a long loosely-
flowered raceme. A species readily distinguishable by the flower color. Open
woods, slopes, and meadows; southern Rocky Mountains, rare farther north.

Lathyrus vetchling

Perennial twining vines, dying to the ground each year and bearing pin-
nate leaves with a tendril taking the place of the terminal leaflet. The flowers
perfect, the stamens diadelphous. Style hairy along its inner side, and some-
what flattened, distinguishing this genus from Vicia (the true vetch), with
merely a tuft of hairs at the end of an unflattened style. Pods somewhat
flattened containing several seeds. Very palatable, a valuable native fodder in
many localities. Grazed out readily, but making good growth again when pro-
tected from livestock. The sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus L., occurs occasionally
as an escape, but is not persistent.

1. Leaves with only 2 leaflets 2

Leaves with more than 2 leaflets 3

2. Stem clearly winged L. sativus

Stem wingless L. tuberosus

3. Flowers creamy white or yellowish L. ochroleucus

Flowers purplish 4

4. Racemes with 15-20 or more flowers L. venosus

Racemes with fewer than 15 flowers 5

5. Leaflets linear to linear-lanceolate; stem

narrowly winged, at least above L. palustris

Leaflets oblong to ovate; stem wingless L. japonicus

479

Lathyrus japonicus Willd. beach-pea

A somewhat glaucous glabrous or pubescent perennial, usually straggling
with stems to 1 m long. Leaves with 4-10 leaflets, often without a tendril.
Racemes 2- to 12-flowered; corolla 15-25 mm long, purplish; legume 3-5 cm
long, with 4-10 seeds. Not common; lakeshores and beaches; Hudson Bay,
Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba. The typical form has 2- to 7-flowered
racemes, and a pubescent calyx; plants with 5- to 12-flowered racemes and
glabrous calyx distinguishable as subsp. mahtimus (L.) R. W. Ball.

Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. (Fig. 137) cream-colored vetch ling

A slender smooth climber up to 1 m long, with a somewhat angled stem.
Stipules large and almost cordate. Leaves of 6-10 broad oval leaflets 2-5 cm
long. Flowers cream-colored, about 15 mm long, in racemes of 5-10 flowers.
Pods about 4 cm long. Very common; in bluffs, open woodlands, and among
bushes; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Lathyrus palustris L. marsh vetchling

A smooth climber 30-100 cm long, with a somewhat winged stem and
leaves of 4-8 linear or linear-oblong leaflets 10-65 mm long. Stipules small and
almost linear. Flowers purple, 10—15 mm Jong, 2-8 in each raceme. Pods 3-5
cm long. Fairly common; in moist places and damp woodlands; Boreal forest.

Lathyrus sativus L. chicken vetch

Annual plants with winged stems to 1 m high; leaflets 2-15 cm long, lin-
ear-lanceolate. Flowers solitary, white, pink, or bluish; legume 2-A cm long,
1-2 cm wide. Introduced, occasionally sown for fodder, and rarely escaped.

Lathyrus tuber osus L. TUBEROUS vetchling

Perennial with a tuberous root; stems 30-100 cm high, glabrous or sub-
glabrous. Leaflets 15^5 mm long, elliptic to oblong. Racemes 2- to 7-
flowered; corolla 12-20 mm long, bright reddish purple; legume 2-4 cm long.
Introduced, occasionally sown for fodder, and spreading from cultivation.

Lathyrus venosus Muhl. wild peavine

A climbing plant 50-100 cm long, sometimes somewhat finely hairy.
Stems strongly 4-angled. Leaves having 8-12 oblong-ovate blunt-tipped
leaflets 2-5 cm long. Flowers purple, 10-18 mm long, 15-20 in each raceme.
Pods 3-5 cm long and veiny. This wild peavine provided a valuable source of
forage and hay in the earlier days of settlement of northern bushlands. Com-
mon; around bushes and woodlands; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest. The
pubescent form is var. intonsus Butt. & St. John.

Lotus trefoil

Annual or perennial herbs; leaves pinnate, with odd-numbered leaflets.
Flowers solitary or in heads; legume cylindric. Mostly Eurasian; several spe-
cies useful as forage crops, two of these introduced in Canada.

480

Fig. 137. Cream-colored vetchling, Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook.

481

1. Plants annual; flowers solitary in upper

leaf axils L. americanus

Plants perennial; flowers in umbellate

heads 2

2. Stems solid; calyx lobes incurved in bud,

1.5-2.0 mm long; leaflets 5-15 mm

long L. corniculatus

Stems hollow; calyx lobes recurved in
bud, 2-4 mm long; leaflets 10-25 mm
long L. pedunculatus

Lotus americanus (Nutt.) Bisch. Spanish clover

Plants 10-40 cm high, with stems erect, branched or simple, pubescent.
Leaves subsessile, 3-foliate, 1-2 cm long, with the terminal one stalked. Flow-
ers pinkish, 5-7 mm long; pods 2-3 cm long, deflexed. Not common; dry to
moist grasslands; southeastern Parklands. Syn.: Trigonella americana Nutt.;
Lotus purshianus (Benth.) Clem. & Clem.

Lotus corniculatus L. bird'S-foot trefoil

Stems prostrate, erect or ascending, to 60 cm long, solid or nearly so.
Inflorescence 1- to 5-flowered; flowers yellow, often tinged with red; pods 2-A
cm long. Introduced as forage crop and locally established.

Lotus pedunculatus Cav '. trefoil

Resembling L. corniculatus, but the stem with a large cavity, the
inflorescence 5- to 10-flowered, and the leaflets usually larger. Legume 2-4 cm
long. Probably introduced with L. corniculatus; rare as an escape.

Lupinus lupine

Annual or perennial showy herbs with alternate palmate leaves, each
bearing 5-12 leaflets. Flowers perfect and borne in terminal racemes. Ten sta-
mens united into one bundle with the anthers alternately elongated and short.
Pods flattened, consisting of 2 cells, and containing 1-6 seeds. Some species of
lupines poisonous to stock, particularly sheep; the seedpods apparently being
the most dangerous part of the plants.

1. Plants annual; stem and leaves densely

pilose to hirsute; flowers pale blue to

white L. pusillus

Plants perennial 2

2. Standard (or banner) pubescent on the

back over most of its surface L. sericeus

Standard glabrous or with a few cilia 3

3. Leaflets sericeous above; plants silky-seri-

ceous, up to 20 cm high; the leaves

mostly basal L. minimus

Leaflets glabrous above, or occasionally
sparsely puberulent or strigose; plants
more than 20 cm high 4

482

Keel densely ciliate along most of its
upper edge; petioles usually less than
twice the length of the leaflets L. nootkatensis

Keel ciliate only toward the tip, or glab-
rous; petioles of various lengths 5

Leaves mostly basal, long-petioled;

leaflets 10-17, glabrous above, sparsely

strigose below, the largest to 12 cm

long, to 25 mm wide L. polyphyllus

Leaves mostly cauline, short-petioled;

leaflets 7-9, glabrous above, sericeous

below, the largest to 4.5 cm long, to 5

mm wide L. argenteus

Lupinus argenteus Pursh (Fig. 138) silvery lupine

A rather shrubby much-branched herb 30-60 cm high, with stems covered
with appressed silky hairs. Leaves of 6-9 narrowly oblanceolate leaflets 2-5 cm
long, sometimes silvery hairy or smooth above. Flowers varying from light vio-
let or purplish to almost white, in long terminal racemes. Pods densely silky
hairy, 15-25 mm long, containing up to 5 seeds. Plentiful; on submontane
prairie; southern Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills, and Wood Mountain.

Lupinus minimus Dougl. ALPINE lupine

Stems erect to decumbent, unbranched, 15-20 cm high, silky pubescent,
with 1 or 2 stem leaves. Basal leaves long-petioled, with 5-9 leaflets 2-3 cm
long. Very rare; alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Lupinus nootkatensis Donn nootka lupine

Plants 20-60 cm high, with stems erect, densely villose pubescent. Leaves
with 7-15 leaflets; the petioles 1.5-2 times as long as the leaflets. Racemes to
20 cm long; flowers 12-16 mm long. Pods loosely pubescent, 3^4 cm long. Not
common; moist alpine meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. large-leafed lupine

Plants 50-120 cm high, stout-stemmed, appressed to spreading pubescent.
Leaves long-petioled, with up to 17 leaflets. Inflorescence 15-30 cm long,
rather loosely flowered; petals blue to reddish or yellowish. Pods pubescent,
3-5 cm long. Not common; grassland, open woods, and meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Lupinus pusillus Pursh small lupine

A low-growing annual plant 10-25 cm high, with decumbent branches
and very hairy. Leaves usually of 5 oblong leaflets, smooth above but with
long hairs beneath, usually rounded at the ends, 20-35 mm long. Flowers
tinged with purple or rose, sometimes almost white, in short dense racemes on
very short stalks. Pods about 2 cm long with 1 or 2 seeds and somewhat con-
stricted between the seeds. Found locally in sandhills and among sand dunes,
but not common.

483

Fig. 138. Silvery lupine, Lupinus argenteus Pursh.

484

Lupinus sericeus Pursh flexile lupine

A branching plant 40-80 cm high, with grayish appressed silky hairs.
Leaves of 6-10 narrowly oblanceolate leaflets 2-5 cm long, densely appressed
silky hairy on both sides. Dark blue flowers in dense terminal spikes. Densely
white hairy pods 20-35 mm long, containing 2-5 seeds. A very showy species.
In grasslands and open woods; southern Rocky Mountains. Syn.: L. flexuosus
Lindl.

Medicago medick

Annual or perennial plants, not native to the prairie, with trifoliolate
leaves, toothed only beyond the center. Flowers perfect, borne in racemes or
spikes; stamens diadelphous. Pods curved or spirally twisted.

1. Plants annual or biennial; flowers yellow;

leaflets about 10 mm long, obovate 2

Plants perennial; flowers yellow or some
shade of purple; leaflets about 15 mm
long, linear 3

2. Flowers in dense head-like racemes, 10-

to 30-flowered; legume kidney-shaped,

to 3 mm across, black M. lupulina

Flowers in a raceme with 1-5 flowers;
legume spirally coiled, to 8 mm across,
spiny M. polymorpha

3. Flowers some shade of purple, sometimes

whitish; legume coiled; corolla 7-11

mm M. sativa ssp. sativa

Flowers yellow; legume falcate to almost

straight; corolla 5-8 mm M. sativa ssp. falcata

Medicago lupulina L. black medick

A prostrate branched annual weed 10-60 cm across, with trifoliolate
leaves. Leaflets obovate, toothed above the middle, 3-10 mm long. Flowers
yellow, about 3 mm long, in dense head-like racemes, less than 1 cm long.
Pods small and black, containing a single seed. Introduced; common in dis-
turbed areas in Parklands and Boreal forest; not common in Prairie.

Medicago polymorpha L. BUR-C lover

Annual plants 15^40 cm high, with glabrous or sparingly pubescent stems.
Racemes of 1-8 yellow flowers 3-5 cm long. Pods 4-8 mm in diam, spirally
coiled, shiny. Introduced, rarely weedy.

Medicago sativa L. (Fig. 139) alfalfa

A fairly erect perennial 30-80 cm high, much-branched with trifoliolate
leaves. Leaflets 10-35 mm long, obovate, and sharply toothed toward the apex.
Flowers 5-1 1 mm long, in a dense oblong raceme 10-45 mm long. Introduced
as a fodder crop from Europe and now very common; along roadsides and
waste places; throughout most of the Prairie Provinces.

485

Fig. 139. Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. ssp. sativa.

486

This species consists of several entities that hybridize quite freely and are
often considered as separate species. Two of these are commonly used as for-
age, along with many cultivated varieties (cultivars) resulting from the breed-
ing program.

Corolla blue to purple, 7-11 mm; pods coiled
in 1.5-3.5 turns ssp. sativa

Corolla yellow, 5-8 mm; pods straight to
sickle-shaped ssp. falcata (L.) Arcangeli

Cultivars of the two subspecies have flower colors and pod shapes
between those of the parents.

Melilotus sweet-clover

Annual or biennial introduced legumes with trifoliolate leaves; the leaflets
toothed almost to the base. Flowers perfect, small, and in elongate, spike-like
racemes. Pods short, thick, and straight with 1 or few seeds. Excellent for
honey production and also as pasture for stock. Very common roadside weeds.

1. Flowers white 2

Flowers yellow 3

2. Corolla 3-3.5 mm long, with pedicels 2-A

mm long; racemes 5-10 cm long M. wolgica

Corolla 4-5 mm long, with pedicels 1-1.5

mm long; racemes to 20 cm long M. alba

3. Corolla 2-3 mm long; legume 1.5-3 mm

long M. indica

Corolla 4-7 mm long; legume 3-5 mm

long M. officinalis

Melilotus alba Medic. (Fig. 140) white sweet-clover

An erect plant 50-250 cm high, with palmately or pinnately trifoliolate
leaves; the leaflets 10-25 mm long, toothed almost to the base. Flowers white,
in long narrow spike-like racemes. Introduced as a forage plant from Europe
and Asia.

Melilotus indica (L.) All. yellow sweet-clover

Erect plants to about 50 cm high. Racemes dense; flowers pale yellow.
Occasionally cultivated, rare as a weed; southeastern Parklands.

Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. yellow sweet-clover

Similar to M. alba, but with yellow flowers. Introduced as a forage plant;
common along roadsides and in disturbed areas.

Melilotus wolgica Poir. white sweet-clover

Also similar to M. alba, but with longer pedicels, 2-A mm, and smaller
flowers. Introduced as a forage plant, and rarely escaped.

487

Fig. 140. White sweet-clover, Meli lotus alba Medic.

488

Oxytropis locoweed

Perennial herbs, usually with no apparent stem (except in O. deflexa), pin-
nate leaves with odd-numbered leaflets, and perfect flowers borne in a spike or
a raceme. Stamens diadelphous; keel extended to a protruding point,
distinguishing this genus from Astragalus. Several species of this genus
poisonous to livestock, causing well-known loco disease, affecting the nervous
system.

1. Plant caulescent; stipules adnate to the

base of the petiole only; pods

pendulous O. deflexa

Plants acaulescent; stipules adnate for

half their length; pods erect 2

2. Leaflets whorled on the rachis or appear-

ing so; few leaflets in pairs 3

Leaflets all paired or scattered on the

rachis 5

3. Inflorescence capitate, few-flowered O. bellii

Inflorescence elongate, many-flowered 4

4. Corolla purple; plants silky pubescent O. splendens

Corolla yellow; plants appressed-

pubescent O. campestris

5. Corolla purple to bluish 6

Corolla yellow to whitish 1 1

6. Pubescence in part composed of mal-

pighian hairs O. lambertii

Pubescence entirely composed of basi-

fixed hairs 7

7. Plants more or less glandular-viscid O. viscida

Plants not glandular-viscid 8

8. Pods ovoid, stipitate, strongly inflated O. podocarpa

Pods not ovoid, not strongly inflated 9

9. Corolla small, the keel to 13 mm long O. campestris

Corolla large, the keel 15-25 mm long 10

10. Plants very densely silky and spreading

pubescent; bracts of the inflorescence
linear-lanceolate, membranous with
involute blades O. lagopus

Plants hispid-hirsute to subappressed-
pilose; bracts of the inflorescence
rhombic-lanceolate, herbaceous with
flat blades O. besseyi

1 1. Keel of the corolla to 13 mm long; leaves

with 17-33 leaflets; pods not rigid at

maturity O. campestris

Keel of the corolla to 20 mm long; leaves
with 11-19 leaflets; pods rigid at
maturity O. sericea

489

Oxytropis bellii (Britt.) Palibine

Plants 10-15 cm high. Leaves with 17-35 leaflets 5-10 mm long, linear-
lanceolate, acute, silky pubescent, verticillate, mostly 3 or 4 leaflets per verticil.
Inflorescence with 4—7 flowers in a dense raceme; flowers 15-20 mm long,
large, dark blue purple; calyx 4-5 mm long, villous. Legume 8-10 mm long,
black pubescent, ovoid, erect. Very rare; Hudson Bay.

Oxytropis besseyi (Rydb.) Blank. (Fig. 141) bessevs locoweed

A tufted silvery hairy plant 10-20 cm high. Leaflets 5-20 mm long.
Inflorescence a short dense spike 2-5 cm high; flowers reddish purple. The
plant is easily mistaken for Missouri milk-vetch. Pods about 2 cm long, cov-
ered with long silky hairs. This is a southern species, which has been found,
but very rarely; on dry hillsides; Wood Mountain.

Oxytropis campestris (L.) DC. late yellow locoweed

Plants with a deep taproot and branching caudex, 15-40 cm high. Leaves
with 7-33 leaflets 1-2 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, silky pubescent. Inflores-
cence 5-10 cm long; flowers 12-15 mm long, variable in color; calyx 5-7 mm
long, pubescent with both white and black hairs. Legume 16-20 mm long,
oblong-ovate, pubescent with both white and black hairs, semimembranous.

A circumboreal species, very variable. It has been divided into a large
number of "small" species by various authors. North American plants may be
considered as varieties of ssp. gracilis (Nelson) Boiv., in which the legumes
lack a fully developed septum, whereas in the Eurasian ssp. campestris the sep-
tum is present. Some authorities consider all these forms as varieties of O.
campestris.

1. Flowers bluish or purplish 2

Flowers yellow or creamy white 3

2. Leaves of two sizes, the long ones about

twice as long as the short ones; leaflets

often in part verticillate var. dispar (Nels.) Barneby

Leaves all about the same length; leaflets

all paired \&x.johannensis Fern.

3. Stipules villous, often with club-shaped

processes on margins var. varians (Rydb.) Barneby

Stipules glabrous or glabrate, without

club-shaped processes 4

4. Leaves with 17-33 leaflets; scapes 15-30

cm; inflorescence many-flowered war. gracilis

Leaves with 7-17 leaflets; scapes 1.5-15

cm; inflorescence few-flowered var. cusickii (Greenm.) Barneby

Of these forms, var. gracilis is common in moist grassland, open woods,
and openings throughout the Prairie Provinces; var. cusickii occurs in alpine
and subalpine meadows and rockslides in the Rocky Mountains; var. dispar,
rare, on slopes of ravines and margins of groves, in southeastern Parklands;
var. johannensis, gravel bars, Hudson Bay; var. varians, rocky hillsides and
meadows, Hudson Bay.

490

HERBARIUM OF THE RESEARCH STATION
5WITT CORRENT, 5A3K.

SPECIES i Cxyfcrople besseyi (fijrdb.) Blank,

LOCATION: East of Hock Glea

COIX: J, Loobrr
OET:

CCL.L.NO:H338
OATS: 2i June 1970

Fig. 141. Bessey's locoweed, Oxytropis besseyi (Rydb.) Blank.

491

Oxytropis deflexa (Pall.) DC. reflexed locoweed

Plants with a deep taproot and caudex. Stems well-developed, lO^tO cm
long, decumbent to ascending, or acaulescent with the scape 10-20 cm long,
loosely pubescent. Leaves appearing flattened, with 17-41 leaflets 5-15 mm
long, lanceolate, pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence loosely flowered, elon-
gating in fruit; flowers 6-10 mm long, bluish or creamy white with purple tip;
calyx 3^ mm long, black pubescent, reflexed.

This species has been divided into the following varieties:

1. Lateral sinuses of the calyx similar to the
ventral pair, broad and obtuse; petals
ample, purple, with the banner broadly
obcordate, about twice as long as
broad 2

Lateral sinuses similar to the dorsal pair,
narrow and acute, rarely a little
broader and rounded; petals narrower,
mostly blue- or purplish-tinged, with
the banner oblanceolate, about 3 times
as long as broad

var. sericea T. & G.

2. Plants copiously and loosely villous-pi-
lose; stems commonly developed, with
at least 1 apparent internode at maturi-
ty; racemes 5-10 to 20-flowered, usu-
ally elongating in fruit

Plants sparingly pilose, green, with the
hairs appressed; stems usually none,
occasionally with 1 or 2 internodes;
racemes 2-7 to 10-flowered, almost
always compact in fruit

var. deflexa

v&r.foliolosa (Hook.) Barneby

Of these forms, var. sericea is found in grasslands and openings through-
out Parklands and Boreal forest; var. foliolosa in openings and on slopes in
Rocky Mountains; var. deflexa does not occur in the Prairie Provinces.

Oxytropis lagopus Nutt.

Plants with a stout taproot, densely pubescent. Leaves with 9-15 leaflets
5-15 mm long, elliptic to lanceolate. Scape 15-20 cm high; inflorescence 3-5
cm long; flowers 15-20 mm long, dark bluish purple; calyx 5-6 mm long.
Legume 12-15 mm long, oblong ovoid, densely long villous. Very rare; dry
hills; southwestern Prairies.

Oxytropis lambertii Pursh purple locoweed

Plants with a stout taproot, 15-25 cm high. Leaves with 11-17 leaflets
15-30 mm long, lanceolate, somewhat pubescent on both sides. Scape to 25 cm
high; inflorescence 7-12 cm long; flowers 15-20 mm long, dark bluish purple;
calyx about 7 mm long. Legume 15-20 mm long, lanceolate, pubescent. Some
of the pubescence of this species is malpighian, which makes it distinguishable
from the other purple-flowered species. Grasslands; southeastern Parkland.

492

Oxytropis podocarpa Gray

Plants with a deep taproot and branched caudex, somewhat cushion-like.
Leaves with 11-25 leaflets 3-10 mm long, linear to oblong, silky pubescent.
Scape 3-6 cm high; inflorescence with 1-3 dark bluish purple flowers; calyx
6-7 mm long, villose pubescent. Legume 15-20 mm long, ovoid-ellipsoid,
inflated, black pubescent, stipitate. Arctic-alpine; Rocky Mountains, Alberta.

Oxytropis sericea Nutt. early yellow locoweed

Plants with a stout taproot and branched caudex. Leaves with 7-15
leaflets 10-30 mm long, elliptic or oblong, silky pubescent on both sides. Scape
10-20 cm high; inflorescence 5-7 cm long; flowers 18-20 mm long, yellowish;
calyx 6-7 mm long, silky pubescent, black hairy on the calyx lobes. Legume 20
mm long, oblong, pubescent with both black and white hairs, rigid. The var.
spicata (Hook.) Barneby (Fig. 142) is common in grasslands in Prairies, less
common in Parklands; var. sericea with flowers light purple to whitish is more
southern.

Oxytropis splendens Dougl. showy locoweed

Plants with a deep taproot and branched caudex. Leaves with up to 60
leaflets arranged in verticils of 3-6; leaflets 10-25 mm long, linear-lanceolate,
long silky pubescent. Scape 20-30 cm high; inflorescence 4-10 cm long;
flowers 12-15 mm long, dark blue; calyx 6-7 mm long, densely long silky
pubescent. Legume 8-12 mm long, ovoid, densely long pubescent. Grasslands
and open woods; Boreal forest, Parklands, Rocky Mountains. The var.
richardsonii Hook., wooly locoweed, differs from the species in the type of hair-
iness: the variety has hairs appressed (lying flat) and silky, whereas the typical
plant has long, soft, spreading hairs. Flowers dark purple; leaflets lanceolate.
Common in southern Rocky Mountains, decreasing in abundance toward the
east.

Oxytropis viscida Nutt. VISCID locoweed

Plants with a deep taproot and branched caudex. Leaves with 21-35
leaflets 5-12 mm long, lanceolate, somewhat pubescent, and glandular. Scape
5-20 cm high; inflorescence 3-8 cm long; flowers 10-12 mm long, purple with
yellowish base; calyx 4-6 mm long, densely glandular pubescent. Legume
10-15 mm long, finely black pubescent, ovate. Southwestern Alberta, Prairies,
and Parklands.

Petalostemon prairie-clover

Rather low-growing, often prostrate perennial plants, with glandular-dot-
ted pinnate leaves having odd-numbered leaflets. Flowers perfect, borne in
dense spikes at head of flowering stalks. Five stamens united into one bundle.
Fruits short; pods containing 1 or 2 seeds. Many authorities call this genus
Petalostemwn; both spellings are acceptable.

1. Leaves with 7-17 leaflets; plants densely

hairy throughout P. villosum

Leaves with 3-5 (sometimes 7) leaflets;

plants glabrous or sparsely pubescent 2

493

Fig. 142. Early yellow locoweed, Oxytropis sericea Nutt. var. spicata (Hook.)
Barneby.

494

2. Flowers purple; leaflets narrowly linear,
about 15-25 mm long and 1-1.5 mm

wide P. purpurewn

Flowers white; leaflets linear-oblong,
about 15-25 mm long and 2-3 mm
wide P. candidum

Petalostemon candidum (Willd.) Michx. white prairie-clover

Stems 20-50 cm high, usually erect. Leaves of 7-9 linear-oblong leaflets
1-2 cm long. Flowers in a compact spike 2-8 cm long, white, and a little under
6 mm long. Common; on dry prairie and hillsides; throughout Prairies and
Parklands.

Petalostemon purpureum (Vent.) Rydb. (Fig. 143) purple prairie-clover

A several-stemmed plant, erect or decumbent, 20-50 cm high, but usually
prostrate. Leaves of 3-7 linear leaflets 5-20 mm long, sparingly hairy or glab-
rous. Flower spikes dense and cylindric, 1-5 cm long, with red or purple
flowers. Common; on hillsides, dry banks, and prairie; throughout Prairies. A
densely hairy form, var. pubescens (Gray) Fassett, is sometimes found in the
southwest.

Petalostemon villosum Nutt. hairy prairie-clover

A densely hairy plant 20-50 cm high, branching from the base; leaves
bearing 7-17 closely packed leaflets 5—15 mm long, covered with silky hairs.
Flower spikes either single or clustered, 2-10 cm long, flowers reddish purple
or pink. Found occasionally; in sandhills; southeastern Parklands.

Psoralea breadroot

Perennial herbs with glandular-dotted foliage and leaves. Leaves pal-
mately compound, of 3-7 leaflets. Flowers in spikes or racemes, perfect, with
stamens in 1 or 2 bundles. Pods ovoid, short, 1 -seeded, not splitting open at
maturity, but opening very irregularly. Roots, especially those of P. esculenta,
were used by Indians for food.

1. Plants densely long-hairy; flowers in a

short, dense spike P. esculenta

Plants not densely long-hairy; flowers in

racemes or loose spikes 2

2. Plants silvery hairy; leaves with 3-5

leaflets; inflorescence loose P. argophylla

Plants not silvery hairy; leaves and stem
glandular-dotted; leaves with 3 leaflets;
inflorescence dense P. lanceolata

Psoralea argophylla Pursh silverleaf psoralea

An erect much-branched plant 30-60 cm high with silvery whitish hairi-
ness throughout. Leaves of 3-5 obovate silvery-haired leaflets 10-35 mm long.
Flowers borne on interrupted spikes in clusters of 2 or 4, about 6 mm long,
blue fading during drying. Common; on dry to moist grassland; throughout
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Psoralidium argophyllum (Pursh) Rydb.

495

Fig. 143. Purple prairie-clover, Petalostemon purpureus (Vent.) Rydb.

496

Psoralea esculenta Pursh (Fig. 144) Indian breadroot

A low, stout short-stemmed plant 10-50 cm high, densely covered with
loose white hairs, growing from a large tuberous starchy root or cluster of
roots. Leaves of 5 leaflets 2-5 cm long. Flowers in a dense oblong spike 3-8 cm
long, blue, a little longer than the greenish sepals. Fairly common on prairie
and in sheltered places, or sandy banks throughout Prairies. Roots edible, raw
or cooked. Syn.: Pediomelum esculentum (Pursh) Rydb.

Psoralea lanceolata Pursh (Fig. 145) lance-leaved psoralea

A low-growing semiprostrate or erect plant 20-50 cm high, with glandu-
lar-dotted stems; the whole plant pale yellowish green. Very long stringy roots
with ramifications extending for many meters. Leaves of 3 linear-lanceolate
leaflets 10-35 mm long. Flowers about 6 mm long, pale bluish white, in short
dense spikes. Fruit a globular dotted lemon-shaped pod 5-8 mm in diam con-
taining a single seed. A species of sandhills and sandy land, often the domi-
nant plant in some areas, especially on partly stabilized dunes. The rough
roots often exposed for long distances, bridging the gap where sand has been
blown out between dunes. Very common in suitable sandy sites throughout the
southwestern portion of the area, but not found on heavier soils. Not palatable
to livestock. Syn.: Psoralidium lanceolatum (Pursh) Rydb.

Thermopsis golden-bean

Thermopsis rhombifolia (Nutt.) Richardson (Fig. 146) golden-bean

An erect, branched perennial 15-50 cm high, usually in large patches,
from running rootstocks. Leaves of 3 obovate leaflets 2-4 cm long, with
appressed silky gray hairs, leafstalks large and leaf-like, stipules at junction of
stem. Very bright golden yellow flowers, 1-2 cm long, in rather dense racemes;
stamens separate. Pods 3-7 cm long, curved, grayish hairy, and containing
10-13 seeds. An early blooming plant and one of the most striking and color-
ful early spring flowers. The milk from cows that have eaten the flowers of this
species is said to have a peculiar odor and flavor. The fruit of golden-bean has
caused severe sickness in children. Very common; in great masses along road-
sides, on edges of buffalo wallows, and on hillsides; throughout Prairies, also
in sandy areas in Parklands.

Trifolium clover

Perennial or biennial herbs, with leaves of 3 leaflets and flowers in short
very dense head-like racemes. Flowers perfect; stamens diadelphous. Euro-
pean plants much used for forage and lawns, but escaped from cultivation.

1. Flowers yellow or white 2

Flowers purple or pinkish 4

2. Flowers white; perennial, with extensively

creeping stems, rooting at the nodes T. repens

Flowers yellow; annual, with erect or

ascending, not creeping, stems 3

497

Fig. 144. Indian breadroot, Psoralea esculenta Pursh.

498

Fig. 145. Lance-leaved psoralea, Psoralea lanceolata Pursh.

499

Fig. 146. Golden-bean, Thermopsis rhombifolia (Nutt.) Richardson.

500

3. Leaflets to 15 mm long, with the terminal

one nearly sessile; stipules not dilated T. aureum

Leaflets to 10 mm long, with the terminal

one petiolulate; stipules dilated below T. campestre

4. Plants pubescent; flowers sessile in the

heads T. pratense

Plants glabrous or nearly so; flowers pedi-

celedin the heads T. hybridum

Trifolium aureum Poll. YELLOW clover

Plants biennial or annual; stems 15-30 cm high, erect, branched. Leaflets
to 15 mm long, oblong-lanceolate; petiole of terminal leaflet as long as that of
the lateral ones. Flowers 5-8 mm long, golden yellow; pods 1 -seeded. Intro-
duced, cultivated, and occasionally escaped.

Trifolium campestre Schreb. yellow field clover

Similar to T aureum, but the petiole of the terminal leaflet distinctly
longer than that of the lateral ones, and the stipules larger. Flowers 4—5 mm
long, lemon yellow. Introduced for cultivation, rarely escaped.

Trifolium hybridum L. alsike clover

An erect species 30-60 cm high, with long-stalked leaves of 3 obovate
leaflets 10-25 mm long, smooth. Flowers pink, in globose head-like racemes.
Common; in waste places and roadsides, where it has escaped from cultiva-
tion; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Trifolium pratense L. RED clover

An erect somewhat hairy biennial or perennial species. Leaflets large, 1-5
cm long, often with a reddish inverted V on the upper surface of the leaflets.
Flowers red, in globose heads. Rarely found in Prairies, but fairly common in
waste places in Parklands and Boreal forest.

Trifolium repens L. white clover

A creeping perennial with smooth hairless leaflets 5-20 mm long, often
having a whitish or pale inverted V on the upper surface of the leaflets. Flow-
ers white or somewhat pinkish-tinged, in round head-like racemes. Often used
for lawns and occasionally found along roadsides, in meadows, and through-
out forest areas, where it has escaped from cultivation.

Vicia vetch

Annual or perennial herbaceous vines, with pinnate leaves and even-num-
bered leaflets, the terminal leaflet being replaced by tendrils. Flowers perfect,
in spikes or racemes; stamens diadelphous. Vetches distinguishable from
vetchlings (Lathyrus) by having the style or female organ not flattened and
merely a tuft of hairs at its summit instead of down one side. Good forage for
livestock.

501

1. Flowers 1 or 2 (seldom 4) in the upper

leaf axils V. saliva ssp. nigra

Flowers many in a more or less one-sided

raceme 2

2. Plants annual; villous with more or less

long-spreading pubescence V. villosus

Plants perennial; glabrous or sparsely

appressed pubescent 3

3. Inflorescence with 10—40 flowers in a

dense raceme V. cracca

Inflorescence with 3-9 flowers in a loose

raceme V. americana

Vicia americana Muhl. (Fig. 147) AMERICAN VETCH

A smooth trailing or climbing plant 40-80 cm long. Leaves of 8-14 ovate
or elliptic leaflets 15-35 mm long, very strongly veined. Flowers 15-20 mm
long, bluish purple, in loose 3- to 9-flowered racemes. Pods smooth, 2-A cm
long. Very common; around bluffs and shady parts of prairie; throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

The var. truncata (Nutt.) Brewer, Oregon vetch, differs from the species by
being somewhat hairy below, especially when young, and having the leaflets
abruptly flattened at the apex and sometimes toothed. Sometimes found in
southeastern Parkland. Syn.: V. oregana Nutt.

The var. minor Hook., narrow-leaved vetch, a prostrate trailing plant with
8-12 narrowly linear strongly-veined leaflets 10-35 mm long and very narrow.
Racemes 2- to 6-flowered; flowers almost 2 cm long, bluish purple. Pods a little
over 25 mm long. Common; on open prairie and dry soil; throughout the Prai-
ries, often persisting after cultivation. Syn.: V. americana Muhl. var.
angustifolia Nees.

Vicia cracca L. tufted vetch

A tufted weak-stemmed vetch 50-125 cm long, with leaves formed of 8-24
linear-oblong leaflets. Flowers in a dense 1 -sided raceme. Rarely found, but
has escaped from cultivation; in some localities; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Vicia sativa L. ssp. nigra (L.) Erhr. vetch

A pubescent annual 50-80 cm high. Leaflets 3-8 pairs, linear, 6-25 mm
long. Flowers 1 or 2 together (or rarely 4), 10-30 mm long, purple; pods 25-70
mm long. Introduced, occasionally escaped.

Vicia villosus Roth hairy vetch

An annual with stems 30-150 cm high, villose. Leaves with 4-12 pairs of
linear to elliptic leaflets. Flowers 10-20 mm long, purple to violet, occasionally
the wing white or yellowish; the calyx strongly swollen at the base; pods 2-4
cm long. Introduced, occasionally escaped from cultivation.

502

Fig. 147. American vetch, Vicia americana Muhl.

503

GERANIACEAE — geranium family

Herbs with opposite stipulate leaves. Flowers perfect and regular, with 5
petals and 5 sepals. Stamens either 5 or 10. Style extending into a long beak-
like column with short appendages at tip, and splitting from bottom upward
into 5 sections, each with a single-seeded capsule bearing a long tail. Plants of
this family not palatable to livestock.

Leaves pinnately lobed or dissected; tails of
capsules twisted at maturity; capsule
spindle-shaped Erodium

Leaves palmately lobed or divided; tails of
capsules merely curved; capsule round Geranium

Erodium stork's-bill

Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Her. STORK'S-BILL

A low prostrate annual with pinnately divided leaves. Sepals 5, somewhat
awn-tipped. Flowers about 1 cm across, pink or purplish, and borne in clusters
of 2—12 on long flower stalks. Stamens 5 fertile and 5 sterile. Style column very
long, 2-4 cm, and splitting into 5 segments, each with a long spirally twisted
tail. Introduced from Europe, and occasionally found; around towns; in
southern and eastern Prairie Provinces.

Geranium geranium

1. Flowers not over 12 mm across; petals

scarcely longer than sepals; annuals or

biennials 2

Flowers over 12 mm across; petals much

longer than sepals; perennials 4

2. Sepals without bristle tips; seeds smooth G pusillum

Sepals bristle-tipped; seeds rough 3

3. Stalks of individual flowers more than

twice as long as calyx; inflorescence

loose G. bicknellii

Stalks of individual flowers not more than
twice as long as calyx; inflorescence
compact G. carolinianum

4. Petals white G. richardsonii

Petals rose or purple G. viscosissimum

Geranium bicknellii Britt. bicknell'S geranium

A fairly erect annual or biennial plant 15-50 cm high, with a loosely hairy
stem. Leaves very deeply dissected into narrow oblong segments 2-6 cm
broad. Stalks of leaves and flowers hairy and glandular; petals rose-colored,
about the same length as sepals. Mature style column about 25 mm long, with
narrow beak about 6 mm long. Inflorescence loose. Fairly common; in Park-
lands and Boreal forest and on pathways and roads in Cypress Hills.

504

Geranium carolinianum L. CAROLINA wild geranium

An erect annual species 15-40 cm high, with stems loosely hairy and
somewhat glandular. Leaves deeply cut into wedge-shaped lobed segments 2-6
cm across. Flowers pale pink or whitish, about the same length as sepals, and
borne in rather compact clusters. Style column about 25 mm long with a very
short narrow beak. Not so plentiful as G. bicknellii; found in meadows and
waste places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Geranium pusillum L. small-flowered crane's-bill

A weak-stemmed annual, spreading and hairy, 10-50 cm long. Leaves 1-5
cm long, 5- to 7-lobed, the lobes either entire or 3-toothed. Sepals not bristle-
tipped. Flowers pale purple, 6-10 mm across, with often only 5 fertile stamens.
Introduced from Europe and occasionally found; in waste places near towns;
in eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Geranium richardsonii Fisch. & Trautv. wild white geranium

An erect perennial species 30-80 cm high, often with spreading hairs.
Leaves 3-10 cm across, deeply 3- to 5-lobed, with cut and toothed segments.
Flowers 2-4 cm across, white with pink veins; style column 20-35 mm long.
Plentiful; in meadows and open forest; Rocky Mountains and in Cypress
Hills.

Geranium viscosissimum Fisch. & Mey. (Fig. 148) sticky purple geranium

An erect branching perennial species 30-60 cm high, with the stem and
leaf stalks sticky glandular. Leaves 4-10 cm across, hairy, 3-5 times cleft into
sharply toothed segments. Sepals hairy and awn-tipped; flowers pink purple,
3-4 cm across, and very showy. Common; in open woodlands; in southern
Rocky Mountains and also on south slope of Cypress Hills, but rare elsewhere
in the area. G. strigosum Rydb., a very similar plant, having stems and leaf
stalks with reflexed hairs and not glandular, occasionally found in the north-
western Boreal forest and in the Peace River District.

OXALIDACEAE — wood-sorrel family

Low herbs with rootstocks, and palmately divided leaves with 3-leaflets;
the leaflets broadly inverted heart-shaped, indented at the apex. Flowers per-
fect and regular, with 5 petals, 5 sepals, and 10 stamens. Fruit a capsule.

Oxalis wood-sorrel

1. Stem creeping, often rooting at nodes O. corniculata

Stem erect or decumbent in age, not

rooting 2

2. Stem with appressed hairs; capsule hairy O. stricta

Stem with loose spreading hairs or nearly

smooth; capsule smooth O. europaea

505

Fig. 148. Sticky purple geranium, Geranium viscosissimum Fisch. & Mey.

506

Oxalis COmiculata L. CREEPING WOOD-SORREL

A decumbent creeping plant, branched at base, with sparse loose hairi-
ness. Leaves trifoliolate, with leaflets 3-10 mm wide. Petals pale yellow, 5-10
mm long. Escaped from cultivation and occasionally found around buildings.
Syn.: Xanthoxalis corniculata (L.) Small.

Oxalis europaea Jordan bush's yellow wood-sorrel

A slender-stemmed erect plant 10-20 cm high, loosely hairy. Leaves trifo-
liolate, with leaflets 5-20 mm long, bright green. Flowers bright yellow, 10-15
mm across. Capsule smooth, 10-15 mm long. Found in dry soil; has been
reported, though seldom, from Boreal forest.

Oxalis stricta L. yellow wood-sorrel

A low pale green plant, somewhat decumbent, usually branched from the
base. Leaves trifoliolate, with leaflets 1-2 cm wide. Flowers pale yellow, in
umbel-like cymes; petals almost 12 mm long. Capsule hairy, 15-25 mm long,
rather abruptly pointed at the tip, and borne erect on reflexed stems. Fairly
common locally; along roadsides, gardens, and waste places; in Prairies. Syn.:
Xanthoxalis stricta (L.) Small.

LINACEAE — flax family

Annual or perennial plants having simple leaves without stalks and per-
fect regular flowers with 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 5 stamens. Fruit a round cap-
sule divided into 4 or 5 cells, each containing 2 flat seeds. Petals fall very read-
ily from the plant, usually not lasting more than a day.

Linum flax

1. Flowers blue; sepals without glands 2

Flowers yellow; inner sepals with

marginal glands 3

2. Sepals more than 5 mm long when

mature, more than half as long as

capsule L. lewisii

Sepals less than 5 mm long when mature,

less than half as long as capsule L. pratense

3. Sepals persistent; capsule not thickened

at base L. sulcatum

Sepals falling off; capsule with firm thick-
enings at base L. rigidum

Linum lewisii Pursh lewis wild flax

An erect perennial plant, sometimes branched from base, growing 20-60
cm high from a woody root, hairless throughout. Leaves linear, 10-25 mm
long, somewhat crowded on stem. Flowers blue, 20-35 mm across; the petals
soon falling off. Capsules round, 5 mm in diam. Common; on dry prairie;
throughout Prairies and Parklands.

507

Linum pratense (Norton) Small meadow wild flax

Very similar to L. lewisii, but the sepals are less than 5 mm long and less
than half the length of the capsule, and the flowers are smaller, 15-25 mm
across. Occasionally found but not common on dry prairie; Prairies and Park-
lands.

Linum rigidum Pursh (Fig. 149) large-flowered yellow flax

An erect pale green species 15-40 cm high, with the stem simple below
and somewhat branched above. Leaves few, linear, 10-25 mm long, and very
easily knocked off. Flowers yellow, 20-25 mm across. Common locally; in
sand hills and sandy or very light soils; throughout Prairies and Parklands.
Not generally common, but very plentiful where found. Syn.: Cathartolinum
rigidum (Pursh) Small; L. compactum Nelson.

Linum sulcatum Riddell grooved yellow flax

An annual 5-50 cm high, with the stem angled and somewhat winged,
simple below but much-branched above. Leaves linear, 10-25 mm long, soon
falling off. Flowers yellow, 8-12 mm across. Not common, but found occa-
sionally; in dry sandy soils; eastern Parklands. Syn.: Cathartolinum sulcatum
(Riddell) Small.

BALSAM I N ACEAE — touch-me-not family

Somewhat succulent herbs having simple leaves without stipules. Flowers
perfect, but irregular; 3 sepals, 2 of them small and green, the other large,
petal-like, and extended back into a bag-like pouch terminating in a nectar-
filled spur. Only 3 apparent petals, 2 pairs of petals being united; 5 stamens.
Fruit a 5-celted capsule, springing open at maturity and forcibly expelling the
seeds. Plants found in moist places.

Impatiens touch-me-not

Flowers orange, spotted, and sharply con-
tracted to spur /. biflora

Flowers light yellow, not spotted, gradually
tapering to spur /. noli-tangere

Impatiens biflora Walt. SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT

An annual, branched, rather succulent plant 30-150 cm high, with stems
often tinged with red, and leaves ovate, 2-10 cm lojig, green or purplish. Petals
and the large pouch-like sepals orange, copiously dotted with reddish brown
or purplish spots; flower 20-25 mm long. Found on banks of rivers and lakes;
throughout Parklands and Boreal forest and also in Cypress Hills. Syn.: /.
capensis Meerb.

508

Fig. 149. Large-flowered yellow flax, Linum rigidum Pursh.

509

Impatiens noli-tangere L. western jewelweed

An annual very similar to /. biflora, but with light green or straw-colored
stems and pale green leaves. Flowers pale yellow, unspotted, tapering to a spur
about 10 mm long. Rare in the Prairie Provinces, but has been found in wet
places in woodlands; Boreal forest. Syn.: /. occidentalis Rydb.

POLYGALACEAE — milkwort family

Herbs with simple leaves and no stipules. Irregular flowers with 5 sepals, 2
of which are large, colored, and petal-like; either 3 or 5 more or less united
petals; keel of petals with a fringed crest.

Polygala milkwort

1. Leaves whorled; plants annual P. vertieillata

Leaves alternate; plants perennial 2

2. Flowers, showy, rose purple P. paucifolia

Flowers white 3

3. Leaves linear or linear-oblanceolate;

inflorescence conic P. alba

Leaves lanceolate to ovate; inflorescence

oblong, cylindric P. senega

Polygala alba Nutt. white milkwort

An erect plant with several stems growing from the base, 15-40 cm high,
with alternate linear leaves 5-25 mm long. Flowers borne in spike-like racemes
2-5 cm long, white or somewhat green-tinged. Found occasionally; in dry
ground; along extreme southern border of the Prairie Provinces, but its natural
habitat is farther south.

Polygala paucifolia Willd. fringed milkwort

An erect plant 5-20 cm high, usually branched, with small leaves near the
lower part of the stem and larger ones above; upper leaves oval, 1-3 cm long.
Flowers few, 3 or 4, rose purple or pink, 1-2 cm long; keel of corolla with a
fringed crest. Found occasionally in Boreal forest.

Polygala senega L. seneca snakeroot

An erect plant with several stems growing from a thick rootstock to 10-50
cm high. Leaves numerous on the stems, lanceolate, 2-5 cm long. Flowers
greenish white, borne in terminal spike-like racemes 2-6 cm long. Roots used
for medicinal purposes. Fairly common; around edges of bluffs and in semi-
wooded prairie; throughout Parklands.

Polygala vertieillata L. whorled milkwort

Erect plants with stems 10-40 cm high, divergently branched. Leaves 1-2
cm long, linear to linear-oblong, with the lower ones mostly in whorls of 2-5.

510

Inflorescence with the lower branches opposite or whorled; racemes 5-15 mm
long; flowers 2-3 mm long, whitish to pinkish. Moist grasslands; southeastern
Parklands.

EUPHORBIACEAE — spurge family

Erect or prostrate herbs with an acrid milky juice. Annual or perennial
with simple, entire opposite or alternate leaves. Flowers unisexual (but both
sexes on the same plant), with sepals reduced to a minute scale. Involucre
resembling a calyx, with numerous male flowers consisting of a single stamen
and a minute bract and one female flower consisting of a 3-lobed ovary,
which, when fertilized, extends upward on a thin stalk and bears the capsule
containing the seeds. In some cases stalks arising from the involucre bear still
more involucres and flowers, thus forming a large branched inflorescence.

Euphorbia spurge

1. Prostrate mat-like annual plants;

inflorescence in leaf axils 2

Erect plants; inflorescence in terminal

umbels 3

2. Leaves entire; seeds not compressed,

3-angled E. geyeri

Leaves denticulate; seeds compressed,

4-angled E. serpyllifolia

3. Upper leaves with a conspicuous white

margin E. marginata

Upper leaves not with a white margin 4

4. Stem leaves finely serrulate; inflorescence

very leafy E. helioscopia

Stem leaves entire; inflorescence not very

leafy 5

5. Leaves obovate, rounded or blunt at end E. peplus

Leaves linear or lanceolate, pointed at

end 6

6. Leaves less than 3 mm wide, crowded on

stem E. cyparissias

Leaves more than 3 mm wide, not very

crowded 7

7. Leaves usually not over 1 cm wide E. esula

Leaves usually 1-3 cm wide E. lucida

Euphorbia cyparissias L. cypress spurge

A tufted introduced perennial plant growing from a rootstock to 15-60
cm high, with numerous linear pale green leaves 1-2 cm long and less than 3
mm wide densely crowded toward the upper part of the stems. Flowers in a
terminal umbel-like inflorescence and also in the upper leaf axils. Escaped
from cultivation and becoming weedy in several localities.

511

Euphorbia esula L. (Fig. 150) leafy spurge

An erect bluish green perennial growing from running roots to 15-75 cm
high. A few scattered linear or oblong stem leaves 10-35 mm long. A whorl of
narrow leaves is located below the inflorescence. Inflorescence somewhat
umbel-like; flowers borne on a pair of pale yellowish green leaf-like bracts,
with many inconspicuous male flowers and one female flower for each pair of
bracts. Female flowers extend upward on a short stalk, forming 3-seeded cap-
sules. The capsules bursting and expelling the seeds, sometimes for a long dis-
tance. It is extremely difficult to eradicate this pernicious weed, which spreads
by creeping underground rootstocks and also by seed. Becoming very plentiful
in many localities in the Prairie Provinces. An introduced plant, native of
Europe and Asia.

Euphorbia geyeri Engelm. prostrate spurge

An annual plant, prostrate in a mat on the ground, 5-25 cm across, with
small oblong leaves 5-10 mm long, opposite and pale green. Inflorescence
minute, in axils of leaves; seeds smooth, reddish. Rare; sandy soils; southeast-
ern Parklands.

Euphorbia helioscopia L. SUN SPURGE

An erect introduced annual, often branching from the base, 15-60 cm
high. Leaves obovate or spatulate, 2-5 cm long, bluntly rounded at tip and
narrowed at base. Flowers borne in leafy inflorescence at head of stem. Very
scarce; reported as a weed from several locations in the Prairie Provinces.

Euphorbia lucida Waldst. & Kit. shining spurge

An introduced perennial 20-70 cm high, from a thick rootstock. Leaves
15-30 mm wide and 5-10 cm long. Very similar to E. esula, but differing in the
wider leaves and thicker rootstocks. At present very scarce; but has been
reported from east central Alberta.

Euphorbia marginata Pursh snow-on-the-mountain

Erect annual plants 30-80 cm high, softly pubescent. Stem leaves 4-10 cm
long, broadly ovate to elliptic. Inflorescence subtended by whorled white-mar-
gined leaves. Introduced as an ornamental plant; occasionally escaped and
reseeding itself.

Euphorbia peplus L. PETTY SPURGE

Annuals with erect stems 10-30 cm high; stem leaves 1-2 cm long, ob-
ovate to suborbicular, rounded at the tip. Inflorescence with 3-5 rays; capsule
winged; seeds pitted. Introduced, and locally weedy.

Euphorbia serpyllifolia Pers. thyme-leaved spurge

A native annual plant, usually prostrate and forming mats 5-50 cm
across, usually smooth with somewhat reddish stems. Leaves opposite, small,
5-15 mm long, dark green, usually with a conspicuous red line down the cen-
ter. Flowers inconspicuous in the leaf axils; seeds pitted and wrinkled. The
var. hirtella (Engelm.) L. C. Wheeler is more or less hairy, but the typical vari-
ety is quite smooth. Common; on dry soil and in yards and waste places;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Includes E. glyptosperma Engelm.

512

Fig. 150. Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L.

513

CALLITRICHACEAE — water-starwort family

A small slender-stemmed aquatic perennial with opposite entire leaves.
Leaves linear but some floating leaves obovate or spatulate. Flowers unisexual
(but both sexes on the same plant), growing either singly or in groups of 2 or 3
in the axils of leaves. Male flower having 1 stamen and female flower a 4-celled
ovary with 2 stigmas or style branches. Fruit small, nut-like, pendulous, and
divided into 4 single-seeded sections.

Callitriche water-starwort

All leaves submersed, linear, and 1-nerved C. hermaphroditica

Upper floating leaves obovate or spatulate, 3-

nerved, but submersed leaves linear and

1-nerved C. palustris

Callitriche hermaphroditica L. NORTHERN water-starwort

A completely submersed aquatic perennial, with stems 1CM0 cm long.
Leaves opposite, linear, 5-15 mm long. Usually rather crowded on stem and
sometimes slightly indented at apex. Found occasionally; in flowing water;
throughout the Prairie Provinces, but more frequently in the northern portion.
Syn.: C. autumnalis L.

Callitriche palustris L. vernal water-starwort

An aquatic perennial, usually with floating stems 2-30 cm long. Sub-
mersed leaves stalkless, up to 2 cm long, with a single nerve. Floating leaves
obovate. Some plants with all leaves submersed and linear. Found occasional-
ly; in ponds and ditches; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

EMPETRACEAE — crowberry family

Empetrum crowberry

Empetrum nigrum L. black crowberry

A bushy-branched prostrate species, with stems to 40 cm long. Leaves
numerous, crowded, 4-8 mm long, widely spreading or reflexed. Flowers
small, purple; berries black. Bogs, tundra, and rocky areas; Boreal forest,
Rocky Mountains.

ANACARDIACEAE — sumach family

Small trees, shrubs, or very low herbs, with a somewhat acrid sap. Leaves
consisting of from 3 to many leaflets. Both perfect and imperfect flowers, with
5 sepals, 5 petals, and 5 stamens. Fruit a drupe.

Rhus sumach

1. Leaflets 13-31 R. glabra

Leaflets 3 2

514

2. Low single-stemmed shrubs; leafing

before flowering; leaflets 3-10 cm long R. radicans var. rydbergii

Large shrubs; flowering before leaves

appear; leaflets not over 3 cm long R. aromatica var. trilobata

Rhus aromatica Ait. var. trilobata (Nutt.) Gray skunkbush

A shrub 1-2 m high, much-branched, and usually flowering before the
leaves appear. Leaves 3-foliate, with dark green leaflets, somewhat paler
beneath, often 3-cleft, 1-3 cm long. Flowers yellowish green, minute, in clus-
ters. Fruit a red globular drupe about 6 mm in diam. Found occasionally; in
coulees, thickets, and open-wooded places; throughout Prairies. The unpleas-
ant-smelling bush is not known to be poisonous.

Rhus glabra L. smooth sumach

A shrub 2-A m high, with pinnate leaves having 13-31 lanceolate leaflets,
dark green above, paler beneath. Flowers in terminal clusters, bright green.
Bright red fruits borne in dense clusters. Occasionally found on hillsides and
dry soils; southeastern Parkland and Boreal forest.

Rhus radicans L. var. rydbergii (Small) Rehder (Fig. 151) poison-ivy

A single-stemmed erect shrub from a creeping rootstock, 10-30 cm high,
with a rather woody stem. Leaves with 3 large bright green strongly veined
leaflets 3-10 cm long. Flowers whitish yellow, in dense panicles from axils of
leaves. Fruits somewhat globose berries, dull whitish color, about 6 mm in
diam. Cattle appear to eat it with impunity, but pollen, sap, and even exhala-
tions from the plant affect susceptible persons and cause severe skin eruptions
and other troubles. Found in ravines, shady woodlands; Prairies and Park-
lands, but rare in Boreal forest. Syn.: Toxicodendron rydbergii (Small) Greene.

ACERACEAE — maple family

Trees with a sweet sap and opposite, lobed, or pinnately compound
leaves. Flowers either perfect or unisexual, sometimes appearing before the
leaves. Fruit (a samara) consisting of 2 carpels joined at the base.

Acer maple

1. Leaves pinnate with 3-5 leaflets; flowers

unisexual, with male and female

flowers on separate trees A. negundovar. intehus

Leaves lobed, not pinnate 2

2. Leaves with lobes rhomboid, the base

cordate A. saccharinum

Leaves with lobes deltoid, the base not

cordate 3

3. Inflorescence a many-flowered racemose

panicle A. spicatum

Inflorescence a few-flowered corymb A. glabrum var. douglasii

515

Fig. 151. Poison-ivy, Rhus radicans L. var. rydbergii (Small) Render.

516

Acer glabrum Torr. var. douglasii (Hook.) Dippel mountain maple

A small tree or tall shrub, with leaves palmately 3- to 5-lobed, coarsely
and irregularly serrate. Panicle with fascicles of 2-A flowers; samaras 15-25
mm long. Found occasionally; in deciduous and mixed forests; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Acer negundo L. var. interius (Britt.) Sarg. Manitoba maple, box elder

A tree, occasionally 6-7 m high, with rough grayish bark. Leaves of 3-5
lanceolate or ovate toothed leaflets, pale green, 5-12 cm long, each with a
short stalk. Flowers appearing slightly before the leaves; unisexual, with male
and female flowers on separate trees. Female flowers in small racemes, very
small, and greenish. Male flowers consisting of 4 or 5 very small sepals and 4
or 5 stamens, reddish, borne in drooping clusters. Fruit a samara consisting of
2 oval carpels about 10 mm long, joined at the base and each terminating in a
broad membranous wing about 25 mm long and 10 mm wide. Found along
streams, in ravines, and wooded valleys; on Prairies and Parklands. Syn.:
Negundo interius (Britt.) Rydb.

Acer saccharinumL. silver maple

Trees 10-20 m high, with leaves deeply 5-lobed, the base distinctly cor-
date. Flowers in clusters from lateral buds, either staminate or pistillate.
Samaras 3.5-5 cm long. Planted as shade trees, and occasionally escaped.

Acer spicatum Lam. white maple

Small trees 3-10 m high; the leaves clearly 3-lobed with 3 obscure basal
lobes. Flowers in 3- to 7-flowered corymbs; samaras 3^4 cm long. Mixed
woods and copses; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

CELASTRACEAE — staff-tree family

Leaves alternate Celastrus

Leaves opposite Pachystima

Celastrus staff-tree

Celastrus scandens L. bittersweet

Plants climbing to several meters high, with the stems becoming woody
and eventually strangling the supporting trees. Leaves elliptic to ovate, acute,
serrulate, 5-10 cm long. Panicles terminal, 3-8 cm long; fruits orange, clus-
tered, subglobose, to 1 cm long. Woods, especially in sandy areas, river valleys,
and ravines; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Pachystima boxwood

Pachystima myrsinites (Pursh) Raf. mountain boxwood

Small much-branched leafy shrubs 30-100 cm high; sometimes spreading
to prostrate. Leaves ovate to oblanceolate, 15-30 mm long, serrulate, ever-
green. Flowers axillary, solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3; petals reddish brown;
capsule 4-5 mm long. Coniferous or mixed woods; Rocky Mountains.

517

RHAMNACEAE — buckthorn family

Flowers numerous, in terminal umbels Ceanothus

Flowers in few-flowered axillary umbels or
solitary Rhamnus

Ceanothus

Leaves lanceolate; panicles hemispheric or
short-ovate C. ovatus

Leaves ovate or elliptic, glandular serrate;
panicles compound with numerous umbels C. velutinus

Ceanothus ovatus Desf. new jersey tea

A bushy shrub about 1 m high; leaves 2-6 cm long, obtuse to subacute.
Panicles on peduncles 2-5 cm long, with the umbels crowded. Rare; semiopen
woods on light soils; southeastern Boreal forest.

Ceanothus velutinus Dougl. sticky laurel

Shrubs to 2 m high, with stout branches. Leaves evergreen, 2-8 cm long,
obtuse or rounded at the tip, with the base subcordate, closely glandular den-
ticulate. Panicles usually compound, with the umbels not crowded. Rare; open
woods and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Rhamnus buckthorn

Trees or shrubs, with leaves simple, usually alternate; flowers small,
greenish or white; fruit a capsule or berry-like drupe.

1. Some branches ending in a short thorn R. catharticus

Branches not thorny 2

2. Flowers unisexual, apetalous; leaves

serrate R. alnifolius

Flowers perfect, with petals present;

leaves entire R.frangula

Rhamnus alnifolius L'Her. alder-leaved buckthorn

A small shrub 1-2 m high, with grayish, very finely hairy branches.
Leaves ovate to elliptical, strongly veined, 2-6 cm long. Flowers small and
greenish, either single or in umbels of 2 or 3 on short stalks in axils of leaves.
Fruit berry-like, black, 6-8 mm in diam, and poisonous. Fairly common; in
moist woodlands and swamps; in northern and eastern fringes of the Prairie
Provinces.

Rhamnus catharticus L. buckthorn

Shrubs or small trees to 3 m high; lateral branches usually ending in a
thorn. Leaves 3-6 cm long, broadly elliptic. Flowers having 4 parts; drupe
black, 5-6 mm in diam. Introduced; occasionally establishing in shrubbery.

518

Rhamus frangula L. black alder

Tall shrubs, with leaves 5-8 cm long, usually obovate or oblong. Flowers
in axillary umbels; drupe at first red, becoming black. Introduced; occasion-
ally establishing in shrubbery.

VITACEAE — grape family

Woody vines climbing by means of tendrils. Leaves alternate, either lobed
or palmately divided. Flowers in panicles, usually unisexual, sometimes both
perfect and unisexual. Fruit a several-seeded berry.

Leaves simple, lobed Vitis

Leaves palmately compound, with 5-7 leaflets Parthenocissus

Parthenocissus Virginia creeper

Leaves dull above, paler beneath; tendrils
adhesive with disks; berry about 6 mm in
diam P. quinquefolia

Leaves glossy above, slightly paler beneath;
tendrils not adhesive, without disks; berry
8-10 mm in diam P. inserta

Parthenocissus inserta (Kerner) Fritsch large-toothed Virginia creeper

A straggling vine with smooth bark and long tendrils. Leaves of 5 or 6
lanceolate leaflets 4-10 cm long, large-toothed, glossy on upper side, and turn-
ing red in the fall. Tendrils branched with few, if any, adhesive disks at ends.
Berries bluish black. Not common; but found in moist woods and shady
banks; in eastern Parklands and Boreal forest as far north as Riding Moun-
tain. Syn.: Psedera vitacea (Knerr) Greene.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. Virginia creeper

A tall climbing vine, usually with rather warty branches. Tendrils bearing
an adhesive disk at end. Leaves usually of 5 ovate dull green leaflets 5-12 cm
long, and coarsely toothed. Fruit blue with a slight bloom. Found occasional-
ly; in moist woodlands; in southeastern Boreal forest. Syn.: Psedera
quinquefolia (L.) Greene.

Vitis grape

Vitis riparia Michx. riverbank grape

A climbing or trailing vine, with greenish, somewhat angled branches.
Leaves not lobed or sometimes 2-lobed near the apex and cordate at the base.
The inflorescence with a fairly compact panicle; the berries blue, 6-12 mm in
diam, and covered with a heavy bloom. In moist woods; in the eastern Park-
lands and Boreal forest, as far north and west as Riding Mountain.

519

TILIACEAE — linden family

Tilia basswood

Tilia americana L. basswood

Trees to 40 m high. Leaves broadly ovate to suborbicular, sharply serrate,
cordate to truncate at the base, glabrate to stellate pubescent above, and with
conspicuous tufts of hairs in the vein axils below. Flowers in axillary cyme-like
clusters; the petiole with a large, adnate foliaceous bract. Woods in ravines
and along rivers; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

MALVACEAE — mallow family

Herbs with alternate, lobed or dissected, nearly round leaves. Flowers
perfect, regular, and either single in clusters or in racemes in axils of leaves.
Five partly united sepals and 5 petals united at base. Numerous stamens; fruit
a many-segmented capsule. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medic, hollyhock,
Althea rosea Cav., and gay mallows, Lavatera thuringiaca L., are used as orna-
mentals, and occasionally escape but are not long persistent.

1. Leaves palmately divided into 5 lobes;

these entire or divided Malvastrum

Leaves more or less lobed, but not

divided 2

2. Flowers in axillary racemes Iliamna

Flowers in axillary clusters or solitary Malva

Iliamna wild hollyhock

Iliamna rivularis (Dougl.) Greene mountain hollyhock

A stout perennial 50-200 cm high, sparsely stellate-pubescent. Leaves
5-15 cm across, cordate or reniform in outline, irregularly 4- to 7-lobed, the
lobes toothed. Flowers about 5 cm across, pink to purplish or sometimes
white; staminal column stellate-pubescent at the base; fruit segments 2- or 3-
seeded. Mountain slopes and meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Malva mallow

1. Petals 15-35 mm long; erect perennial

plants , 2

Petals 4-15 mm long; erect or prostrate

annuals 4

2. Flowers mostly in a terminal corymb M. moschata

Flowers in the leaf axils 3

3. Lower flowers solitary in the leaf axils M. alcea

Lower flowers 2 or more in the leaf axils M. sylvestris

520

4. Petals about twice as long as sepals 5

Petals scarcely longer than sepals 6

5. Plants erect; carpels net-veined M. crispa

Plants decumbent, prostrate; carpels

smooth M. neglecta

6. Lower part of petals hairless; 8-12 car-

pels, with net-like venation on backs;

calyx reflexed at maturity M. parviflora

Lower parts of petals hairy-margined;
12-15 carpels with smooth backs; calyx
incurved at maturity M. pusilla

Malva alcea L. pink mallow

Plants 50-150 cm high, with leaves 3- to 5-lobed, 5-10 cm long. Flowers
5-8 cm across, pale pink or mauve. Introduced as an ornamental; occasionally
escaped and established.

Malva crispa L. CRISP mallow

An erect annual 50-150 cm high, with almost circular or kidney-shaped
leaves 5-20 cm across, wavy and lobed at the edges. Flowers purplish or white,
10-15 mm across, without stalks, and crowded in leaf axils. Introduced from
Europe; occasionally escaped.

Malva moschata L. musk mallow

Plants 50-150 cm high, with leaves palmately 5- to 7-lobed, the lobes pin-
natifid. Flowers in a terminal corymb, the lower ones solitary in the leaf axils,
4-5 cm across, white to pink. Introduced as an ornamental; occasionally
escaped and established.

Malva neglecta Walk. common mallow

A prostrate annual weed with lobed, wavy-margined leaves, roughly kid-
ney-shaped, 2-7 cm across. Flowers blue, lilac, or whitish, 10-15 mm across,
petals about twice the length of sepals. Fruit a circular series of 12-15 smooth
carpels. Introduced from Europe; becoming an increasingly abundant weed of
gardens and roadsides.

Malva parviflora L. small-flowered mallow

A prostrate mat-forming annual weed with many branches. Leaves 2-6
cm across, roughly kidney-shaped in outline, with about 7 wavy-margined
lobes. Flowers pink or lilac, about 10 mm across, with sepals almost as long as
petals. Fruit consisting of a series of 8-1 1 carpels or small capsules arranged in
a circle. Introduced from Europe, but becoming a common weed; of roadsides
and waste places; throughout most of the Prairie Provinces.

Malva pusilla Sm. ROUND-LEAVED MALLOW

A much-branched prostrate annual or biennial plant similar to M.
parviflora, with pale lilac flowers and wavy-margined, somewhat kidney-
shaped leaves. An introduced weed, becoming common; on wasteland and
roadsides.

521

Malva sylvestris L. (Fig. 152) purple mallow

Plants 50-150 cm high; leaves reniform to orbicular in outline, 5-15 cm
across, usually with 5 acute lobes. Flowers 25-60 mm across, dark pink to pur-
ple. Introduced as an ornamental; occasionally escaped and established.

Malvastrum false mallow

Malvastrum coccineum (Pursh) Gray (Fig. 153) scarlet mallow

A native perennial, with a woody base and running rootstocks. Grows
5-20 cm high, often forming large patches along roadsides and in disturbed
prairie. Leaves roughly round in outline and divided to the base into wedge-
shaped, lobed, and cleft leaflets. Leaves covered with fine white star-shaped
hairs, giving the plant a grayish appearance. Flowers borne in a dense, short,
raceme-like inflorescence, brick red (a shade rarely found in prairie flowers),
10-25 mm across. Common on dry prairie in lighter soils throughout Prairies
and Parkland. Though common on virgin prairie, it is not generally noticeable
because it does not flower profusely or form large clumps, but on disturbed
soil or roadside cuts it often takes full possession of large areas and flowers
freely.

HYPERICACEAE — St. John's-wort family

Hypericum St. John's-wort

1. Leaves narrowly lanceolate 2

Leaves ovate or elliptic 3

2. Leaves 1- to 3-nerved, linear to oblanceo-

late; the margins of opposite leaves not

meeting H. canadense

Leaves 5- to 7-nerved, lanceolate; the
margins of opposite leaves meeting
around the stem H. majus

3. Petals yellow, at least twice as long as the

sepals; leaves, sepals, and petals black

glandular H.formosum var. nortoniae

Petals pinkish to greenish; plants with

translucent glands H. virginicum var. fraseri

Hypericum canadense L. Canada st. johns-wort

Slender-stemmed annuals 10-40 cm high. Leaves 1-3 cm long, usually less
than 3 mm wide, 1- or 3-nerved. Inflorescence few-flowered, with yellow petals
the same length as or shorter than the sepals. Rare; lakeshores, wet meadows;
eastern Boreal forest.

522

/' ' '

HERBARIUM C
:5WTF1

Fig. 152. Purple mallow, Malva sylvestris L.

523

Fig. 153. Scarlet mallow, Malvastrum coccineum (Pursh) Gray.

524

Hypericum formosum HBK. var. nortoniae (M. E. Jones) C. L. Hitchc.

WESTERN ST. JOHN'S-WORT

Perennials with rootstocks; stems 15-60 cm high, few or solitary, simple
or branched at the summit. Leaves ovate to oval-lanceolate, sessile, the base
more or less clasping. Flowers 15-20 mm across, yellow, in more or less panic-
ulate cymes. Wet mountain meadows and shores; southern Rocky Mountains.

Hypericum majus (Gray) Britt. large Canada st. john's-wort

Similar to H. canadense, but with leaves to 4 cm long, 3-9 mm wide, 5- to
7-nerved, and somewhat clasping the stem; the lower leaf margins meeting or
overlapping. Not common; wet meadows and lakeshores; Boreal forest.

Hypericum virginicum L. \ds.fraseri (Spach) Fern. marsh st. john'S-wort

Perennial plants with erect stems 30-60 cm high. Leaves ovate-oblong to
elliptic, 3-6 cm long, cordate to subcordate at the base. Flowers 15-20 mm
across, with petals the same length as or somewhat longer than the sepals.
Lakeshores and marshy or boggy areas; eastern Boreal forest.

ELATINACEAE — waterwort family

Elatine waterwort

Elatine triandra Schkuhr var. americana (Pursh) Fassett mud-purslane

A tufted annual plant growing in either mud or water, rooting along the
stems, 10-35 mm long. Leaves obovate, 2-6 mm long. Minute flowers occur-
ring singly in the leaf axils. Neither leaves nor flowers stalked, but attached
directly to the stem. Found occasionally along margins of ponds or slow-mov-
ing streams; in Boreal forest.

CISTACEAE — rock-rose family

1. Petals 3, dark red, minute Lechea

Petals 5, yellow, conspicuous 2

2. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, the main

stem leaves 20-30 mm long Helianthemum

Leaves narrowly linear or scale-like, 1-4

mm long Hudsonia

Helianthemum rock-rose

Helianthemum bicknellii Fern. frostweed

Perennials with stems solitary or few together from rootstocks, erect or
nearly so. Early flowers 5-12 in a loose terminal raceme, 15-25 mm across;
later flowers apetalous, crowded on short axillary branches. Not common;
open sandy or stony soils; southeastern Boreal forest.

525

Hudsonia false heather

Hudsonia tomentosa Nutt. sand-heather

A low, densely tufted, shrubby plant 10-20 cm high. Leaves \~4 mm long,
oval, densely imbricated (overlapping like shingles), and almost scale-like, pale
grayish hoary. Flowers small, yellow, about 1 cm across, and borne near ends
of branches. Found occasionally; on sandy shores and pine lands; Boreal for-
est.

Lechea pinweed

Underside of leaves glabrous except on the
midrib and margins; seeds 4-6, shaped like a
section of orange L. intermedia

Underside of leaves pubescent over entire sur-
face; seeds 3 or 4, 2-sided or obscurely
3-sided L. stricta

Lechea intermedia Leggett pinweed

Perennial plants with pubescent stems 20-60 cm high. Leaves of the basal
shoots lanceolate, 3-7 mm long; stem leaves linear-oblong, sparsely pubescent.
Panicle slender, cylindric about half the height of the plants, branches to about
5 cm long. Flowers about 3 mm long, deep red. Rare; sandy forest openings;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Lechea stricta Leggett hairy pinweed

Resembling L. intermedia, but coarser, with larger leaves, and more
pubescent. Rare; sandy forest openings; southeastern Boreal forest.

VIOLACEAE — violet family

Viola violet

Perennial (rarely annual) herbs with either basal or alternate simple leaves
with stipules. Flowers of two kinds: early spring flowers, showy and cross-ferti-
lized; summer flowers, remaining closed and self-fertilized (cleistogamous).
The spring flowers perfect, but irregular in shape, having 5 sepals and 5 petals,
the lowest petal prolonged into a spur. Fruit an ovoid or cylindric capsule con-
taining 20-60 obovate seeds.

1. Plants with well-developed leafy stems 2

Plants stemless 9

2. Stipules large, about the same length as

the leaf blades; plants annual 3

Stipules much smaller than the leaf

blades; plants perennial 4

3. Corolla the same length as or shorter than

the calyx, 10-15 mm across V. arvensis

526

Corolla distinctly longer than the calyx,

10-35 mm across V. tricolor

4. Flowers yellow 5

Flowers blue, mauve, or white 8

5. Leaves lanceolate; cuneate to rounded at

base V. nuttallii

Leaves orbicular or deltoid in outline;

cordate at base 6

6. Stem leaves few, much smaller than the

basal leaves V. orbiculata

Stem leaves numerous, the same size as

the basal leaves 7

7. Plants glabrous or nearly so; stipules 2-10

mm long V. glabella

Plants softly and densely pubescent; sti-
pules 8-20 mm long V. pubescens

8. Flowers purple to whitish blue; stipules

toothed V. adunca

Flowers white to mauve; stipules entire V. rugulosa

9. Leaves deeply divided into linear or lan-

ceolate lobes V. pedatifida

Leaves not deeply divided, entire to

crenate 10

10. Flowers yellow V. nuttallii

Flowers white to purple 1 1

11. Rhizome thick, fleshy; lateral petals

bearded at base V. cucullata

Rhizome thin, elongate; petals not

bearded 12

12. Flowers generally purplish or blue, some-

times white-centered or with white

lines 13

Flowers generally white, with blue or pur-
ple spots or lines 14

13. Spur about 2 mm long; plants

stoloniferous V. palustris

Spur about 8 mm long; plants not

stoloniferous V. selkirkii

14. Plants glabrous or nearly so; leaves acute

at apex V. blanda

Plants pubescent throughout; leaves

rounded at apex V. renifolia

Viola adunca J. E. Smith (Fig. 154/1) early blue violet

A plant 5-30 cm high, from a woody rootstock, usually showing the
remains of the previous season's growth of foliage. Leaves ovate with some-
what cordate bases, 10-20 mm wide. Flowers violet or purple, 10-20 mm long,

527

Fig. 154. Violets: A, early blue violet, Viola adunca J. E. Smith; B, northern
bog violet, Viola cucullata Ait.; C, Nuttall's yellow violet, Viola nuttallii Pursh;
Z), Western Canada violet, Viola rugulosa Greene.

528

with somewhat bearded side petals and a spur almost as long as the petals.
Flowering early in May. Fairly common; on prairie that is not too dry, and in
shady places; throughout Prairies, Parklands, and southern fringe of Boreal
forest.

Viola arvensis Murr. wild pansy

An irregularly branched annual with leafy stems 10-30 cm high. Leaf
blades varying from ovate or round lower leaves to oblong or oblanceolate
upper ones. Stipules large, toothed, and leaf-like; leaves and center sections of
stipules round-toothed at apex. Flowers pale yellow, with upper petals some-
times violet-tipped. Introduced from Europe, has been found as a field weed.

Viola blanda Willd. sweet white violet

Plants with slender creeping rhizomes. Leaf blades cordate-ovate, dark
green. Flowers fragrant; petals white, with the 3 lower ones veined brownish
purple near the base. Rich woods; eastern Boreal forest, southern Rocky
Mountains.

Viola cucullata Ait. (Fig. 1545) northern bog violet

A stemless species with all leaves basal. Earliest leaves round, later ones
broadly ovate to reniform, heart-shaped at base, wavy-margined, and 3-6 cm
across. Flowers fairly large and violet-colored; the side petals bearded and the
spurred petal hairy. Flowering from mid-May until late July. Probably the
most common of the blue violets; found in moist places on the prairies, wood-
lands, slough margins, and bogs; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Viola glabella Nutt. yellow wood violet

A species usually with both basal and stem leaves. Plants smooth, with the
only hairiness at the upper part of the stem and on the underside of the leaf
veins. Flowers yellow, springing from the leaf bases. Found in woodlands; in
southern Rocky Mountains.

Viola nuttallii Pursh (Fig. 154Q nuttall'S yellow violet

A somewhat hairy species with many basal leaves and a few stem leaves.
Leaves mostly lanceolate, tapering to the stalk, and somewhat wavy-margined.
Flowers yellow; petals occasionally somewhat bearded. Very early flowering.
Common; on open prairie and hillsides; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Viola orbiculata Geyer round-leaved wood violet

Plants small, with 1-3 small stem leaves; the basal leaves 2-5 cm across,
orbicular in outline, deeply cordate. Petals pale yellow with the centers
purplish-veined and the lateral petals bearded. Moist woods; in Rocky
Mountains.

Viola palustris L. marsh violet

A stemless species growing from creeping rootstocks. Stalks and leaves
smooth and hairless; the leaf blades broadly ovate or heart-shaped, 2-6 cm
wide. Flowers pale lilac, occasionally nearly white, with darker veins; the side

529

petals may be somewhat bearded and the spur short and thick. Quite rare; in
cold bogs and along stream banks; Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

Viola pedatifida G. Don crowfoot violet

A plant with all leaves basal and leaf blades cleft almost to the base into 3
divisions, each further cleft into 2-A lobes. Leaves varying to 10 cm wide, and
slightly hairy on margins. Flowers violet, very showy. Never abundant; found
on prairies and exposed banks; Parklands, Wood Mountain, Cypress Hills.

Viola pubescens Ait. downy yellow violet

A stout-stemmed species 15-30 cm high, covered with soft, downy hairs.
Rarely some basal leaves and a few stem leaves near the top of the stem. Leaf
blades broadly ovate with heart-shaped bases; stipules fairly large and ovate-
lanceolate. Flowers bright yellow, growing on stalks from axils of stem leaves,
with bearded side petals and a short spur. Found often; in moist woodlands;
eastern Parklands and southeastern Boreal forest.

Viola renifolia Gray kidney-shaped violet

A low-growing plant with running rootstocks and kidney-shaped, wavy-
margined leaves with heart-shaped bases. Flowers white, without bearded pet-
als. Cleistogamous flowers purple, on horizontal stalks. Flowering very early in
spring. In cold woodlands, forests, and swamps; eastern Parklands, Boreal for-
est, and Cypress Hills.

Viola rugulosa Greene (Fig. 154Z)) western Canada violet

A tall woodland species with stems 20-60 cm high growing from numer-
ous stolons. Cordate or heart-shaped leaves pointed at apex, borne on long
stalks, and often up to 10 cm across, although becoming small toward the top
of stems; often densely hairy beneath. Flowers white with pinkish or purplish
veins, although the complete flower is sometimes pale pink. The common
white violet of woodlands throughout Western Canada. Transplants readily
into gardens and then forms a low, dense mass of plants flowering copiously
quite early in the season. Spreads rapidly by its slender, numerous, white roots
and may become too aggressive. Very common; in shady woodlands; through-
out the Prairie Provinces.

Viola selkirkii Pursh long-spurred violet

A delicate species 6-15 cm high, tufted from elongate slender rhizomes.
Leaf blades 15-30 mm long, elongating after flowering. Flowers about 15 mm
across, pale violet, with the blunt spur 5-8 mm long. Moist or wet woods;
Parklands, Boreal forest, and Rocky Mountains.

Viola tricolor L. pansy

Annual, biennial, or perennial plants 10-40 cm high, glabrous or some-
what pubescent. Flowers usually 10-25 mm across, sometimes to 35 mm, vio-
let, yellowish, or 3-colored, with a spur 3-6.5 mm long. An introduced species,
very variable; occasionally escaped from cultivation, and established.

530

LOASACEAE — loasa family

Mentzelia sand-lily

Mentzelia decapetala (Pursh) Urban & Gilg. (Fig. 155) eveningstar

Stout, erect, biennial plants 15-60 cm high, with rough, pale gray stems.
Leaves alternate, oblanceolate to lanceolate, 5-15 cm long; the lower ones
with short stalks, but the upper ones stalkless. Blades sharply and coarsely
toothed and covered with tiny, white, stiff bristles, making them very rough to
touch. Flowers borne singly or in clusters of 2 or 3 at ends of stems or branch-
es; sharp-pointed sepals about 25 mm long; and petals 35-50 mm long,
creamy white, narrow, and pointed at apex. Only 5 petals appearing to be 10,
the inner ones being petal-like sterile stamens. Flowers opening only in eve-
ning. Fruit an oblong capsule about 35 mm long and up to 12 mm thick, open-
ing at the top, and containing many seeds. Occasionally leafy bracts are
attached to base or side of covering of capsule. Plentiful locally, but not com-
mon; on eroded hillsides and clay banks; throughout Prairies and on bad-
lands. Syn.: Nuttallia decapetala (Pursh) Greene.

CACTACEAE— cactus family

Almost leafless perennial plants with stems fleshy, thickened, succulent,
and covered with spines. Flowers perfect and regular with many sepals and
petals. Fruit a fleshy berry relished by antelope and sheep.

Globose or cushion-like plants; flowers red or
purple Mamillaria

Branching or jointed plants; stems flattened;
flowers large, yellow or orange Opuntia

Mamillaria ball cactus

Mamillaria vivipara (Nutt.) Haw. purple cactus

A cushion-like cactus 3-20 cm high and 3-30 cm across, covered with
somewhat cone-shaped tubercles each bearing a cluster of 3-8 reddish brown
spines 12-20 mm long. Flowers borne between tubercles, 3-5 cm across, with
numerous purple or dark red narrow petals and a yellow center of many sta-
mens. Fruit a pale green fleshy berry 1-2 cm long, turning brown with age, and
very sweet and edible when ripe. Very common; on open prairie and hillsides;
throughout Prairies and southern fringe of Parklands. Syn.: Neomamillaria
vivipara (Nutt.) Britt. & Rose.

Opuntia prickly-pear

Cacti with flattened stems jointed and divided into somewhat plate-like
sections called internodes. Plant often bearing small, scale-like, reddish leaves,
soon falling off. Spines long, with a tuft of barbed bristles at the base. Flowers
very showy, with large waxy petals. Fruit quite sweet and edible.

531

C. &udd

Fig. 155. Eveningstar, Mentzelia decapetala (Pursh) Urban & Gilg.

532

Internodes very fleshy, often circular in cross

section, 3-5 cm long, the terminal one easily

breaking loose O.fragilis

Internodes never circular in cross section, 5-15

cm long, always broader than thick O. polyacantha

Opuntia fragilis (Nutt.) Haw. BRITTLE PRICKLY-PEAR

A low-growing decumbent cactus, often forming very large mats, red or
reddish green. Spines in divaricate groups, 10-25 mm long. Flowers pale yel-
low, about 5 cm across. Fruit a fleshy berry 15-25 mm long. Common on dry
prairie throughout Prairies; rare in western Parklands and Peace River.

Opuntia polyacantha Haw. prickly-pear

A prostrate bright green plant growing in large clumps. The internodes
large and much flattened, 5-15 cm long with reddish brown spines 1-5 cm
long. Flowers showy, yellow to pinkish orange, 5-8 cm across. Fruit a prickly
berry 25-35 mm long containing numerous seeds. Very common; on dry
prairies and light soils, increasing greatly through overgrazing and erosion;
Prairies.

ELAEAGNACEAE — oleaster family

Shrubs or small trees with silvery scurfy leaves. Flowers either perfect or
unisexual, sometimes both kinds of flowers on the same plant and sometimes
only one sex on a plant. Flowers with 4 sepals but no petals, and 4 or 8 sta-
mens. Fruit drupe-like. All species in this family have nodules on the root sys-
tem in which nitrogen compounds are formed.

Leaves alternate; flowers perfect, with 4
stamens Elaeagnus

Leaves opposite; flowers unisexual, the sexes
being on different plants, with 8 stamens Shepherdia

Elaeagnus oleaster

Leaves lanceolate; shrubs spiny; twigs white
stellate-pubescent E. angustifolia

Leaves elliptic; shrubs not spiny; twigs brown
stellate-pubescent E. commutata

Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Russian olive

Shrubs or small trees 4-7 m high. Leaves lanceolate, 3-10 cm long. Flow-
ers inconspicuous, in small clusters; sepals spreading, yellow within, about 4
mm across; fruit about 1 cm long, yellowish with silvery scales. An introduced
species, planted as an ornamental and occasionally escaped.

Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. silverberry, wolf-willow

Shrubs or small trees 2-5 m high, with brown scurfy twigs. Alternate
leaves silvery, scurfy on both sides, oblong or elliptic, 2-6 cm long. Flowers in

533

clusters of 2 or 3 in axils of leaves, yellowish, very fragrant. Fruit oval, drupe-
like, silvery, about 1 cm long, containing a large stony seed. Very common on
lighter soils (where moisture is plentiful); throughout the Prairie Provinces.
Spreads rapidly in overgrazed pastures throughout Parklands. In sparse
stands, the plant is kept grazed and does not spread.

Shepherdia buffaloberry

Leaves oblong, silvery on both sides; shrub or
small tree bearing long thorns S. argentea

Leaves oval, green above, silvery below; low
undershrub without thorns S. canadensis

Shepherdia argentea Nutt. (Fig. 156) buffaloberry

A thorny shrub 1-5 m high, with whitish branches. Leaves oblong, 2-5 cm
long, and densely silvery scurfy on both sides. Flowers unisexual, all flowers
on a plant being the same sex, brownish, in small clusters at nodes formed in
the preceding season. Fruit rounded, 3-5 mm across, orange and very sour,
but after a hard frost being a good jelly fruit. Common around sloughs, in cou-
lees, and on light soils; Prairies.

Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. Canada buffaloberry

An unarmed undershrub 0.5-3 m high, with brown scurfy branches. Oval
or ovate leaves 2-4 cm long, with green upper surface, but with silvery star-
shaped hairs on underside. Flowers yellowish, borne at leaf nodes. Female
plant producing round or oval fruit 3-5 mm long, reddish or yellowish, and
insipid tasting. Fairly common in wooded places and riverbanks in Parklands
and Boreal forest, rare in Cypress Hills, along South Saskatchewan River
breaks, and adjacent areas.

LYTHRACEAE — loosestrife family

Lythrum loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria L. purple loosestrife

An erect perennial herb with stems 50-100 cm high; foliage glabrous to
sparsely pubescent; leaves opposite or whorled, 3-10 cm long. Inflorescence
10-40 cm long, with foliaceous bracts; flowers 15-20 mm across, purple. Intro-
duced, marsh species; Boreal forest.

ONAGRACEAE — evening-primrose family

Annual or perennial herbs with either opposite or alternate leaves. Flow-
ers perfect and generally regular, with usually 4 sepals and 4 petals, and with
as many, or twice as many, stamens as sepals. Style slender, either knobbed or

534

swift mmmr

Fig. 156. Buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea Nutt.

535

4-lobed at the summit. Fruit either a capsule or a small nut. In some genera
seeds silky-tufted.

1. Parts of flowers in 2's; fruit covered with

hooked bristles; leaves opposite; plants

with rootstocks Circaea

Parts of flowers in 4's; fruit not covered

with hooks 2

2. Fruit not splitting open when mature, 1-

to 4-seeded; short and ribbed Gaura

Fruit splitting open either at sides or sum-
mit when mature 3

3. Seed with a tuft of silky hairs Epilobium

Seed without a tuft of silky hairs 4

4. Capsules opening with 2 valves Gayophytum

Capsules opening with 4 valves 5

5. Petals purple; anthers attached near their

base Boisduvalia

Petals white or yellow; anthers attached

near their center Oenothera

Boisduvalia boisduvalia

Boisduvalia glabella (Nutt.) Walp. smooth boisduvalia

Native annual plants 10-30 cm high, with leaves alternate, stalkless, lan-
ceolate-ovate, 10-20 mm long. Flowers small and in leafy terminal spikes, pur-
ple or violet, with petals almost 3 mm long. Rare; found in moist, mostly alka-
line areas; Prairies.

Circaea enchanter's-nightshade

Leaves ovate, mostly less than twice as long as
wide; fruit oblanceolate, not furrowed C. alpina

Leaves oblong-ovate, usually more than twice
as long as wide; fruit obovoid, deeply
furrowed C. quadrisulcatavar. canadensis

Circaea alpina L. small enchanter's-nightshade

A slender plant 5-20 cm high, with leaves opposite, stalked, heart-shaped,
coarsely toothed, and 2-5 cm long. Flowers borne in a terminal raceme, very
small and white, on slender stalks; 2 sepals and 2 notched white petals, with 2
stamens. Fruit an ovoid or club-shaped capsule 2-3 mm long covered with fine
hooked hairs. In moist woodlands; Boreal forest, eastern Parklands.

Circaea quadrisulcata (Max.) Franch. & Sav. var. canadensis (L.) Hara

LARGE ENCHANTER'S-NIGHTSHADE

Plants with erect stems to 60 cm high or more, glabrous below, minutely
pubescent above. Leaves 6-12 cm long, rounded or subcordate at the base.

536

Racemes to 20 cm long; fruit 3.5-5.0 mm long. Rare; moist woods; southeast-
ern Boreal forest.

Epilobium willowherb

Flowers usually in spikes or racemes, with 4 sepals and 4 petals. Leaves
opposite or alternate, often with lobed blades. Fruit a long, linear, nearly 4-an-
gled capsule containing many seeds; each seed bearing a tuft of silky hairs at
the upper end; capsule splitting lengthwise at maturity.

1. Flowers large, more than 12 mm across 2

Flowers small, less than 12 mm across 3

2. Racemes long and narrow, not leafy;

leaves with a vein running parallel to

leaf margin; bracts small E. angustifolium

Racemes very leafy; leaves without a vein

parallel to leaf margin; bracts leaf-like E. latifolium

3. Annual with shreddy, straw-colored bark;

stigma 4-cleft E. paniculatum

Perennial; stigmas entire or merely cleft 4

4. Leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate, not

toothed, often with rolled margins;

stems not angled E. palustre

Leaves lanceolate and toothed, not rolled

at margins 5

5. Plants low, often decumbent; leaves ovate

to elliptic E. alpinum

Plants mostly erect; leaves lanceolate to

oblong E. ciliatum

Epilobium alpinum L. alpine willowherb

Stems usually flexuous, 5-15 cm high. Basal leaves small, 3-10 mm long;
stem leaves 10-25 mm long. Flowers solitary or in pairs, 8-12 mm across, pink
or rose. Alpine meadows, moist areas; Rocky Mountains.

Epilobium angustifolium L. (Fig. 157) fireweed

An erect, fairly stout perennial plant 60-150 cm high, with alternate, very
short-stalked, entire lanceolate leaves 5-15 cm long. Venation of leaves of this
species interesting, because of lateral veins running parallel to leaf margins.
Leaves slightly paler below than on upper side. Flowers pink to purple, 15-35
mm across, in a long terminal raceme, with a small bract below each flower
stalk. Fruit a long, linear, somewhat 4-angled capsule 5-8 cm long, splitting
lengthwise to release the numerous tufted seeds. One of the most ubiquitous of
plants, being found over most of the northern hemisphere. A good source of
honey, and fairly palatable to livestock, especially the upper and more tender
tips. Very common; in woodlands, edges of forest, burned-over forests;
throughout Boreal forest and Parklands; occasionally along roadsides and in
moist places in Prairies. Syn.: Chamaenerion spicatum (Lam.) S. F. Gray; C
angustifolium (L.) Scop.

537

Fig. 157. Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium L.

538

Epilobium ciliatum Raf. northern willowherb

An erect perennial plant 30-100 cm high, sometimes rather sticky. Leaves
mostly opposite, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 2-7 cm long. Flowers pink,
usually nodding in their early stage, about 6 mm across, with a long ovary tube
beneath the flower. Fruit many-seeded, 3-5 cm long; seeds with a white tuft of
hairs. Common; in sloughs and wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.
Syn.: E. adenocaulon Hausskn.; E. glandulosum Lehm. var. adenocaulon
(Hausskn.) Fern.

Epilobium latifolium L. broad-leaved fireweed

An erect or somewhat decumbent perennial plant, usually rather
branched, 15-50 cm high. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, entire, 2-5 cm
long, some opposite, some alternate. Flowers large and showy, purple, 2-5 cm
across, in short leafy racemes; leaves intermixed with flowers. Found along
banks of streams; in southern Rocky Mountains and northeastern Boreal for-
est. Syn.: Chamaenerion latifolium (L.) Sweet.

Epilobium palustre L. marsh willowherb

An erect, branched perennial plant 30-60 cm high. Leaves very narrow
and linear, 2-5 cm long, glabrous or covered with curled hairs, too fine to be
seen without a small lens. Flowers few, pink or whitish, about 6 mm across.
Fruit a capsule, 3-5 cm long; seeds bearing a dingy white tuft of hairs. Found
in wet places and swamps; throughout the Prairie Provinces, but nowhere very
common. Syn.: E. lineare Muhl.; E. leptophyllum Raf.

Epilobium paniculatum Nutt. annual willowherb

An annual with a pale, straw-colored, somewhat shreddy stem, erect,
branched, 25-50 cm high. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 20-35 mm long.
Flowers pink, about 1 cm across, at the end of a tube-like ovary about 1 cm
long. Capsule 10-25 mm long, splitting open to release the seeds, each bearing
a tuft of white silky hairs. Common; on light and sandy soil; throughout
southwestern part of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: E. adenocladon (Hausskn.)
Rydb.

Gaura butterflyweed

Perennial, branching herbs with alternate, narrow leaves. Flowers have a
long calyx tube, and 4 reflexed sepal lobes, 4 petals, and 8 stamens. Fruit a
nut-like capsule, containing 1-4 seeds, without hairy tufts.

Gaura coccinea Pursh scarlet gaura

A perennial, decumbent to erect, 10-30 cm high, almost entirely covered
with fine grayish hairs. Leaves numerous, oblong or lanceolate, alternate, with-
out stalks, sometimes wavy-margined or shallowly toothed, 10-30 mm long.
Flowers in terminal racemes, white when they emerge, but becoming scarlet in
a few hours, about 1 cm across. Capsule about 6 mm long containing 1-4
seeds. Common; on dry prairies and hillsides; throughout Prairies and Park-
lands. The var. glabra (Lehm.) Torr. & Gray very similar to the species, but
hairless, except for basal parts of flowers.

539

Gayophytum willowherb

Gayophytum humile Juss. LOW willowherb

Plants 5-15 cm high, glabrous, branched from the base; leaves linear to
linear-lanceolate, 1-3 cm long, entire. Flowers axillary, white, 2-3 mm across;
capsule 10-15 mm long, flattened. Rare; disturbed areas; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Oenothera evening-primrose

A variable genus, some species being tall and erect, others low and stem-
less. Flowers having the tube of the calyx extended beyond the ovary, with 4
lobes turning downward, 4 petals, and 8 stamens. Flowers very variable in
color and size; fruit a capsule opening at the top with 4 lobes and containing
many seeds not bearing a hairy tuft.

1. Plants distinctly stemmed 2

Plants stemless or nearly so 7

2. Much-branched perennials with brown

woody stems; flowers yellow; stigma

not deeply 4-cleft O. serrulata

Plants without brown woody stems;

stigma deeply 4-cleft 3

3. Flowers white or pinkish; stems white

with shreddy bark, usually

much-branched O. nuttallii

Flowers yellow; plant usually not

much-branched 4

4. Petals 1-3 mm long O. andina

Petals more than 5 mm long 5

5. Capsules rounded on the angles, not

winged O. biennis

Capsules 4-angled, winged. 6

6. Petals 5-9 mm long, inflorescence

nodding O. perennis

Petals 10-25 mm long, inflorescence erect O.fruticosa var. linearis

7. Stigma not 4-cleft O. breviflora

Stigma divided into 4 linear lobes 8

8. Flowers yellow, turning pink with age;

petals less than 25 mm long; capsule

narrowly winged at angles O.flava

Flowers white, turning pink with age; pet-
als usually more than 25 mm long; cap-
sule with double crests at angles O. eaespitosa

Oenothera andina Nutt. upland evening-primrose

Low, slender-stemmed annuals 2-15 cm high, with branches spreading
from the base, finely pubescent. Leaves alternate, linear to narrowly lanceo-

540

late. Flowers axillary, yellow; capsule 5-6 mm long. Rare; dry sandy soils;
western Prairies.

Oenothera biennis L. yellow evening-primrose

An erect biennial from a taproot, 30-200 cm high. Leaves lanceolate or
ovate-lanceolate, 2-15 cm long, stalkless except for short stalks on lower
leaves. Flowers yellow, 2-5 cm across, opening in evening, borne in a leafy ter-
minal spike. Capsules 2-3 cm long, finely hairy, and opening at the top when
mature. The type species is fairly common in the southeast, where it is an
introduced weed. However, the common forms found over most of the Prairie
Provinces are var. canescens Torr. & Gray and var. hirsutissima Gray.

The var. canescens Torr. & Gray, western yellow evening-primrose, very
similar to the typical form, but usually distinguishable by the length of the free
tips or lobed portions of the sepals: 3 mm or more in the typical forms, but
only slightly over 1.5 mm in the variety. Very common; on lighter soils;
throughout southwestern portion of the Prairie Provinces, and occasionally
found in Boreal forest.

Oenothera breviflora (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray taraxia

A stemless perennial growing from a taproot. Leaves finely hairy, deeply
incised, 5-12 cm long. Flowers yellow, turning reddish when dried, each 10-15
mm across with 4 sepals, 4 petals, and 8 stamens. Stigma or female portion of
flower knobbed at end and not divided into 4 linear lobes. Fruit a 4-winged
capsule about 15 mm long. Very rare; has been found on heavy soil on a
slough margin; in western Prairies. Syn.: Taraxia breviflora Nutt.

Oenothera caespitosa Nutt. (Fig. 158) gumbo evening-primrose

A low, stemless perennial from a thick woody root. Leaves oblanceolate
to lanceolate, 7-20 cm long, growing from short, winged stalks, sometimes
toothed and sometimes wavy-margined. Flowers 3-8 cm across, borne on
stalks from the root crown, sweet-scented, white, opening in early morning,
but soon fading to a pale pink. Capsules about 3 cm long, without stalks, in
cluster on root crown. Found on dry hillsides of gumbo or clay soil and some-
times on gumbo flats; throughout Prairies. Syn.: Pachylophus caespitosus
(Nutt.) Raim.

The var. montana (Nutt.) Durand is similar to the typical form but with
smaller flowers. Capsules only about 2 cm long and wavy-margined leaves
with fine white hairs around their margins. Flowers very early in the season.
One of the sweetest-smelling flowers on the prairie, and a good garden plant.
Found more often than the typical form; on clay hillsides; in western Prairies.
Syn.: Pachylophus montanus (Nutt.) A. Nels.

Oenothera flava (A. Nels.) Garrett yellow lavauxia

A low-growing, stemless perennial from a fleshy taproot. Leaves long and
narrow, oblong-lanceolate, very deeply incised, medium green, 10-25 cm long,
midrib very prominent on the underside. Flowers yellow, turning pink; petals
10-20 mm long. Capsules winged at the 4 angles, 2-3 cm long. Not common,
but found occasionally; in valleys, slough margins, and drainage channels; in
western Prairies. Syn.: Lavauxia flava A. Nels.

541

Fig. 158. Gumbo evening-primrose, Oenothera caespitosa Nutt.

542

Oenothera fruticosa L. var. linearis (Michx.) Wats. large sundrops

Stems spreading or erect, pubescent, 30-50 cm high. Stem leaves to 6 cm
long, linear to lanceolate. Flowers 2-5 cm across; sepals pubescent; capsules
6-10 mm long. Rare; introduced from the east; southeastern Parklands.

Oenothera nuttallii Sweet white evening-primrose

An erect, often branched perennial 30-100 cm high from a white, fleshy
rootstock. Stems white, somewhat shiny, and with a shreddy bark. Leaves
entire, linear, 2-10 cm long, pale green, and with wavy margins. Unpleasantly
scented flowers borne from axils of upper leaves, white but turning pinkish as
they fade, about 4 cm across. Usually they open in the morning. Capsules nar-
row, somewhat curved, 4-angled, and about 25 mm long. Very common; on
roadsides in light soil areas, and on sandy land, persistent in cultivated fields;
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Anogra nuttallii (Sweet) A. Nels.

Oenothera perennis L. sundrops

Stems 20-60 cm high, erect, usually simple. Leaves 3-6 cm long, oblan-
ceolate to elliptic. Inflorescence nodding, becoming erect during flowering;
flowers 1-2 cm across; capsules 5-10 mm long. Rare; gravelly soils; southeast-
ern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Oenothera serrulata Nutt. shrubby evening-primrose

An erect or decumbent, woody-crowned, brown, shrubby perennial 10-40
cm high. Leaves alternate, spatulate to linear-oblong or linear, 1-5 cm long,
often entire but sometimes with small teeth, pale green. Flowers bright yellow,
10-25 mm across, with an almost disk-like stigma. Capsules 15-20 mm long.
Not common; found on dry prairie and hillsides; Prairies and Parklands. Syn.:
Meriolix serrulata (Nutt.) Walp.

HALORAGACEAE — water-milfoil family

Perennial aquatic or marsh plants with creeping roots. Leaves alternate,
or in whorls, with the inconspicuous flowers borne in the axils of the leaves.
Petals 4 or absent; fruit a nutlet with 2 or 4 single-seeded sections.

Leaves entire and in whorls; flowers perfect,
with 1 stamen and a pistil Hippuris

Submersed leaves dissected; flowers perfect or
unisexual, with 2-8 stamens Myriophyllum

Hippuris mare's-tail

Hippuris vulgaris L. MARE'S-TAIL

An aquatic plant with creeping rootstocks, 20-50 cm high, with simple
unbranched stems. Leaves in whorls of 6-12 around the stem, linear, 1-3 cm
long; those under water are soft and flaccid, the ones above water firm. Flow-
ers lack sepals and petals, but are usually perfect, and borne in the axils of the
leaves. Very common; in streams and sloughs, and in water and mud along the
banks; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

543

Myriophyllum water-milfoil

1. Most or all of the bracts and flowers

alternate M. alterniflorum

Most or all of the bracts and flowers

whorled 2

2. Leaves all in whorls; stamens 8; floral

leaves shorter than flowers, and usually

entire M. spicatum

Some leaves alternate; stamens 4; floral
leaves longer than flowers, and
toothed M. pinnatum

Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC. water-milfoil

Plants with very slender stems 15-20 cm long; leaves whorled, usually
5-10 mm long. Spikes emersed, 2-5 cm long; male flowers solitary or in oppo-
site pairs, female flowers whorled at the base of the spike. Shallow water;
Boreal forests.

Myriophyllum pinnatum (Walt.) BSP. pinnate water-milfoil

A smaller aquatic perennial 10-20 cm high, with whorled submersed
leaves in 3-5 pairs of thread-like divisions. Floral leaves longer than flowers
and toothed. Male flowers purplish, with 4 stamens, on spikes 10-20 cm long.
A southern species, very uncommon; found in extreme southern part of the
Prairie Provinces. Syn.: M. scabratum Michx.

Myriophyllum spicatum L. spiked water-milfoil

An aquatic perennial with branched stems 30-150 cm long. Leaves in
whorls, 10-30 cm long, divided into many thread-like divisions. Flowers pur-
plish, small, with 4 petals and 8 stamens, borne in whorls on a spike 2-8 cm
long protruding above the water. Common; in streams, sloughs, and lakes;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: M. spicatum L. var. exalbescens (Fern.)
Jepson; M. exalbescens Fern.

ARALIACEAE — ginseng family

Leaves compound Aralia

Leaves simple Oplopanax

Aralia wild sarsaparilla

1. Plants scapose; leaves and peduncle

arising from the rootstock, glabrous A. nudicaulis

Plants with leafy stems 2

2. Umbels 2-10 in a loose cluster; stems

bristly below A. hispida

Umbels numerous in a compound pani-
cle; stems not bristly A. racemosa

544

Aralia hispida Vent. (Fig. 159) bristly sarsaparilla

Plants with stout rootstocks; stems up to 1 m high, bristly at the base with
slender spines. Leaves few, with the petioles usually shorter than the blades;
leaflets 2-6 cm long, oblong to ovate. Inflorescence terminal, with 2-10
umbels; berries globose. Dry woods and rock outcrops; Boreal forests.

Aralia nudicaulis L. (Fig. 160) wild sarsaparilla

A perennial from a creeping rootstock, usually with a single leaf on a stalk
15-30 cm high. This stalk divides into 3 parts, each of which is again divided
into 3-5 leaflets. Leaflets oval, pointed at apex, 5-15 cm long, finely toothed on
margins, dark green above, and very pale green below. Flowers greenish, usu-
ally in 3 umbels 2-5 cm across, on a flowering stalk 10-40 cm high, growing
from the rootstock. Fruit globular, purplish black, about 6 mm long. Com-
mon; in shady, rich woodlands and deep wooded ravines; throughout the
Prairie Provinces. Occasionally forming the major part of herbaceous vegeta-
tion in forest.

Aralia racemosa L. spikenard

Stout herbs to 2 m high. Leaves few, to 80 cm long, the three primary seg-
ments pinnately compound; leaflets up to 15 cm long, serrate. Inflorescence a
large panicle with numerous umbels; fruit dark purple. Rare; rich woods;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Oplopanax devil's-club

Oplopanax horridum (J. E. Smith) Miq. DEVIL'S-CLUB

A densely prickly shrub 2-A m high, with an unpleasant odor. Leaves
rounded in outline, 15-50 cm broad, cordate at base, palmately 5- to 7-lobed,
petioles and veins spiny. Inflorescence terminal, 10-30 cm long, pubescent and
prickly; berry scarlet, 4—5 mm long. Moist woods; Rocky Mountains, western
Boreal forest.

UMBELLIFERAE — parsley family

Hollow-stemmed herbs with alternate usually divided leaves. Bases of leaf
stalks usually enlarged and sheathing stem. Flowers small, in umbels, simple
or compound. Sepals minute, 5 petals, 5 stamens, and 2 styles. Fruit a meri-
carp consisting of 2 single-seeded carpels united into one capsule, usually rib-
bed and sometimes winged. A large and widespread family, often difficult to
identify positively without the fruit.

(Figs. 159 and 160 overleaf)

545

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1

Fig. 159. Bristly sarsaparilla, Aralia hispida Vent.

546

Fig. 160. Wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis L.

547

1. Foliage spiny; inflorescence bluish; invo-

lucre spiny Eryngium

Foliage not spiny; inflorescence not

bluish 2

2. Fruit with hooked spines; foliage digi-

tately compound Sanicula

Fruit not spiny; foliage not digitately

compound 3

3. Leaves simple or divided into few well-de-

veloped leaflets 4

Leaves much divided, with leaflets or

segments numerous 16

4. Leaves simple or with 3 leaflets 5

Leaves with more than 3 leaflets 8

5. Leaves simple, entire Bupleurum

Leaves serrate to trifoliate 6

6. Leaflets very large, 10 cm or more wide Heracleum

Leaflets much smaller 7

7. Flowers white; rays of umbel very

uneven Cryptotaenia

Flowers yellow; rays rather even Zizia

8. Leaves pinnately divided 9

Leaves ternately divided 10

9. Leaflets linear- to ovate-lanceolate;

flowers white Sium

Leaflets ovate to oblong; flowers yellow Pastinaca

10. Leaflets entire or with a few lobes 1 1

Leaflets finely to deeply serrate 12

11. Plants tall, 1-2 m high; leaflets cuneate Levisticum

Plants low, scapose; leaflets linear or

lanceolate Lomatium

12. Fruit strongly flattened, broadly winged Angelica

Fruit flattened but wingless 13

13. Leaves divided into leaflets of about equal

size, usually 3 segments each with 3

leaflets Aegopodium

Leaves divided into leaflets of unequal

size, often with 5 or more segments 14

14. Fruit linear, more than 1 cm long, usually

pubescent Osmorhiza

Fruit not linear, less than 1 cm long,

glabrous 15

15. Flowers yellow; the central flower in the

umbellets sessile Zizia

Flowers white; the central flower

pedicellate Cicuta

548

16. Flowers in part replaced by axillary

bulblets Cicuta

Flowers not replaced by bulblets 17

17. Involucral bracts large, pinnately

dissected Daucus

Involucral bracts small, slightly or not

dissected 18

18. Umbel simple, few-flowered Scandix

Umbel compound, many-flowered 19

19. Plants scapose 20

Plants with stem leaves 22

20. Flowers white; fruit conspicuously

winged on marginal and dorsal nerves Cymopterus

Flowers yellow; fruit winged on the mar-
ginal nerves only or wingless 21

21. Fruit wingless Musineon

Fruit winged Lomatium

22. Lower stem leaves opposite; most leaves

basal Musineon

Lower stem leaves alternate; stem leaves
sometimes opposite in the inflor-
escence 23

23. Leaf segments few, usually 5, long and

linear Peridehdia

Leaf segments more than 5 24

24. Flowers yellow 25

Flowers white or pinkish 26

25. Plants strongly scented; introduced

annuals Anethum

Plants not scented; native perennials Lomatium

26. Stout plants with purplish-spotted stems,

to 3 m high Conium

Plants with stems not purplish-spotted, to

1 m high Carum

Aegopodium goutweed

A egopodium podagraria L. goutweed

A perennial herb with long creeping rootstocks; stems erect, 40-90 cm
high. Lower leaves long-petioled, mostly with 9 leaflets, very similar in size and
shape; leaflets 3-8 cm long, oblong to ovate, sharply serrate. Umbels 6-15 cm
wide, dense, with 15-25 primary rays; fruit 3-4 mm long. Introduced; formerly
much cultivated for medicinal purposes and as a vegetable; occasionally
escaped.

549

Anethum dill

Anethum graveolens L. dillseed

Glabrous and more or less glaucous herbs, to 1.5 m high, often much
branched above. Leaves ovate in outline, pinnately dissected into numerous
filiform segments, 5-20 mm long. Umbels to 15 cm across, usually with 30-40
primary rays; fruit 3-5 mm long. Introduced; occasionally escaped from culti-
vation.

Angelica angelica

1. Flowers yellow; the involucral bracts

large A. dawsonii

Flowers white or pinkish; the involucral

bracts small or none 2

2. Ovaries glabrous; pedicels conspicuously

webbed A. arguta

Ovaries hispid; pedicels glabrous A. genuflexa

Angelica arguta Nutt. lyall'S angelica

A tall, stout, smooth-stemmed plant 60-150 cm high, with a woody root.
Leaves several times pinnately compound; leaflets ovate to lanceolate, 2-10
cm long, with toothed margins. Flowers white, in large compound umbels.
Fruit oblong and smooth, 4-7 mm long, often reddish or purplish, making the
fruiting plant very conspicuous. Whole plant with a pleasing odor. Found only
in wet meadows and along mountain streams; southern Rocky Mountains.
Syn.:^. lyallii S. Wats.

Angelica dawsonii Wats. mountain parsnip

A stout plant, 40-80 cm high, with a thick, woody, strongly scented root,
glabrous. Leaves with 9-15 leaflets, these 3-6 cm long, sharply serrate. Umbels
solitary on long peduncles; the involucre of bracts 1-3 cm long, toothed or
divided, sometimes rather inconspicuous. Moist woods; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Angelica genuflexa Nutt. kneeling angelica

Stout plants 40-100 cm high, with the foliage glabrous to somewhat scab-
rous. Leaves ternate-pinnate or biternate, with the main divisions commonly
reflexed, the rachis geniculate; leaflets 4-10 cm long, serrate to incised.
Inflorescence hispid to pilose; umbels with 20-40 uneven rays; bractlets lin-
ear; fruit 3-4 mm long. Moist forests; western Parkland, Boreal forest, and
Peace River.

Bupleurum thorough-wax

Bupleurum americanum Coult. & Rose thorough-wax

Perennial plants with a woody caudex; stems 10-30 cm high. Basal leaves
entire, linear-lanceolate; stem leaves clasping, oblong to linear. Flowers yel-
low, in small umbels; bractlets conspicuous. Rare; gravelly and rocky areas;
southern Rocky Mountains.

550

Carum caraway

Carum carvi L. caraway, an is

Biennial plants, with glabrous stems to 1 m high. Leaves ovate, pinnate;
the leaflets once or twice pinnately divided into narrow segments, 5-15 mm
long. Umbels with 7-15 rays, bractless or with a few linear bracts; fruit 3-4
mm long. Introduced; occasionally escaped from cultivation.

Cicuta water-hemlock

Marsh plants with smooth stems and pinnately compound leaves, growing
from stout, often tuberous, rootstocks. Flowers white, in compound umbels;
fruit oblong and slightly flattened. All species very poisonous. Genus contains
some of Canada's most poisonous plants, and as yet no antidote is known.
Although all parts of the plant contain toxic substances, the heaviest concen-
tration occurs in the root. Humans as well as livestock are affected.

1. Leaflets very narrow; bulblets in axils of

upper leaves C. bulbifera

Leaflets lanceolate; no bulblets in axils of

leaves 2

2. Leaflets very narrowly lanceolate, length-

to-width ratio 10:1 or more C. maekenzieana

Leaflets lanceolate, length-to-width ratio

about 5:1 C. maculata var. angustifolia

Cicuta bulbifera L. bulb-bearing water-hemlock

An erect, rather slender plant 30-90 cm high, with a few fleshy tuberous
roots. Leaves two or three times pinnate, with leaf segments very narrowly lin-
ear, 2-5 cm long, sparsely toothed. Axils of upper leaves bearing bulblets.
Fruits few, orbicular, less than 3 mm long. Common; in swamps and wet
meadows; in Boreal forest and Parklands; very poisonous to all forms of live-
stock and to humans.

Cicuta maekenzieana Raup. water- hem lock

Stout marsh plants, with stems to 1.5 m high, often more than 1 cm thick;
rootstock short, rather thin; tuberous roots hardly developed. Leaflets 5-8 cm
long, usually less than 5 mm wide. Umbels several, 3-8 cm across; fruit 2-2.5
mm long. Lakeshores and bogs; Boreal forest. Very poisonous.

Cicuta maculata L. var. angustifolia Hook. (Fig. 161) water- hem lock

A stout-stemmed plant from a swollen, bulbous rootstock, which is
divided horizontally into chambers. Plants 50-200 cm high, often much-
branched. Leaves twice-pinnate with lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaflets
5-8 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, sharply toothed. Base of leaf stalk swollen and
sheathing the stem. Flowers small and white, in compound umbels 3-10 cm
across. Seeds oval, slightly less than 3 mm long, yellow, with dark brown ribs,
and slightly grooved between the two carpels. Common; in wet and marshy

551

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Fig. 161. Water-hemlock, Cicuta maculata L. var. angustifolia Hook.

552

places, stream banks, and lakeshores; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Very
poisonous to all stock and humans. Syn.: C. occidentalis Greene; C. douglasii
(DC.) Coult. & Rose. In var. maculata, the leaflets are 2-3 cm wide, and the
fruit somewhat larger. Marshes and wet places; southeastern Parklands. Very
poisonous.

Conium hemlock

Conium maculatum L. POISON HEMLOCK

An erect branching annual or biennial 60-300 cm high; usually glabrous,
nauseous smelling when cut or bruised. Leaves large, divided into numerous
leaflets. Umbels terminal, with 10-15 rays. Introduced; occasionally estab-
lished. Very poisonous.

Cryptotaenia honewort

Cryptotaenia canadensis (L.) DC. honewort

An erect branching plant 30-80 cm high, with lower leaves long-stalked,
of 3 thin, incised leaflets 3-10 cm long. Small white flowers on unequal stalks
in compound umbels, with neither bracts nor bractlets. Fruit narrowly oblong,
5-6 mm long. Scarce; but has been found in woodlands; southeastern Park-
lands and Boreal forest.

Cymopterus cymopterus

Cymopterus acaulis (Pursh) Raf. (Fig. 162) plains cymopterus

A very low plant from a deep, thick root, with a short stem rarely more
than 5 cm high. Leaves bright green, usually ascending, from pinnate to twice
pinnate, 7-20 cm long. Flowers white, in an umbel up to 3 cm across. Fruit
oval, about 6 mm long, with winged ribs on side and back. Fairly common; on
dry prairie and hillsides; throughout Prairies.

Daucus carrot

Daucus carota L. wild carrot

Erect annual or biennial with a taproot, 30-90 cm high. Leaves much
divided, with the ultimate segments lanceolate or linear. Umbels terminal, with
numerous rays; bracts about as long as the rays, with lobes linear. Introduced;
occasional weed in disturbed areas and shores.

Eryngium eryngo

Eryngium planum L. cross-thistle

Perennial plants, with stems 25-100 cm high. Basal leaves persistent, 5-10
cm long, 3-6 cm wide, ovate-oblong, cordate at the base, the margins serrate,
spinulose. Inflorescence usually bluish with several ovoid-globose heads, 1-2
cm long, 10-15 mm wide; bracts 15-25 mm long, linear-lanceolate, with up to
4 pairs of spiny teeth. Introduced ornamental; occasionally escaped.

553

Fig. 162. Plains cymopterus, Cymopterus acaulis (Pursh) Raf.

554

Heracleum cow-parsnip

Heracleum lanatum Michx. (Fig. 163) cow-parsnip

A tall, coarse plant, with somewhat woolly or hairy stem, 1-2.5 m high.
Leaves stalked, 10-30 cm wide, divided into 3 broad segments, very hairy
below. Flowers white, in large flat umbels 15-30 cm across. Fruit oval, 8-12
mm long, with very fine hairs, pale tawny when mature. Common; in shady
woodland and moist places; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Easily distin-
guished from Cicuta or Sium by its broad leaves and unpleasant odor. Known
to cause dermatitis in humans. Syn.: H. maximum Bartr.

Levisticum lovage

Levisticum officinale Koch lavas

Stout perennials, with stems 1-2 m high. Leaves to 70 cm long, 60 cm
wide, triangular in outline; leaflets long-cuneate, entire below, dentate in the
upper part. Umbels 3-10 cm across, with 12-20 rays; bracts numerous,
deflexed; fruit 5-7 mm long. Introduced; cultivated as an aromatic herb; the
root useful in veterinary medicine; occasionally escaped.

Lomatium prairie parsley

Very short-stemmed perennial growing from a thickened tuberous root,
with ternately or pinnately dissected somewhat hairy leaves, and yellow, pur-
ple, or white flowers. No bracts below head of flowers but usually small bract-
lets below the separate small umbels making up the head. Plants covered with
fine gray hairs.

1. Leaf divided into few elongate, linear

leaflets L. triternatum

Leaf divided into numerous short, narrow

ultimate segments 2

2. Ovary and fruit densely puberulent 3

Ovary and fruit glabrous 4

3. Bractlets fused at the base; plants villous

throughout L. villosum

Bractlets free from the base; plants spar-
ingly pubescent L. sandbergii

4. Bractlets oblanceolate; root bulbous L. cous

Bractlets lanceolate, widest at base; root

not bulbous 5

5. Stem glabrous; foliage puberulent L. dissectum var. multifidum

Stem and foliage more or less densely

pubescent 6

6. Stems usually with at least one pair of

leaves near the base L. macrocarpum

Stems leafless or with a single leaf at the

base L. orientate

555

Fig. 163. Cow-parsnip, Hcracleum lanatum Michx.

556

Lomatium cous (Wats.) Coult. & Rose biscuit-root

Plants stemless or with a leaf at the base, 20-25 cm high, from a globose
or somewhat elongate tuberous root. Leaves ternate, with divisions 2- or 3-pin-
nate; the ultimate segments 1-5 mm long, usually glabrous. Umbel with 10-20
unequal rays; flowers yellow; fruit 7-10 mm long, with the wings narrower
than the body. Very rare; grassland slopes; Cypress Hills.

Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance

var. multifidum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance mountain wild parsnip

A plant with a thick, knobby spindle-shaped root, 30-90 cm high. Leaves
in 2 or 3 sections of several times divided leaflets, the ultimate divisions being
linear. Flowers yellow, in a large umbel, followed by flattened fruits 8-12 mm
long, with thickened corky side wings. Found occasionally; Foothills region.
Syn.: Leptotaenia multifida Nutt.

Lomatium macrocarpum (Hook. & Arn.) Coult. & Rose long-fruited parsley

A semidecumbent plant growing from a thick, deep taproot, usually with
very short stems. Leaves and leaf stalks covered with fine grayish hairs. Leaves
3 or 4 times pinnately divided. Flowers white, in compound umbels. Fruit
flattened, about 9 mm or more long, with broad creamy white wings almost as
wide as body of fruit. Found occasionally; on dry and rocky hillsides; Prairies.
Syn.: Cogswellia macrocarpa (Nutt.) M. E. Jones.

Lomatium orientale Coult. & Rose white-flowered parsley

Resembling the preceding species but having white or pinkish flowers,
translucent-margined bractlets, and fruit not longer than 6 mm. Rare; but has
been reported from dry hillsides; southeastern Parklands. Syn.: Cogswellia
orientalis (Coult. & Rose) M. E. Jones.

Lomatium sandbergii Coult. & Rose sandbercs wild parsley

Plants with a stout taproot; the stems 10-25 cm high, more or less clearly
leafy at base. Umbels 2-5 cm across; the bractlets narrowly elongate, some-
times lobed at the apex; flowers yellow; fruit 5-7 mm long, densely puberu-
lent. Rare; open alpine areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) Coult. & Rose western wild parsley

A species 30-60 cm high, with doubly ternate leaves; the leaflets narrow,
5-10 cm long. Yellow flowers, in a compound umbel with no bracts, but usu-
ally a few bractlets. Fruit winged and hairless or finely puberulent. Grassland,
openings, and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains. Includes L. simplex (Nutt.)
Macbr.

Lomatium villosum Raf. (Fig. 164) hairy-fruited parsley

A low, usually prostrate finely hairy plant, from an enlarged taproot. Leaf
stalks usually short; leaves finely dissected, and covered with fine grayish
hairs. Flowers yellow, in compound umbels. Very early flowering. Fruit
flattened, about 6 mm long, and finely hairy. Common; particularly on heavier
soils; Prairies. Syn.: L foeniculaceum (Nutt.) Coult. & Rose.

557

Fig. 164. Hairy-fruited parsley, Lomatium villosum Raf.

558

Musineon musineon

Low-growing plants with long thickened roots and much-dissected bright
green leaves. Flowers yellow, in compound umbels; fruit not flattened as in
Lomatium. Differing also from Lomatium by having no hairs on stem or leaves.

Musineon divaricatum (Pursh) Nutt. leafy musineon

A low-growing plant 10-20 cm high, with doubly pinnate bright green
leaves and yellow flowers in compound umbels 2-6 cm across. Fruit smooth,
2-3 mm long. Fairly common; on dry ground; throughout Prairies and south-
ern Parklands. Includes M. trachyspermum Nutt.

Osmorhiza sweet cicely

Perennial herbs from thick sweet-scented roots. Stems tall and leafy with
white or yellow flowers and narrow, linear, bristly-ribbed, long-stalked fruit.

1. Flowers yellow or greenish; fruit

glabrous O. occidentalis

Flowers white; fruit pubescent 2

2. Involucral bracts present O. ahstata

Involucral bracts absent O. chilensis

Osmorhiza aristata (Thunb.) Mak. & Yabe smooth sweet cicely

A plant 30-90 cm high, from thick, rough, fleshy roots. Stems smooth;
leaf stalks twice or three times divided into 3's, ending in lanceolate or ovate
leaflets 2-7 cm long, pointed at apex, and coarsely toothed. Flowers small,
white, in compound umbels, with green leaf-like bracts at base of each umbel-
let or terminal small umbel. Fruit 15-25 mm long, pointed at apex, on a long
stalk. Fairly common; in shady moist woodlands. Two varieties occur. In var.
brevistylis (DC.) Boiv. the foliage pubescent and the style 0.5-2.0 mm long;
found in southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest. In var. longistylis (Torr.)
Boiv. (Fig. 165) the stem glabrous, the foliage glabrous or nearly so, and the
style 2.0-3.5 mm long; found throughout Prairies, Parklands, and Boreal for-
est.

Osmorhiza chilensis Hook. & Arn. blunt-fruited sweet cicely

A plant 30-90 cm high with much-branched stems and fleshy roots.
Leaves thin; stalks twice divided into 3's. The compound umbels bearing small
white flowers. Fruit bearing a conical beak slightly longer than 1.5 mm. Fairly
plentiful in woods. Syn.: O. divaricata (Britt.) Suksd. Three varieties are distin-
guished in this species:

1. Fruits 20-25 mm long, longer than the

pedicels var. chilensis

Fruits less than 20 mm long 2

2. Fruits about 15 mm long, mostly shorter

than the pedicels var. cupressimontana Boiv.

Fruits about 10 mm long, shorter than the

pedicels, blunt var. purpurea (Coult. & Rose) Boiv.

559

Fig. 165. Smooth sweet cicely, Osmorhiza aristata (Thunb.) Mak. & Yabe
var. longistylis (Torr.) Boiv.

560

Of these, var. chilensis occurs in Cypress Hills and Rocky Mountains; var.
cupressimontana (O. obtusa (Coult. & Rose) Fern.) throughout Parklands; and
var. purpurea (O. purpurea (Coult. & Rose) Suksd.) in southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Osmorhiza occidentalis (Nutt.) Torr. western sweet cicely

Plants 30-100 cm high, villous at the nodes; leaves 10-20 cm long, ovate
or oblong, 1- to 3-ternate, with the ultimate divisions 2-10 cm long, lanceolate
to ovate, serrate to lobed. Umbels 3-7 cm across, with 5-12 rays, stiffly ascend-
ing to spreading; fruit linear-fusiform 12-20 mm long; styles 1 mm long or
less, glabrous or rarely bristly at base. Open woods and meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Pastinaca parsnip

Pastinaca sativa L. wild parsnip

Plants biennial, to 1.5 m high. Leaflets 5-15, usually ovate or oblong, 5-10
cm long, serrate or lobed. Umbel 10-20 cm across, with 15-25 rays; fruit 5-7
mm long. Introduced; occasionally escaped from cultivation.

Perideridia squawroot

Perideridia gairdneri (Hook. & Arn.) Mathias squawroot

A narrow, erect plant 30-80 cm high. Fleshy tuberous roots, often with a
fascicle or cluster of tubers. Leaves pinnate, of very narrow leaflets 2-15 cm
long. Flowers very small, white, in compound umbels 3-8 cm across. Fruit
somewhat flattened, brown, slightly longer than 1.5 mm. The roots were used
by Indians for food. Found in meadows, woodlands, and ravines; in southern
Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills. Syn.: A tenia gairdneri Hook. & Arn.

Sanicula snakeroot

Sanicula marilandica L. (Fig. 166) snakeroot

An erect plant 30-100 cm high, with long-stalked basal leaves and stalk-
less upper leaves. Leaves of 5 or 7 palmately arranged leaflets, oblanceolate,
sharply toothed, 4-20 cm long. Flowers greenish white, in compound umbels
of several almost globular umbellets, each 6-15 mm in diam. Fruit about 6 mm
long, densely covered with fine hooked bristles. Common; in moist, rich wood-
lands; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Scandix shepherd's-needle

Scandix pecten-veneris L. venus'-comb

An annual plant 20-40 cm high, branching from the base, and hispidulous
throughout. Leaves pinnately decompound, with the ultimate segments 2-5
mm long, linear. Umbels 2-4 cm across, with 1-3 primary rays; fruit 5-12 mm
long, with a flat straight beak, usually about 4 cm long. An introduced weed,
rare.

561

Fig. 166. Snakeroot, Sanicula marilandica L.

562

Sium water-parsnip

Slum suave Walt. (Fig. 167) water-parsnip

Tall, erect marsh plants from stout rootstocks, 60-200 cm high, with
smooth, hollow stems. Two kinds of leaves: early underwater leaves twice or
three times pinnate with thread-like leaflets; later growing abovewater leaves
singly pinnate with linear or narrowly lanceolate sharply toothed leaflets 2-10
cm long. Flowers white, in compound umbels 5-8 cm across. Fruit about 3
mm long, ovate and somewhat compressed, bearing prominent ribs. Very com-
mon; in sloughs and wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Thought to
have slightly poisonous properties, but not so dangerous as the water-hemlock,
which it closely resembles. Eaten readily by all classes of livestock without bad
effect. Water-parsnip has singly pinnate leaves, with narrow leaflets and many
small bracts at base of compound flower umbel; water-hemlock has compound
pinnate leaves, with lanceolate leaflets and usually no bracts at the base of the
umbel. Both species have bracts at the base of each separate umbellet or single
portion of the compound umbel. Syn.: S. cicutaefolium Schrank.

Zizia alexanders

Smooth, shiny plants growing to 60 cm high. Leaves simple or divided
into broad serrated leaflets. Flowers yellow, with bracts only at base of
umbellets.

Basal leaves simple and cordate Z. aptera

All leaves divided into 3 leaflets Z. aurea

Zizia aptera (Gray) Fern. heart-leaved Alexanders

An erect plant 30-60 cm high, with long-stalked cordate basal leaves and
thrice- divided stem leaves having ovate leaflets. Flowers bright yellow, in com-
pound umbels, early flowering. Very common; in moist places; throughout the
Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Z. cordata (Walt.) Koch.

Zizia aurea (L.) Koch golden Alexanders

Very similar to Z. aptera, but all leaves twice or three times divided into
leaflets. Fairly common; in meadows and woodlands; eastern Prairies and
Parkland.

CORNACEAE — dogwood family

Cornus dogwood

Herbs, shrubs, or small trees with simple leaves and perfect flowers; the
floral parts in 4's. Fruit a small drupe with a 2-seeded stone.

563

AC. &udd

Fig. 167. Water-parsnip, Sium suave Walt.

564

Low herbs, with 4 large petal-like bracts

surrounding minute heads of flowers C. canadensis

Shrubs or small trees, with cymes of

flowers not surrounded by bracts 2

Leaves alternate; fruit bluish C. alternifolia

Leaves opposite; fruit white or blue 3

Twigs pale green, mottled with purple;

fruit blue C. rugosa

Twigs not purplish-mottled; fruit white 4

Leaves mostly lanceolate; branches and
inflorescence practically hairless; pith
of young branches tawny; bark gray-
ish C. racemosa

Leaves mostly ovate; branches and
inflorescence with appressed hairs and
often woolly; pith of young branches
white; bark reddish or reddish brown C. alba

Cornus alba L. red-osier dogwood

A shrub 1-2 m high, with bright reddish-colored twigs and opposite
leaves. Leaves generally ovate, with rounded base and pointed apex, 2-8 cm
long, paler beneath, and with a few short appressed hairs. Small white flowers
borne in flat-topped clusters 2-5 cm across. Flowering in early June, produc-
ing globular white fruit about 6 mm in diam. Very conspicuous in winter
because of its reddish branches. Common; in woodlands and coulees;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: C. stolonifera Michx.; Svida stolonifera
(Michx.) Rydb. Besides the typical form, two varieties are recognized. In var.
interior (Rydb.) Boiv. the lower leaf surface, young twigs, and inflorescence are
densely pubescent; found mainly in shrubbery in Prairies. The var. bailey i
(Coult. & Evans) Boiv. differs from the species by undersides of leaves becom-
ing woolly at maturity; common in southeastern Parklands.

Cornus alternifolia L. f. alternate-leaved dogwood

A shrub or small tree 2-6 m high, with green branches striped with white.
Leaves borne alternately on the stems, ovate, long, 5-12 cm long, pale
beneath. Flowers white, followed by bluish fruit. Very rare; but has been
found in southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Cornus canadensis L. (Fig. 168) bunchberry

Low-growing herbs from a horizontal slender rootstock, with woody-
based stems 5-15 cm high. One pair of small leaves about the middle of stem
and an apparent whorl of ovate leaves 2-8 cm long near the head of the stem.
Four petal-like white involucral bracts 10-25 mm long, at head of stem, sur-
rounding a cluster of tiny greenish flowers. Fruit a bright red drupe about 6
mm across, borne in a cluster. Very common; in shady woodlands; throughout
the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Chamaepericlymenum canadense (L.) Aschers. &
Graebn.

565

Fig. 168. Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis L.

566

Cornus racemosa Lam. panicled dogwood

A shrub 2-3 m high, with smooth gray bark. Leaves usually lanceolate,
opposite, 4-10 cm long. Flowers and fruit white, stone of fruit slightly grooved.
Not common; but has been found in woodlands and along streams; southeast-
ern Boreal forest.

Cornus rugosa Lam. spotted dogwood

A shrub 1-3 m high, with the young branches yellow green, mostly mot-
tled with purple or red. Leaves ovate to rotund, 7-12 cm long, softly white
pubescent below. Inflorescence flat-topped or slightly convex, 3-6 cm across;
fruit about 6 mm across, light blue. Shady woods; southeastern Parklands and
Boreal forest.

PYROLACEAE — wintergreen family

Perennial, usually evergreen herbs with long rootstocks. Leaves thick and
leathery. Flowers perfect, in racemes or corymbs, with 4 or 5 sepals, 4 or 5 pet-
als, and 8 or 10 stamens. Fruit a capsule.

1. Plants with leafy stems and corymbose

inflorescence Chimaphila

Plants with leaves in a basal rosette;

flowers singly or in a raceme 2

2. Flowers borne singly Moneses

Flowers in a raceme Pyrola

Chimaphila prince's-pine

Chimaphila umbellata (L.) Bart. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) Blake pipsissewa

A low perennial herb with decumbent stems 10-20 cm high, with whorled
oblanceolate leaves 2-8 cm long, dark green and shiny above, paler beneath.
Flowers pinkish white, borne 4-7 in a cyme. Not common; in forested areas
on dry soil; Parklands, Boreal forest, and Cypress Hills.

Moneses one-flowered wintergreen

Moneses uniflora (L.) Gray (Fig. 169,4) one-flowered wintergreen

A small herb 5-15 cm high, from a slender rootstock. Leaves round to
ovate, 10-25 mm long, and borne in 1 or 2 pairs or in whorls near base of stem.
Flowers (Fig. 7) solitary and nodding at head of short stem, each flower usu-
ally with 5 waxy white petals, fragrant, 10-15 mm across. Two stamens
for each petal and a straight style with a knobbed summit. Found in cool,
moist woodlands; Parklands, Boreal forest, and Cypress Hills. Syn.: Pyrola
uniflora L.

567

Fig. 169. Wintergreens: A, one-flowered wintergreen, Moneses uniflora (L.)
Gray; B, pink wintergreen, Pyrola asarifolia Michx. var. incarnata Fern.; C,
one-sided wintergreen, Pyrola secunda L.

568

Pyrola wintergreen

Low-growing evergreen herbs from slender creeping rootstocks, with
round or oval stalked basal leaves. Inflorescence a long narrow raceme of per-
fect, regular, nodding flowers, usually with a protruding style. Fruit a small
round capsule.

1. Style straight, not protruding conspicu-

ously from flower P. minor

Style conspicuously protruding from

flower 2

2. Flowers crowded on one side of the stem

(secund); style straight P. secunda

Flowers not all on one side of stem; style

curved 3

3. Petals pink or purplish 4

Petals white or greenish 5

4. Leaves subentire; the apex rounded, dull

above, thin P. asarifolia

Leaves denticulate-margined; the apex

acute, shiny above, firm P. bracteata

5. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute; the main

veins whitish P. picta

Leaves rotund to elliptic; the veins not

whitish 6

6. Sepals oblong to elliptic, much longer

than wide; leaves subrotund P. rotundifolia

Sepals more or less triangular, as wide as

long; leaves elliptic or rotund 7

7. Leaves broadly elliptic to oblong, 3-7 cm

long, mostly longer than the petioles P. elliptica

Leaves obovate to subrotund, 1-3 cm

long, often shorter than the petioles P. virens

Pyrola asarifolia Michx. pink wintergreen

A plant 10-30 cm high with leathery, shiny basal leaves, cordate at base,
2-5 cm wide. Flowers 7-15, pinkish, 8—12 mm across when fully opened, in an
open raceme and usually nodding; with 5 sepals, 5 petals, and a protruding
style. Fairly common; in moist woods; throughout the Prairie Provinces. The
var. incarnata Fern. (Fig. 1695) differs from the typical form by having leaf
blades rounded or tapering at base instead of being cordate. Found in similar
locations as the typical form.

Pyrola bracteata Hook. large wintergreen

Plants with stems 20-30 cm high, with 1 or 2 scarious bracts on the stem
below the inflorescence. Leaves with petioles about the same length as the
blades, 3-8 cm long, ovate to subrotund, dark green above, pale or reddish
brown below. Flowers rose purple or dull red; petals 6-8 mm long; floral
bracts conspicuous, to twice as long as the pedicel. Rare; damp coniferous
woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

569

Pyrola elliptica Nutt. common shinleaf

Leaves broadly elliptic or oblong, with the petioles often very short. Stems
10-30 cm high; flowers 8-12 mm across, white, often greenish- or pinkish-
veined. Not common; damp coniferous woods; Boreal forest.

Pyrola minor L. lesser wintergreen

A small species with thin dark green oval or rounded leaves 1-3 cm long,
on fairly long basal stalks. Flowers small, about 6 mm across, white or faintly
pinkish, in a rather crowded raceme on a stem 5-20 cm high. Found occasion-
ally; in woodlands; Boreal forest, Riding Mountains, and Cypress Hills. Syn.:
Braxilia minor (L.) House.

Pyrola picta Sm. white-veined shinleaf

Stems 10-20 cm high; leaves 2-7 cm long, entire or denticulate, with the
petioles about the same length as, or shorter than, the blade, white-mottled
along the principal veins. Flowers yellowish white; petals 7-8 mm long; floral
bracts shorter than the pedicel. Rare; coniferous forests; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Pyrola rotundifolia L. common wintergreen

Stems 10-30 cm high, with 1 or 2 bracts; leaves 3-8 cm long, subrotund or
somewhat ovate or obovate, entire to crenate. Flowers white; petals 6-10 mm
long; floral bracts the same length as, to longer than, the pedicel. Coniferous
woods; Boreal forest.

Pyrola secunda L. (Fig. 169C) onesided wintergreen

A rather small species, usually growing in colonies from a much-branched
rootstock. Leaf blades thin, oval to lanceolate, pointed at both ends, 2-6 cm
long. Flowers small, about 6 mm across, and crowded on one side of the short
stem, 5-20 cm high. Fairly common; in woodlands and bluffs; throughout the
Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Orthilia secunda (L.) House.

Pyrola virens Schweigg. greenish-flowered wintergreen

Basal leaves round or broadly oval, rounded at the apex. Leaves thick and
dull, on rather long stalks; blades 1-3 cm wide. Flowers greenish white, 8-12
mm across when opened, and borne racemosely on a stem 10-20 cm high;
3-10 flowers in an inflorescence. Found in moist coniferous forest; throughout
the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: P. chlorantha Swartz.

MONOTROPACEAE — Indian-pipe family

Plants parasitic on the roots of other plants or feeding on dead organic
matter (saprophytic). No green coloring in leaves, which are reduced to scales.
Flowers perfect, usually drooping, with 6-12 stamens. Fruit a single-celled
capsule with numerous seeds.

Petals united; stem sticky with an enlarged
bulb-like base Pterospora

Petals distinct; stem not enlarged and bulb-
like at base, not sticky Monotropa

570

Monotropa pinesap

Flowers solitary at summit of stem U. uniflora

Flowers several in a raceme M. hypopithys var. latisquama

Monotropa hypopithys L. var. latisquama (Rydb.) Kearn. & Peebles pinesap

A pinkish- or yellowish-stemmed plant 15-30 cm high, with drooping
flowers 10-15 mm long. No leaves, but merely stalkless scales on stem. Very
rare; found in rich soil in forests; southern Rocky Mountains and Cypress
Hills. Syn.: Hypopithys latisquama Rydb.

Monotropa uniflora L. indian-pipe

Stems 10-30 cm high, scaly, white, with a single drooping flower. Plants
turning black during drying. Rare; found in damp woodlands; Boreal forest.

Pterospora pinedrops

Pterospora andromedea Nutt. pinedrops

Tall sticky-stemmed plants with enlarged bases, growing from a rounded
mass of roots. Stems 15—90 cm high, often more than 2 cm in diam, usually
pinkish or purplish. Leaves reduced to numerous narrow scales. Flowers borne
in an open raceme, whitish, 6-10 mm across. Fruit a capsule containing
numerous small seeds. Rare; found in rich coniferous woods; southern Rocky
Mountains and Cypress Hills.

ERICACEAE — heath family

Perennial plants, usually shrubby, with perfect flowers. Fruit usually a
capsule, but sometimes a berry or drupe, with the ovary superior.

1. Stems erect 2

Stems prostrate to decumbent or

creeping 7

2. Leaves scaly resinous or rusty tomentose

below Ledum

Leaves not scaly resinous or rusty tomen-
tose below 3

3. Leaves white glaucous below 4

Leaves not white glaucous below 5

4. Leaves opposite; corolla rotate, 6-12 mm

across Kalmia

Leaves alternate; corolla urn-shaped, 5-7

mm long Andromeda

5. Leaves brownish scurfy; inflorescence a

leafy secund raceme Chamaedaphne

Leaves green, not scurfy; inflorescence

not as above 6

571

6. Flowers large, about 2 cm across; leaves

narrowly oblanceolate Rhododendron

Flowers smaller, about 1 cm long; leaves

obovate Menziesia

7. Leaves 2-6 cm long, oval or

spatula te-obovate 8

Leaves smaller, usually less than 2 cm

long 10

8. Leaves and petioles pilose; leaf base

rounded or cordate Epigaea

Leaves and petioles glabrous; leaf base

tapered 9

9. Leaves crenate-serrate, conspicuously

reticulate-veined below Arctostaphylos

Leaves very shallowly crenate, with teeth
bristle-tipped, not reticulate-veined
below Gaultheria

10. Leaves and branches densely brown scaly

and scurfy; flowers 1-2 cm across Rhododendron

Leaves and branches not scaly or scurfy;

flowers smaller 1 1

11. Leaves leathery, elliptic or obovate, 6-20

mm long Arctostaphylos

Leaves not as above 12

12. Leaves linear, closely crowded on the

stem 13

Leaves not as above 14

13. Leaves thick, blunt, 4-ranked; flowers

solitary Cassiope

Leaves flat, grooved below, alternate;

flowers in terminal clusters Phyllodoce

14. Plants shrubby, with decumbent woody

stems, diffusely branched Loiseleuria

Plants not shrubby, with stems creeping,

very slender Gaultheria

Andromeda bog-rosemary

Andromeda polifolia L. bog-rosemary

A shrub 10^0 cm high; linear-oblong leaves, with margins usually rolled
toward underside, dark green above and white below, 2-5 cm long.
Inflorescence a few-flowered umbel of pinkish white urn-shaped flowers, each
about 6 mm long. Found in swamps and muskeg; Boreal forest.

Arctostaphylos bearberry

Leaves 2-5 cm long, strongly reticulate below,
serrulate, not evergreen A. alpina

572

Leaves 1-3 cm long, not strongly reticulate
below, entire, evergreen A. uva-ursi

Arctostaphylos alpina (L.) Spreng. alpine bearberry

Stems tufted or prostrate, with branches 10-20 cm long. Leaves thin,
oblanceolate to spatulate-obovate. Flowers 4-5 mm long; berry black, or red
in var. rubra (Rehder & Wilson) Bean, 6-10 mm long. Swamps, bogs, and
muskeg; Boreal forest.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. bearberry

A prostrate, trailing shrub forming large mats on ground. Leaves spatu-
late, entire-margined, evergreen and shiny dark green, 1-3 cm long, usually
with a number of brown or reddish leaves intermixed. Flowers pinkish white,
urn-shaped, about 5 mm long, in short few-flowered racemes. Fruit a bright
red berry 6-10 mm in diam. Common; in woodlands on sandy hills and
eroded slopes; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Cassiope mountain-heather

Leaves distinctly grooved on the back C. tetragona

Leaves not grooved, but keeled on the back C. mertensiana

Cassiope mertensiana (Bong.) G. Don western mountain-heather

Low, creeping alpine shrub, with branches 10-30 cm high, ascending.
Leaves 3-6 mm long, rounded or keeled on the back. Flowers solitary, 4—6 mm
long, white, on pedicels 5-20 mm long, puberulent. Rocky alpine slopes and
forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don white mountain-heather

Very similar to C mertensiana, but the leaves with a conspicuous groove
down the back, densely ciliate margins, and the pedicels to 3 cm long and
finely glandular. Alpine and subalpine slopes and forests. In the southern
Rocky Mountains var. saximontana (Small) C. L. Hitchc. occurs, with shorter
pedicels and smaller flowers than var. tetragona, occurring in the northern
Rocky Mountains.

Chamaedaphne leatherleaf

Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench. (Fig. 170) leatherleaf

Branching shrubs 20-100 cm high, with oblong or obovate, slightly
toothed scurfy leaves 1-5 cm long. Flowers white, somewhat urn-shaped,
about 6 mm long, and borne in 1 -sided racemes. Fruit an angular round cap-
sule about 5 mm across. Found in swamps, bogs, and muskeg; Boreal forest.

Epigaea mayflower

Epigaea repens L. Mayflower

Trailing plants with stems 20^0 cm long, branched, hirsute. Leaves ovate
to oblong, 2—10 cm long, obtuse to acute, rounded to cordate at the base, more
or less pilose. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long; flowers 10-15 mm long. Rare; conif-
erous forest; southeastern Boreal forest.

573

Fig. 170. Leatherleaf, Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench.

574

Gaultheria wintergreen

1. Leafy stems prostrate; branches less than

10 cm high 2

Leafy stems upright; branches 10-20 cm

high G. procumbens

2. Leaves 5-10 mm long, entire; fruit white G. hispidula

Leaves 10-15 mm long, serrulate; fruit

scarlet G. humifusa

Gaultheria hispidula (L.) Muhl. creeping snowberry

Plants with prostrate stems 20-40 cm long, leafy, bristly, especially when
young. Leaves short-petioled, broadly elliptic to rotund, bristly beneath. Flow-
ers few, on pedicels about 1 mm long; fruit white, 5-10 mm long. Damp
woods, muskeg, and bogs; Boreal forest. Syn.: Chiogenes hispidula (L.) Torr. &
Gray.

Gaultheria humifusa (Graham) Rydb. alpine wintergreen

Creeping shrub with branches usually less than 10 cm high, slender, gla-
brous or puberulent. Leaves oval to round-oval, rarely over 15 mm long. Flow-
ers solitary on short-bracted peduncles, axillary; fruit 5-7 mm long, scarlet.
Mountain slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Gaultheria procumbens L. CHECK erberry

Plants with leafy stems from a creeping rootstock, erect, 10-20 cm high;
leaves 2-5 cm long, crowded at summit of stem. Flowers 8-10 mm long, on
nodding pedicels 5-10 mm long; fruit 7-10 mm long, bright red. Coniferous
forests; southeastern Boreal forest.

Kalmia sheep-laurel

Kalmia polifolia Wang. pale laurel

A shrub growing 30-60 cm high, with sharply 2-edged twigs. Leaves
opposite, almost stalkless, 1-3 cm long, linear-lanceolate, green above but
white and finely hairy below, edges often rolled. Flowers in clusters from
upper leaf axils, 10-15 mm across, deep pink to red. Fruits ovoid to spherical
capsules about 6 mm long. Found in bogs and swampy places; Boreal forest.

Ledum Labrador-tea

Branching evergreen shrubs with leaves alternate, entire-margined, rolled
edges, and covered on underside with rusty-colored woolly hairiness or glan-
dular. Flowers with 5 white petals, borne in umbels or short corymbs. Fruit an
oblong or ovate many-seeded capsule.

Leaves densely woolly or felty tomentose
below L. palustre

Leaves glaucous, glandular-dotted below L. glandulosum

575

Ledum glandulosum Nutt. trapper'S-TEA

Stout erect shrub to 2 m high, with twigs puberulent and glandular.
Leaves pale green, rugose above, with margins little revolute, oblong to
broadly elliptic, glaucous, and glandular-dotted below. Flowers white; petals
5-8 mm long. Moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Ledum palustre L. labrador-tea

Erect shrubs to 1.5 m high, with twigs tomentose. Leaves with strongly
rolled margins, densely white or rusty red tomentose below, rugose, dark green
above. Flowers white, 5-8 mm long. Muskeg, bogs, and wet woods; in alpine
and boreal to arctic regions. Two varieties occur:

Leaves lanceolate, length-to-width ratio about

6: 1 var. latifolium (Jacq.) Michx.

Leaves linear, length-to-width ratio about

12:1 var. decumbens Ait.

The var. latifolium (L. groenlandicum Oeder) is common in northern fringes of
Parklands, Boreal forest, and Rocky Mountains; var. decumbens occurs in the
northern parts of Boreal forest.

Loiseleuria alpine azalea

Loiseleuria procumbens (L.) Desv. alpine azalea

Stems woody; branches to 30 cm long, about 5 or 6 cm high. Leaves
opposite, narrowly elliptic, 5-8 mm long, evergreen, strongly revolute. Flowers
pink or white; petals 3-4 mm long. Rocky tundra; Boreal forest.

Menziesia menziesia

Menziesia ferruginea Sm. var. glabella (Gray) Peck western minniebush

An erect or straggling shrub 1-2 m high, with shredding bark; young
twigs finely glandular pubescent. Leaves oblong to obovate, 3-6 cm long,
somewhat serrate and ciliate, appressed pubescent above, pubescent on the
veins below. Flowers 7-8 mm long, whitish or yellowish to purplish pink, on
pedicels 15-20 mm long, glandular pilose. Moist woods and slopes; Rocky
Mountains.

Phyllodoce mountain-heather

1. Flowers yellow; peduncles and calyx

densely glandular P. glanduliflora

Flowers pink to purple 2

2. Peduncles, calyx, and twigs densely

glandular P. caerulea

Peduncles glandular; calyx and twigs

glabrous P. empethformis

576

Phyllodoce caerulea (L.) Bab. purple mountain-heather

Shrubby plants with a stout, woody root; stems decumbent, 10-20 cm
high. Flowers terminal, 1-4 together on peduncles 1-2 cm long, elongating in
fruit. Tundra; northeastern Boreal forest.

Phyllodoce empetriformis (Sm.) D. Don blue mountain-heather

Similar to P. caerulea, but flowers few to many together, calyx glabrous,
and plants usually less glandular. Mountain meadows, forest openings; Rocky
Mountains.

Phyllodoce glanduliflora (Hook.) Cov. yellow mountain-heather

Similar to P. empetriformis, but flowers yellow, peduncles conspicuously
long glandular pubescent, hairs as long as the diameter of the peduncle, and
plants usually very glandular. Mountain meadows, ridges, and forest open-
ings; Rocky Mountains.

Rhododendron rose-bay

Flowers borne in 1- to 3-flowered lateral clus-
ters, axillary R. albiflorum

Flowers borne in a terminal umbelliform
cluster R. lapponicum

Rhododendron albiflorum Hook. white rose-bay

Erect shrubs to 2 m high, with slender branches and shredding bark.
Leaves 2-7 cm long, thin, deciduous. Flowers creamy white, about 2 cm
across. Mountain forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Rhododendron lapponicum (L.) Wahl. lapland rose-bay

Dwarf shrubs 10-30 cm high, freely branched. Leaves leathery, evergreen,
10-15 mm long. Flowers 1-5 in a cluster, with the corolla about 15 mm wide,
bright purple. Arctic and alpine tundra; southeastern Boreal forest, southern
Rocky Mountains.

VACCINIACEAE — huckleberry family

Mostly shrubs or shrubby plants with alternate leaves. The members of
this family are sometimes considered genera within Ericaceae, but have the
ovary wholly inferior.

Petals appearing separate, turned backward;
dwarf plants with very slender creeping
stems Oxycoccus

Petals united into an urn-shaped or campanu-
late tube Vaccinium

577

Oxycoccus cranberry

Oxycoccus palustris Pers. swamp cranberry

A dwarf creeping plant with slender trailing stem 10^40 cm long, bearing
small ovate leaves 3-8 mm long, green above and whitish below. Flowers in
terminal umbels, pink, about 8 mm across, and with petals soon turning back-
ward (reflexed). Fruit a small berry, 6-10 mm in diam, red, and often dark-
spotted when young. Fairly common; in cold bogs, swamps, and damp woods;
Boreal forest. Syn.: Vaccinium oxycoccus L.

Often divided into two species (or two varieties of V. oxycoccus):

Leaves 5-8 mm long, mostly elliptical; berry
8-10 mm long O. quadhpetalus Gilib.

Leaves 3-5 mm long, mostly ovate; berry 6-8
mm long O. microcarpus Turcz.

However, these characters and others are variable. O. quadripetalus (V.
oxycoccus L. var. oxycoccus) is described as having peduncles 20-35 mm long,
with small bracts at the base; in O. microcarpus (V. oxycoccus L. var.
microphyllum (Lange) R. & R.) the peduncles are 10-20 mm long, and the
bractlets are halfway up the peduncle. In many collections characters are mix-
ed: long peduncles with small or very small leaves, short peduncles with larger
leaves, and bractlets often missing.

Vaccinium blueberry

Usually shrubs or shrubby plants with alternate leaves, evergreen or
deciduous. Fruit a blue or red many-seeded berry. Freely hybridizing between
species.

1. Stems mostly creeping; leaves leathery,

evergreen V. vitis-idaea

Stems mostly upright; leaves thin,

deciduous 2

2. Flowers in terminal racemes V. angustifolium

Flowers axillary, solitary or few together 3

3. Flowers in clusters of 1-4, from axils of

bud scales; leaves blunt, entire V. uliginosum

Flowers solitary in leaf axils; leaves

toothed 4

4. Branches round or nearly so, puberulent V. caespitosum

Branches more or less sharply angled 5

5. Pedicels 3 mm long, about as long as the

flowers; berries red V. scoparium

Pedicels longer than 3 mm, longer than

the flowers; berries blue or black 6

6. Shrubs to 40 cm high; leaves to 25 mm

long V. myrtillus

Shrubs to 1 m or higher; leaves to 40 mm

long V. membranaceum

578

Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. blueberry

Small shrubs to 30 or 40 cm high; young branches and twigs round or
nearly so. Leaves 1-3 cm long, elliptic to lanceolate. Flowers white or pinkish,
3-5 mm long; pedicel recurved, about 6 mm long; berry blue, 4-7 mm in diam.
Two varieties can be distinguished:

Leaves serrate, pubescent below on the veins,

glabrous above; twigs and branches

glabrous var. angustifolium

Leaves entire or nearly so, pubescent on both

sides; twigs and branches pubescent var. myrtilloides (Michx.) House

Both varieties form large colonies in coniferous forest, particularly on light
soils. The var. angustifolium is limited to southeastern Boreal forest; var.
myrtilloides occurs throughout Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains. Syn.: V.
myrtilloides Michx.

Vaccinium caespitosum Michx. dwarf bilberry

A very low shrub 5-30 cm high, bearing thin obovate to oblanceolate
leaves 10-25 mm long, green and shiny on both sides. Flowers pink or white,
ovoid, about 5 mm long, and borne either singly or in groups of 3 or 4. Fruit
an edible blue berry with a bloom, about 6 mm in diam. Found in pine woods;
Boreal forest and Cypress Hills.

Vaccinium membranaceum Dougl. bilberry

Shrubs to 1 m or higher, glabrous throughout; twigs and young branches
slightly but clearly angled. Leaves 2-6 cm long, thin, ovate to oval; petioles
1-2 cm long. Flowers yellowish, 5-6 mm long; pedicel 10-15 mm long; berry
black, 8-10 mm in diam. Coniferous forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Vaccinium myrtillus L. whortleberry

Shrubs 15-30 cm high, with divergent branches; young branches and
twigs sharply angular. Leaves 1-2 cm long, ovate to elliptic, rounded to sub-
cordate at base. Flowers greenish white, 3-6 mm long, almost globular; pedi-
cel the same length as or longer than flower; berry 6-10 mm in diam, at first
red, later blue to purplish black, glaucous. Coniferous forest; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Vaccinium scoparium Leib. red whortleberry

Low shrubs 10-20 cm high, glabrous throughout; young branches and
twigs conspicuously angled. Leaves 5-15 mm long, oval to broadly elliptic, ser-
rulate. Flowers about 3 mm long; pedicels equaling or exceeding the flowers;
fruit 3-5 mm in diam, red. Coniferous forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Vaccinium uliginosum L. bog whortleberry

Shrubs 10-50 cm high, much-branched; branches round and glabrous.
Leaves 10-25 mm long, obovate to oval, firm, rounded or obtuse at the apex,
conspicuously reticulate veined below. Flowers mostly in clusters of 2-4, pink,
5-7 mm long; berry 6-7 mm in diam, dark bluish black. Marshes and bogs;
Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

579

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. var. minus Lodd. dry-ground cranberry

A low shrub 10-20 cm high, with erect branches growing from a trailing
stem. Leaves obovate with rolled edges, dark green and shiny above, paler
with black dots beneath, 1-2 cm long. Bell-shaped flowers pink or white, 5-8
mm long, and borne in small terminal clusters. Fruit a dark red, acid berry
about 6 mm in diam. Common; in swamps, muskegs, and sandy woodlands;
throughout Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains. Syn.: Vitis-idaea punctata
Moench.

DIAPENSIACEAE — diapensia family

Diapensia diapensia

Diapensia lapponica L. northern diapensia

Dwarf shrubs with matted stems 5-10 cm long, ascending to 3-5 cm high.
Leaves crowded, overlapping, 6-15 mm long, spatulate. Flowers solitary,
white, on peduncles 1^4 cm long; capsule about 5 mm long. Dry tundra;
northeastern Boreal forest.

PRIMULACEAE — primrose family

Herbs with simple leaves. Flowers perfect and regular, usually with 5 se-
pals, 5 petals, and 5 stamens that are borne opposite the petals.

1. Leaves all basal (but leafy bracts below

umbels of flowers in Androsace) 2

Leaves not all basal 5

2. Flowers solitary or 1-3 on a peduncle, 1-3

cm high Douglasia

Flowers in umbels of few to many flowers 3

3. Sepals and petals reflexed (turning

backward) Dodecatheon

Sepals and petals not reflexed 4

4. Tube of corolla as long as or longer than

calyx; flowers pink or lilac; perennials Primula

Tube of corolla shorter than calyx;

flowers small and white; annuals Androsace

5. Leaves mostly alternate, the lower ones

sometimes opposite Centunculus

Leaves opposite or in whorls 6

6. Petals absent, flower pink; low-growing

plant of saline areas Glaux

Petals present 7

7. Plants with scale-like lower stem leaves;

upper leaves in a whorl below flowers;
usually with sepals, petals, and stamens
in 7's Trientalis

580

Plants with normal opposite stem leaves 8

8. Flowers scarlet; plants annual,

procumbent Anagallis

Flowers yellow; plants perennial, erect Lysimachia

Anagallis pimpernel

Anagallis arvensis L. scarlet pimpernel

Annual plants with decumbent 4-sided stems 10-30 cm long. Leaves ses-
sile or clasping, oval to ovate, 5-20 mm long. Flowers 4-7 mm across, rotate;
capsule 3-4 mm in diam. Introduced; a rare garden weed.

Androsace pygmyflower

1. Plants perennial; flowers large, crowded A. chamaejasme

Plants annuals; flowers small; inflor-
escence diffuse 2

2. Bracts below inflorescence elliptic, ovate,

and more or less oblong A. occidentalis

Bracts below inflorescence lanceolate to

awl-shaped A. septentrionalis

Androsace chamaejasme Host PYGMY shieldwort

Plants with dense rosettes; leaves lanceolate, 5-10 mm long, ciliate.
Scapes 2-10 cm high, villous. Flowers 8-10 mm across, white with yellow cen-
ter. Rocky slopes, riverbanks, open forests, and disturbed areas; Rocky Moun-
tains.

Androsace occidentalis Pursh western pygmyflower

A very small species, usually with few flowering stems. Uncommon;
found on dry, sandy soil; throughout southern part of the Prairie Provinces.

Androsace septentrionalis L. (Fig. 17 \A) pygmyflower

Flowering stems few, usually only one well-developed. The var. diffusa
(Small) Knuth. has many flowering stems, usually of almost equal lengths;
calyx almost free of hairs. Occasionally found in eastern parts and in Riding
Mountains. The var. puberulenta (Rydb.) Knuth. differs from var. diffusa by
having a hairy calyx. A common species found on eroded and dry soils, and
very plentiful on stubble fields and cultivated land in early spring. A common
plant, but so small that it is often not noticed.

Centunculus chaffweed

Centunculus minimus L. chaffweed

A small depressed annual 2-10 cm high, with obovate to spatulate leaves,
almost stalkless, 3-8 mm long. Tiny pink flowers borne in axils of leaves, about
3 mm across. Rare; but has been found in wet places and lake edges; in
Prairies.

581

Fig. 171. Primroses: A, pygmyflower, Androsace septentrionalis L.; B,
mountain shootingstar, Dodecatheon conjugens Greene var. beamishii Boiv.; C,
mealy primrose, Primula incana M. E. Jones; D, northern starflower, Trientalis
borealis Raf.

582

Dodecatheon shoo tings tar

Perennial herbs with basal leaves. Nodding flowers very showy, with
reflexed petal lobes in small umbel at head of leafless stem. Five stamens very
prominent, united at base, and bearing long purple anthers. Fruit a cylindrical
capsule containing many minute seeds.

Leaves glandular pubescent D. conjugens

Leaves glabrous D. pulchellum

Dodecatheon conjugens Greene var. beamishii Boiv. (Fig. 17 \B)

MOUNTAIN SHOOTINGSTAR

An early flowering, rather low-growing species with oblanceolate or spat-
ulate leaves 4-10 cm long, pale green, and hairless. Flowers 1-5, borne in an
umbel on a long stem from base, varying in color from purple to white, but
usually pink; petals reflexed showing prominent purple stamens borne on
orange filaments. Petals often having a yellowish inner base with a zigzag pur-
ple line, making flowers very handsome when closely examined. In the white
phase, which is not unusual, anthers and petals are white with no contrasting
colors. Common; in moist areas in grassland; Prairies, Cypress Hills, and
Rocky Mountains. Syn.: D. cylindrocarpum Rydb.

Dodecatheon pulchellum (Raf.) Merr. saline shootingstar

A midseason-flowering species, with long, spatulate, hairless basal leaves
3-10 cm long. Flowers pink or lilac with a yellowish throat, often with a purple
wavy line, 1-12 in an umbel on a stem 10-30 cm high. Fairly common; in wet
areas and around saline sloughs, often associated with Primula incana M. E.
Jones; Prairies, Parklands, and Rocky Mountains.

Douglasia douglasia

Douglasia montana Gray mountain dwarf-primula

Small cushion plants with the leaves in rosettes. Leaves 5-15 mm long,
thick, ciliate. Flowers on a peduncle 1-3 cm high, usually solitary or 1-3 in an
umbel. Rare; alpine areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Glaux sea-milkwort

Glaux maritima L. sea-milkwort

A low-growing rather succulent leafy perennial from a creeping rootstock.
Leaves opposite, stalkless, oval to linear-oblong, 3-12 mm long. Small pinkish
flowers, in the axils of the leaves, about 3 mm long. If closely examined, they
will be seen to have no petals, merely one floral ring. Fairly common in moist
saline locations; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Lysimachia loosestrife

1. Plants not flowering but with bulblets in

the upper leaf axils L. terrestris

Plants flowering with or without bulblets 2

583

2. Flowers in short crowded spikes in axils

of leaves, or terminal 5

Flowers borne on separate stalks in axils

of leaves 3

3. Leaves usually lanceolate, rounded or

almost cordate at base; flowers 2-3 cm

across 4

Leaves linear, tapering to base, sessile, in

whorls; flowers 10-15 mm across L. quadrifolia

4. Lower leaves with petioles 6-10 mm long,

densely ciliate L. ciliata

Lower leaves with petioles 10-30 mm

long, not ciliate L. hybrida

5. Inflorescence terminal, loose; petals

elliptic L. terrestris

Inflorescence axillary, dense; petals

linear-lanceolate L. thyrsiflora

Lysimachia ciliata L. (Fig. 172) fringed loosestrife

An erect plant 30-100 cm high, with opposite leaves 5-10 cm long, pale
green, pointed at apex and rounded at base, borne on stalks 6-10 mm long
with a row of hairs on one side of stalk. Flowers 15-25 mm across, with 5 yel-
low petals somewhat unevenly pointed at tips, and borne in twos or threes in
upper leaf axils. There are 5 stamens and 5 infertile stamens (staminodia).
Fruit a many-seeded ovoid capsule. Fairly common; in woodlands and in
moist spots; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Steironema ciliatum (L.)
Raf.

Lysimachia hybrida Michx. lance-leaved loosestrife

Very similar in most respects to previous species, but leaves short-stalked
and narrower, tapering to base. Found occasionally in moist meadows, but not
nearly so common as L. ciliata. Syn.: Steironema hybridum (Michx.) Raf.

Lysimachia quadrifolia L. whorl-leaved loosestrife

Stems erect, 30-70 cm high, glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Leaves usu-
ally in whorls of 4 (3-6). Flowers 10-15 mm across; petals yellow with dark
lines. Rare; open woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

Lysimachia terrestris (L.) BSP. swamp-candles

Stems erect, 40-80 cm high, simple or branched. Leaves 5-10 cm long,
narrowly lanceolate. Racemes erect, 10-30 cm long, many-flowered, loose,
with pedicels to 20 mm long; flowers 10-15 mm across, yellow. Late in the sea-
son small elongate purplish bulblets appear in the upper leaf axils. Uncom-
mon; swampy areas and lakeshores; southeastern Boreal forest.

584

Fig. 172. Fringed loosestrife, Lysimachia ciliata L.

585

Lysimachia thyrsiflora L. TUFTED LOOSESTRIFE

An erect plant 20-50 cm high with lanceolate to linear-lanceolate stalkless
leaves 3-10 cm long. Small flowers, about 6 mm or less in diam, borne in dense
spike-like racemes in axils of leaves about halfway up stem. Common in
swamps and moist places in Parklands and Boreal forest, but scarce in other
areas. Syn.: N aumburgia thyrsiflora (L.) Duby.

Primula primrose

1. Leaves with sulfur yellow mealiness on

undersides P. incana

Leaves green on both sides 2

2. Leaves entire; flowers less than 1 cm

across P. egaliksensis

Leaves dentate or crenate; flowers larger 3

3. Pedicels 1-3 cm long, many times longer

than the bracts P. mistassinica

Pedicels less than 1 cm long, at most twice

as long as the bracts P. stricta

Primula egaliksensis Wormsk.

Slender plants with stems to 20 cm high; leaves thin, ovate to oblong or
spatulate, to 5 cm long. Flowers 5-9 mm across, greenish white to violet; calyx
lobes glandular ciliate. Meadows and calcareous shores; Boreal forest.

Primula incana M. E. Jones (Fig. 17 1Q MEALY primrose

A low plant with a basal rosette of spatulate to oval leaves 2-10 cm long,
tapering at base to a stalk and blunt at apex. Upper sides green and underside
covered with a sulfur yellow mealiness. Flowers pale lilac with a yellow center,
6-10 mm across, borne in an umbel-like cluster at head of a leafless stem
10-30 cm high. Found occasionally; in grass in saline meadows and moist
spots; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Primula mistassinica Michx. dwarf primrose

A small plant with a very slender stem 5-20 cm high. Leaves 1-5 cm long,
oblanceolate to cuneate-obovate, dentate, green on both sides, or slightly
mealy below. Flowers 10-20 mm across, pink, lilac, or white with yellow cen-
ter. Marshy areas, shores, and bogs; Boreal forest, rare elsewhere.

Primula stricta Horn. erect primrose

Plants with upright stems 10-30 cm high. Leaves 2-6 cm long, green on
both sides, crenate, ovate to lanceolate. Flowers 8-12 mm across. Wet areas;
northeastern Boreal forest.

Trientalis starflower

Leaves almost entirely in a whorl at tip of
stem, acute or acuminate; pedicels shorter
than the leaves T. borealis

586

Leaves not restricted to tip of stem, obtuse or
rounded; pedicels as long as the leaves T. europaea

Trientalis borealis Raf. (Fig. 17 ID) northern starflower

A perennial from horizontal creeping roots, which send up simple stems
8-30 cm high, bearing a whorl of 5-10 lanceolate leaves 3—10 cm long and
tapering at both ends. The few flowers are 10-12 mm across, white, with 7
pointed petals, and borne on slender stalks from the center of a leafy whorl.
Found occasionally in damp woodlands; throughout Boreal forest. Syn.: T.
americana Pursh.

Trientalis europaea L. starflower

Similar to T. borealis, but with the leaves more or less spread out along the
upper part of the stem; pedicels much longer, and also axillary from lower
leaves. Muskeg and bogs; northwestern Boreal forest, Peace River.

OLEACEAE — olive family

Fraxinus ash

Hardwood trees with pinnate leaves. Inconspicuous flowers, usually uni-
sexual, appearing about the same time as the leaves. Fruit, a samara, borne in
pendulous clusters and consisting of a seed with a long membranous yellowish
green wing.

Body or seed of samara flattened; wing

extending to bottom of seed F. nigra

Body or seed of samara almost circular in

cross section; wing extending halfway down

body of seed F. pennsylvanica var. austinii

Fraxinus nigra Marsh. black ash

A tall tree with pinnate leaves of 7-1 1 leaflets; the difference between the
wing and the body of the samara rather indistinct. Southeastern Parklands and
Boreal forest.

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh, var. austinii Fern. (Fig. 173) green ash

A tree to 10 m high with 5-7 leaflets. Branchlets densely short pubescent;
the leaf rachis and underside of leaflets sparingly pubescent. Shores, thickets,
and along rivers; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Trees with gla-
brous branches and leaflets are var. subintegerrima (Vahl.) Fern., occurring
along rivers and in ravines in the eastern part of the Prairies. Syn.: F.
campestris Britt.

(Fig. 173 overleaf)

587

Fig. 173. Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh, var. austinii Fern.

588

GENTIANACEAE — gentian family

Mostly low herbs with a bitter sap and, with one exception, opposite, sim-
ple, and stalkless leaves. Flowers regular and perfect, with a tubular corolla,
usually with 4 or 5 lobes at mouth, with as many stamens as corolla lobes.
Fruit a capsule opening by valves and containing many seeds.

1. Perennial bog plants with trifoliolate

leaves (3 leaflets) Menyanthes

Plants with simple opposite leaves 2

2. Flowers with 4 hollow spurs at base Halenia

Flowers not spurred at base 3

3. Corolla campanulate or bell-shaped Gentiana

Corolla rotate Lomatogonium

Gentiana gentian

1. Flowers with plaits or folds between lobes

of corolla 2

Flowers without plaits or folds between

lobes of corolla 8

2. Leaves with white margins; flowers soli-

tary and terminal G aquatica

Leaves without white margins; flowers

several, in leaf axils 3

3. Mouth of corolla almost or quite closed;

corolla lobes absent or very minute G. andrewsii

Mouth of corolla open; corolla lobes

distinct 4

4. Leaves linear-oblong; flowers terminal

and axillary G. linearis

Leaves ovate to lanceolate 5

5. Plants with basal rosettes present at

flowering G. glauca

Plants without basal rosettes at flowering 6

6. Calyx lobes broadly ovate or oval G. calycosa

Calyx lobes linear to linear-lanceolate 7

7. Flowers 25-30 mm long; leaves glabrous G. affinis

Flowers 35^45 mm long; leaves

puberulent G. puberulenta

8. Lobes of corolla fringed or toothed;

flowers long-peduncled 9

Lobes of corolla not fringed or toothed;

flowers short-peduncled 10

9. Calyx finely but distinctly glandular

puberulent on the keels G. crinita

Calyx glabrous G. detonsa

589

10. Throat of corolla with a fringe of hairs G. amarella

Throat of corolla hairless G. propinqua

Gentiana affinis Griseb. oblong-leaved gentian

A leafy-stemmed perennial 15-30 cm high, often prostrate, usually with
several stems from a deep taproot. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, 10-35 mm
long. Flowers dark blue or purple, 25-30 mm long, in raceme-like dense clus-
ters on upper end of stems. Sometimes merely one or a few flowers to a stem.
Fairly common; in sandy areas and moist, even saline, meadows; throughout
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Dasy Stephana affinis (Griseb.) Rydb.; G.
interrupta Greene.

Gentiana amarella L. northern gentian

An annual 15-50 cm high. Upper leaves lanceolate and rather sharply
pointed; lower leaves usually spatulate or ovate and blunt at apex. Flowers
varying from purplish and blue to greenish yellow or white, 10-20 mm, borne
in clusters in upper leaf axils. Found fairly often; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces. Because of wide variations, authorities have made several separate spe-
cies of various forms of this plant, such as G. acuta, G. plebeia, G. scopulorum,
and G. strictiflora, but they are probably all local and variations of the same
species.

Gentiana andrewsii Griseb. closed gentian

An upright rather sturdy perennial herb 30-80 cm high. Leaves ovate to
lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, with 3-7 veins. Flowers blue with whitish folds, or
sometimes all white, 3-4 cm long, usually closed at the mouth and borne in
clusters at the end of the stem or in axils of upper leaves. In wet meadows and
among bushes; in eastern Parklands. Syn.: Dasy Stephana andrewsii (Griseb.)
Small. Plants with white flowers are distinguished as f. albiflora Britt. Syn.: G.
flavida Gray; Dasy Stephana flavida (Gray) Britt.

Gentiana aquatica L. moss gentian

A small annual or biennial, usually branching from base, 3-10 cm high.
Leaves many, less than 6 mm long; basal leaves obovate; upper ones linear-
lanceolate. Small purplish green flowers solitary at summit of stems, 5-8 mm
long, and followed by capsule containing tiny seeds. Capsule opening into two
valves and spreading outward at maturity. Found very rarely; around sloughs
and marshy places; in Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Chondrophylla fremontii
(Torr.) A. Nels.; G. fremontii Torr.; G. prostrata Haenke.

Gentiana calycosa Griseb. mountain gentian

Plants with simple or branched root crown, and several to many erect or
ascending stems 15-40 cm high. Leaves 2-4 cm long, round-oval to ovate.
Flowers solitary, or 1-3 at the tip of the stem, sometimes also 1 or 2 flowers in
the upper axils. Corolla blue, 25-35 mm long; calyx tube 6-8 mm long, the
oblong lobes equaling or exceeding the tube; capsule 12-16 mm long. Rare;
alpine meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

590

Gentiana crinita Froel. fringed gentian

An annual species 15-50 cm high, with somewhat clasping lanceolate
leaves 2-5 cm long. Flowers large, 2-6 cm long, at end of stems, sky blue, with
a conspicuous fringe around the lobes. Fairly common; in moist woods or low
areas; in southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.: Anthopogon crinitus
(Froel.) Raf. Three varieties can be distinguished:

1. Leaves lanceolate, 5-20 mm wide var. crinita

Leaves linear, 3-5 mm wide 2

2. Flowers large, mostly 4-6 cm long,

corolla lobes strongly fringed var. browniana (Hook.) Boiv.

Syn.: G. procera Holm

Flowers small, mostly 2-4 cm long,

corolla lobes little fringed var. tonsa (Lunell) Vict.

Syn.: G macounii Holm

Gentiana detonsa Rottb. var. raupii (Pors.) Boiv. northern fringed gentian

Similar to G. crinita, but with the calyx glabrous. Stems 20-40 cm high,
leafy below. Leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 2-5 mm wide. Corolla 3-5
cm long, with lobes short-fimbriate. Shores and marshes; Boreal forest.

Gentiana glauca Pall. alpine gentian

Low plants with rootstocks and basal rosettes; stems 2-10 cm high. Basal
leaves 5-15 mm long, rather thick; stem leaves 2 or 3 pairs, about 1 cm long.
Corolla 12-18 mm long, blue. Alpine meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Gentiana linearis Froel. closed marsh gentian

Rather stout plants with stems 30-70 cm high. Leaves 4-9 cm long,
linear-oblong, to 1 cm wide. Flowers usually 2-4 in a terminal cluster, and soli-
tary in the upper axils. Corolla 3-4 cm long, blue to white. Rare; marshy
areas; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Gentiana propinqua Rich. felwort

Annual plants, often branching from the base, 5-30 cm high. Basal leaves
spatulate or oblanceolate; stem leaves lanceolate, 1-2 cm long. Flowers 1-3 in
axils; corolla blue, 10-15 mm long; calyx lobes unequal: the outer two 5-7 mm
long, ovate and the others 3-5 mm long, linear. Arctic and alpine grassland;
northeastern Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Gentiana puberulenta Pringle downy gentian

Perennial, usually with a single stem 20-50 cm high, often covered with
minute hairs. Leaves lanceolate, usually rough or minutely hairy on edges and
midrib. Flowers blue, 3-4 cm long, in upper leaf axils. Very rare; grassland;
southeastern Parklands. Syn.: D asy Stephana puberula (Michx.) Small; G. puber-
ula Michx.

591

Halenia spurred-gentian

Halenia deflexa (Smith) Griseb. spurred-gentian

An annual with slender upright stems 15-50 cm high. Basal leaves spatu-
late or obovate; stem leaves oblong to ovate, 2-5 cm long. Flowers in clusters
at head of stems and in axils of upper leaves, about 6 mm long, purplish to
greenish or yellowish white. Distinguished from gentians by 4 hollow spurs
projecting downward from the base of flowers. Fairly common in moist wood-
lands; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Lomatogonium marsh felwort

Lomatogonium rotatum (L.) Fries marsh felwort

An erect slender annual 10-45 cm high, with spatulate basal leaves and
linear to lanceolate stem leaves 1-5 cm long. White or bluish flowers 1-2 cm
across, borne singly or in clusters in axils of leaves; corolla deeply cleft into 4
or 5 segments. Rare; occasionally reported from marshy land; throughout the
Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Pleurogyne rotata (L.) Griseb.

Menyanthes buck-bean

Menyanthes trifoliata L. BUCK-BEAN

A perennial bog plant arising from a thick scaly rootstock. Leaves trifolio-
late, of 3 elliptic leaflets 5-10 cm long, on basally sheathed stems 5-20 cm
long. Flowers clustered in a raceme at the head of a separate stalk, whitish or
pinkish purple, 10-15 mm long. Fruit an ovoid capsule containing a few shiny
seeds. Common; in bogs and wet swampy places; in Boreal forest.

APOCYNACEAE — dogbane family

Perennial herbs with acrid milky sap, and entire opposite leaves. Flowers
regular, perfect, and bell-shaped, with 5 sepals and 5 partly united petals.
Fruits long, narrow follicles, in pairs, and containing many seeds; each seed
bearing a tuft of hairs.

Apocynum dogbane

1. Petals fully twice as long as sepals; stem

leaves drooping or spreading 2

Petals less than twice as long as sepals;

stem leaves ascending A. cannabinum

2. Petals three times as long as sepals; flower

clusters at end of stems and in axils of

leaves A. androsaemifolium

Petals twice as long as sepals; flower clus-
ters at end of stems only A. medium

592

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. incanum DC. (Fig. 174)

SPREADING DOGBANE

A somewhat bushy perennial from a horizontal rootstock, 30-150 cm
high. Plant much branched, and stems when broken exuding a milky sap.
Leaves opposite, ovate or oval, somewhat paler and often slightly hairy on
lower side, 2-7 cm long. Flowers in clusters at ends of branches and in axils of
leaves, pink, 6-8 mm long; lobes of petals spreading and often curved down-
ward. Fruits in pairs of long narrow follicles or pods, to 10 cm long, tubular,
containing many hairy-tipped seeds. Common; in woodland and on light
sandy soil; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Apocynum cannabinum L. var. hypericifolium Gray indian-hemp

A deep-rooted perennial 30-150 cm high, with fairly erect branches.
Leaves lanceolate-oblong or ovate-oblong, pale green above and often some-
what whitened beneath, 3-10 cm long, narrowed at either end. Flowers green-
ish white, about 3-5 mm long, in clusters at ends of branches and in leaf axils.
Fruit similar to that of A. androsaemifolium. Found occasionally; in thickets;
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Includes A. sibiricum Jacq.

Apocynum medium Greene intermediate dogbane

Similar to spreading dogbane, for which it is often mistaken, but having a
shorter flower, about 6 mm or less in length, usually greenish or white with a
pink tinge. Flower clusters only borne at ends of branches, not in leaf axils. A
hybrid of the foregoing two species, sparingly found; throughout the Prairie
Provinces where the parents are growing.

ASCLEPIADACEAE — milkweed family

Perennial herbs, usually with milky juice, and flowers borne in umbels.
Flowers rather complicated, but having 5 corolla lobes with a 5-lobed crown
joining the stamens and the corolla lobes. Corolla lobes usually reflexed or
turned downward. Fruit a large and conspicuous follicle, or large pod, which
opens down one side to release numerous seeds, each of which bears a tuft of
silky hairs. Pollen grains in this family united into masses (pollinia), which are
pear-shaped and attached in pairs. The peculiar structure of the flower causes
these pairs of pollinia to adhere to visiting insects and to be transferred to
other flowers, thereby ensuring cross-fertilization.

Asclepias milkweed

Coarse perennial herbs with deep taproots and white milky juice. Leaves
opposite or whorled. Petals and sepals reflexed (turned downward). Fruit a
large pod, or follicle, containing many seeds, each with a tuft of white silky
hairs.

(Fig. 174 overleaf)
593

Fig. 174. Spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemi 'folium L. var.
incanum DC.

594

1. Hoods of the crown of flower without an

incurved horn within 2

Hoods of the crown of flower with an

incurved horn within 3

2. Umbels solitary, terminal A. lanuginosa

Umbels several, lateral A. viridiflora

3. Leaves linear and in whorls A. verticillata

Leaves broader and opposite 4

4. Flowers rose or red; plant almost hairless A. incarnata

Flowers purplish or greenish; plants hairy

or downy 5

5. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, tapering to

base; pods without tubercles A. ovalifolia

Leaves blunt or almost cordate at the
base, oblong or oval; pods with soft
tubercles 6

6. Hoods of corolla long and lanceolate,

three times longer than stamens A. speciosa

Hoods of corolla short and blunt, not

much longer than stamens A. syriaca

Asclepias incarnata L. swamp milkweed

A tall slender-stemmed perennial, 50-150 cm high, almost devoid of hairs,
with lanceolate opposite leaves 3-10 cm long. Small flowers usually rosy red
but sometimes paler, in numerous many-flowered umbels. Pods of seeds borne
upright, usually in pairs, 5-8 cm long, and almost smooth. Fairly common; in
swamps, wet spots, and roadside ditches; throughout southeastern Parklands.

Asclepias lanuginosa Nutt. hairy milkweed

Tall perennial, with stems 1-2 m high, and villous. Leaves linear-oblong
or lanceolate, 4-7 cm long, pubescent on both sides. Umbel erect, short-
peduncled, 4-5 cm across. Rare; open grasslands in sandhills; southeastern
Parklands.

Asclepias ovalifolia Dene. dwarf milkweed

A low species 20-50 cm high, with ovate to lanceolate leaves narrowing or
tapering to base, 3-7 cm long. Flowers greenish white, on long stalks in
umbels. Found occasionally; on moist prairie; throughout Parklands and
southern margin of Boreal forest.

Asclepias speciosa Torr. (Fig. 175) showy milkweed

A stout erect perennial 30-100 cm high, usually found in large colonies.
Leaves broad and oval, 7-15 cm long, rounded or somewhat heart-shaped at
base, and with a whitish downiness. Flowers flesh-colored or pinkish purple,
8-12 mm across, in very dense almost globular umbels 5-7 cm in diam.
Inflorescence having a strong sweet smell, which may make a person sleepy.
The nectar also appearing to have a stupefying effect on insects, which may
often be found in a drowsy condition below the plants. Pods 6-10 cm long,

595

Fig. 175. Showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa Torr.

596

densely white woolly, and covered with soft tubercles, borne on recurved
stalks. The commonest milkweed; in moist places; throughout Prairies and
Parklands.

Asclepias syriaca L. silky milkweed

Very similar to A. speciosa, but with elliptic leaves, rounded and not heart-
shaped at base. Flowers differ in having a short blunt hood on corolla. Fairly
common; on moist sandy soil and riverbanks; southeastern Prairies and Park-
land.

Asclepias verticillata L. whorled milkweed

A slender-stemmed plant 20-50 cm high with very narrow linear leaves
3-7 cm long, borne in whorls of twos or fours up the stem. Small flowers green-
ish white, in small umbels. Found occasionally; on dry soil; extreme south-
eastern Parkland.

Asclepias viridiflora Raf. green milkweed

Perennial herb with stems sometimes reclining at base, 20-120 cm high.
Leaves usually ovate-lanceolate, 2-8 cm long. Flowers borne in umbels at
head of stem and also in leaf axils, greenish yellow to dull purple with purple
hood. The var. linearis (A. Gray) Fern, has linear leaves. Found occasionally;
in dry or sandy soil; eastern and south central parts of Prairies and Parkland.
Syn.: A cerates viridiflora (Raf.) Eat.

CONVOLVULACEAE — convolvulus family

Leafy twining plants with large funnel-like

flowers Convolvulus

Parasitic twining plants with leaves reduced to

scales Cuscuta

Convolvulus morning-glory

Twining or climbing perennials from creeping roots. Leaves alternate,
usually arrow- or spear-shaped. Flowers usually large, funnel-form or bell-
shaped, with 5 stamens. Fruit a several-seeded capsule.

Calyx not enclosed in two large bracts C. arvensis

Calyx enclosed in two large bracts C. sepium

Convolvulus arvensis L. (Fig. 176,4) field bindweed

A deep-rooted perennial with a very extensive system of white roots, and
slender twining stems. Leaves 2-4 cm long, somewhat bluntly triangular with
hastate bases. Flowers varying from pink to white, 20-25 mm across, borne
either singly or 2-A in a bunch. Fruit a round 2-celled capsule containing large,
dark brown, angular seeds. An introduced weed; often found in gardens and
roadsides, and very difficult to eradicate.

597

Fig. 176. A, Field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis L.; B, wild morning-glory,
Convolvulus sepium L. var. americanus Sims.

598

Convolvulus sepium L. hedge bindweed

A perennial plant, naturally twining on bushes and shrubs, but in culti-
vated places often becoming a creeping field weed. Rhizomes white and creep-
ing, sending up many shoots. Leaves varying in size and shape but roughly tri-
angular with hastate or sagittate bases. Two large green bracts enclosing sepals
and lower portion of flower. The large funnel-shaped flowers varying from
pink to pure white. Fruit a capsule containing large angular brown or black
seeds. The species has lobes of leaves directed downward, leaves 5-12 cm long.
Flowers 4-5 cm long and up to 6 cm across. Probably introduced from Europe
or Asia; found around bushes and waste places; especially in eastern Prairies
and Parkland. The following key separates the two main varieties of this
species.

Leaves with basal lobes spreading sideways;
hairless or only slightly hairy var. americanus

Leaves with rounded or arrow-shaped, down-
ward-pointing basal lobes; stems and leaves
covered with dense fine hairs var.pubescens

The var. americanus Sims (Fig. 1765), wild morning-glory, is a native
twining perennial with broadly hastate leaves and either pink or white funnel-
like flowers. When the area on which they grow is brought under cultivation,
the roots are spread by tillage throughout the land, and the plant spreads rap-
idly by both root portions and seed, often taking full control of large areas and
choking out crops. When growing in large masses, leaves and flowers often
become much smaller, almost to suggest a different species. The seeds have a
long dormant period and may remain viable in soil for many years, even under
good germination conditions. Common; found climbing on bushes along
water courses and in moist areas; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: C.
americanus (Sims) Greene.

The var. pubescens (Gray) Fernald, inland bindweed, is a low-growing,
twining or crawling perennial with leaves 25-35 mm long, rounded at angles,
arrow-shaped or heart-shaped at base, and covered with fine downy hairs
beneath. Flowers white, 3-4 cm long. Found occasionally; on sandy soils;
throughout southern prairies. Syn.: C. interior House.

Cuscuta dodder

Parasitic annual plants with leaves absent or reduced to scales, found
twining on host plants. Dodders grow from seed, and after they become fas-
tened to their host plants by aerial roots and suckers, the root and basal por-
tion of the stem decays and sustenance is entirely derived from the host plant.
Flowers pinkish or "whitish, in clusters, with a bell-shaped or almost globular
corolla of 4 or 5 overlapping lobes, and with small scales inside the throat,
alternating with lobes. Fruits are somewhat globular capsules borne in clus-
ters, each capsule containing 2-4 seeds. A rather difficult genus to identify,
because the small flowers need to be closely examined for differing characteris-
tics.

599

Cuscuta gronovii Willd. COMMON dodder

An orange- or yellow-stemmed species found twining on various coarse
herbs and shrubs. Flowers 2-4 mm long, sessile or subsessile in dense clusters.
Corolla lobes broadly ovate, shorter than the tube; calyx short, with lobes
round-ovate to subrotund; capsules about 3 mm in diam. Rare; on various
shrubs along shores and in moist areas; Prairies and Parklands. Includes C.
curta (Engelm.) Rydb.; C. pentagona Engelm.; C. planiflora Tenor.

POLEMONIACEAE — phlox family

Usually low-growing annual or perennial herbs. Flowers perfect, gener-
ally regular, with 5 partly united sepals and 5 united petals. Flowers usually
funnel-like or salverform (with a long tube, abruptly flattened at the end).
Fruit a 3-celled capsule containing the seeds.

1. Leaves compound with many small

leaflets Polemonium

Leaves simple 2

2. Leaves not cleft or divided 3

Leaves divided or pinnately cleft 4

3. Leaves opposite Phlox

Leaves alternate Collomia

4. Leaves opposite Linanthus

Leaves alternate 5

5. Calyx spine-tipped, and as long as corolla

tube Navarretia

Calyx not as long as corolla tube Gilia

Collomia collomia

Collomia linearis Nutt. (Fig. 177^4) narrow-leaved collomia

An erect annual herb 10-40 cm high, somewhat sticky hairy. Leaves alter-
nate, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, entire, 2-6 cm long; lower leaves usually
shorter than upper ones. Flowers very small, pink or pale purple, in a dense
head-like leafy cluster at top of stem. Common; on dry soils and sandy places;
throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Gilia gilia

Flowers usually red, about 2 cm long, in a
panicle-like cluster G. aggregata

Flowers white, less than 1 cm long, in head-
like clusters G. congesta

600

Fig. 177. Phloxes: A, narrow-leaved collomia, Collomia linearis Nutt.; B,
small navarretia, Navarretia minima Nutt.; C, moss phlox, Phlox hoodii
Richardson.

601

Gilia aggregata (Pursh) Spreng. scarlet gilia

An erect perennial 30-50 cm high, usually few-branched. Leaves pin-
nately divided into narrow segments, 2-7 cm long. Red or scarlet flowers very
conspicuous, in a large, loose, narrow cluster, usually 2-A cm, with petal lobes
about 10 mm long. Very rare; southern Rocky Mountains.

Gilia congesta Hook. clustered gilia

A basally-branched perennial 10-15 cm high, usually covered with cob-
webby hairs. Leaves pinnately cleft. White flowers in head-like clusters.
Very rare, but may possibly be found; on dry, sandy soil; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Linanthus linanthus

Linanthus septentrionalis H. L. Mason linanthus

A much-branched, very fine stemmed annual 5-30 cm high. Leaves
divided to the base into very narrow thread-like segments, about 5-10 mm
long, making them appear clustered. Flowers white, about 3 mm long, on long
fine stalks. Very rare, but has been found; on sandy roadsides; Prairies. Syn.:
L. harknessii (Curran) Greene var. septentrionalis (Mason) Jepson & Bailey.

Navarretia navarretia

Navarretia minima Nutt. (Fig. 1775) small navarretia

A low-growing depressed annual with much-branched stems 3-10 cm
high. Leaves 20-35 mm long, deeply divided into needle-like segments. Flow-
ers about 6 mm long, white, and almost hidden in round clusters of leaves and
spiny sepals. Locally abundant; on bottom lands, sandy places, and slough
margins; throughout southwestern Prairies.

Phlox phlox

1. Stem erect; leaves linear to lanceolate 2

Stem decumbent or tufted; leaves short
and awl-shaped, usually not more than
10-12 mm long 3

2. Plants annual; stems 10-20 cm high;

upper stem leaves alternate P. gracilis

Plants perennial; stems to 60 cm high;

upper stem leaves opposite P. pilosa

3. Leaves with cobwebby hairs; tube of

corolla less than 12 mm long, slightly

longer than calyx P. hoodii

Leaves without cobwebby hairs; tube of
corolla more than 12 mm long, much
longer than calyx P. alyssifolia

Phlox alyssifolia Greene blue phlox

A stout-stemmed prostrate plant with oblong or linear leaves 6-12 mm
long, with sharp-pointed tips. Flowers few, purplish or bluish, with a tube

602

about 15 mm long. Rare; found occasionally on dry benchland; Prairies and
southern Rocky Mountains.

Phlox gracilis (Hook.) Greene slender phlox

Stems usually erect, simple below and sparsely to freely branching above;
glandular pubescent above, sparsely tomentose below. Inflorescence branched,
cymose, glandular; corolla 9—12 mm long, with lobes pinkish or purplish;
calyx 5-6 mm long. Rare; moist, grassy slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Phlox hoodii Richardson (Fig. 177Q moss phlox

A low tufted mat-forming plant with coarse woody roots. Leaves awl-
shaped, sharp-pointed, and somewhat imbricated or overlapping, 3-8 mm
long. Flowers white or occasionally pale blue or purple, about 1 cm across,
with 5 petal lobes, borne very freely in early spring. One of the most conspicu-
ous of early spring prairie flowers, forming large masses of white on the plains
and hillsides. After flowering, plants becoming rather inconspicuous but form-
ing a large proportion of the ground cover, especially on eroded areas and in
shallow soil. Common on open prairie throughout Prairies, less common in
Parklands.

Phlox pilosa L. downy phlox

An erect species 30-60 cm high, usually with soft downy hairs. Leaves lin-
ear or lanceolate, 2-10 cm long and stalkless. Flowers purplish pink or white,
with a tube about 12 mm long, in a cymose cluster at summit of stem. Found
occasionally; in sandy places; southeastern Parklands.

Polemonium Jacob's-ladder

1. Corolla lobes shorter than the tube;

flowers in dense, capitate cymes P. viscosum

Corolla lobes longer than the tube;

flowers in loose, open cymes 2

2. Plants usually less than 30 cm high, sev-

eral to many stems P. pulcherrimum

Plants usually more than 30 cm high,

solitary P. occidentale

Polemonium occidentale Greene western phlox

A leafy-stemmed erect perennial 30-80 cm high, somewhat glandular
hairy above. Leaves of 15-27 ovate to lanceolate leaflets 15-35 mm long.
Flowers bell-shaped, violet or blue, 8-12 mm long, in a narrow cluster. May be
found occasionally, but not common; in open woodlands and valleys; Rocky
Mountains.

Polemonium pulcherrimum Hook. (Fig. 178) showy jacob'S-ladder

A glabrous many-stemmed perennial; leaves with 5-11 pairs of ovate to
rotund leaflets 2-8 mm long. Inflorescence a cyme; flowers blue, 10-15 mm
across; calyx glandular pubescent. A very showy species, found on slopes and
in open areas; Rocky Mountains.

603

SPfCXtSt i
LOCATION :

Fig. 178. Showy JacobVladder, Polemonium pulcherrimum Hook.

604

Polemonium viscosum Nutt. STICKY JACOB'S-LADDER

Perennials with rootstock; stems 10-40 cm high. Leaves mostly basal;
leaflets 3- to 5-lobed, with lobes 1-3 mm long, glandular pubescent.
Inflorescence subcapitate; bracts pinnatifid, glandular pubescent; flowers blue,
20-25 mm across, with the calyx glandular pubescent. Rare; rocky slopes;
southern Rocky Mountains.

HYDROPHYLLACEAE — waterleaf family

Mostly hairy annual herbs with a watery sap. Leaves lobed or pinnatifid
and flowers perfect with 5 more or less united sepals and a 5-lobed bell-shaped
corolla. Fruit a capsule.

1. Flowers solitary in leaf axils 2

Flowers several to many in cymes 3

2. Leaves pinnately divided with 7-13 den-

tate segments Ellisia

Leaves with 3-5 obovate, entire-margined

segments Nemophila

3. Leaves palmately lobed; lobes deltoid Romanzoffia

Leaves pinnately lobed or parted; lobes

elongate 4

4. Flowers in dense capitate cymes Hydrophyllum

Flowers in simple or branched scorpioid

cymes Phacelia

Ellisia ellisia

Ellisia nyctelea L. waterpod

A low-growing plant 10-30 cm high, with scattered hairs. Leaves opposite
or alternate, pinnatifid with toothed segments, 2-10 cm long. Flowers bluish
white, 6-12 mm across, on stalks opposite leaf axils. Calyx lobes (sepals)
enlarging as fruiting capsule forms. Fruit a globular capsule about 6 mm in
diam. Not common; found on river flats, shady spots, lake margins; through-
out southern part of the Prairie Provinces.

Hydrophyllum waterleaf

Hydrophyllum capitatum Dougl. woollen-breeches

Short-stemmed plants with a short rhizome, bearing finger-like tuberous
roots. Leaves 5-12 cm long, 3-12 cm wide, with 5-7 primary lobes. Cymes one
to several, globose; peduncles 1-5 cm long; flowers purplish blue to white,
6-10 mm across; calyx densely pubescent; capsule 4 mm long; seeds usually 2,
2-3 mm across. Rare; exposed areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

605

Nemophila baby-blue-eyes

Nemophila breviflora Gray small baby-blue-eyes

Weak-stemmed plants 5-20 cm high, with stems sharply angled, bearing
minute reflexed prickles. Leaves divided into 3-7 oblong-lanceolate lobes.
Flowers short-pediceled; corolla 1.5-3 mm across, purplish blue to white; cap-
sule 3-5 mm in diam, usually containing a single brick red regularly and
deeply pitted seed. Rare; open disturbed soils; southern Rocky Mountains.

Phacelia scorpionweed

1. Stamens included in the corolla P. thermalis

Stamens exserted 2

2. Leaves entire or shallowly dentate, subor-

bicular to lanceolate 3

Leaves deeply lobed to divided 5

3. Leaves suborbicular, shallowly dentate or

crenate P. campanularia

Leaves linear to lanceolate or elliptic 4

4. Plants annual; leaves linear, the lower

ones often with 3-5 linear divisions P. linearis

Plants perennial; leaves oblanceolate to

elliptic P. hastata

5. Leaves pinnately divided, the divisions

entire to pinnatisect 6

Leaves more or less deeply lobed, but not

divided 7

6. Leaves divided into 7-15 acute lobes; the

lobes shallowly incised to entire P.franklinii

Leaves divided into 5-9 oblong lobes; the

lobes deeply incised to pinnatisect P. tanacetifolia

7. Leaves divided halfway to the midrib;

stamens twice as long as the corolla P. lyallii

Leaves divided almost to the midrib; sta-
mens three times as long as the corolla P. sericea

Phacelia campanularia Gray desert bluebells

Annual plants 10-50 cm high, glandular hispid throughout. Basal leaves
oblong-ovate to suborbicular, 15-75 mm long, 10-50 mm wide, truncate or
cordate at base. Inflorescence a lax, open cyme, simple or few-branched;
flowers 15^0 mm long, blue or rarely white; capsule 8-12 mm long. Intro-
duced ornamental; occasionally reseeding itself, and locally established.

Phacelia franklinii (R. Br.) Gray FRANKLIN'S scorpionweed

A hairy erect annual 15^40 cm high. Leaves 3-7 cm long, pinnately
divided into linear-oblong toothed segments. Flowers in a dense coiled or scor-
pioid raceme, blue or bluish white, about 8 mm long. Fairly common; on dry
sandy soil; in the Boreal forest and in Riding Mountains.

606

Phacelia hastata Dougl. silver-leaved scorpionweed

Perennial plants with a branched caudex, ascending stems 15-30 cm long,
canescent and appressed hirsute throughout. Leaves linear- or ovate-lanceo-
late, 3-10 cm long, mostly entire. Cymes 2-10 cm long, numerous, many-
flowered; corolla white to light blue; capsule about 3 mm long. Sandy or rocky
soil and eroded slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Phacelia linearis (Pursh) Holz. linear-leaved scorpionweed

An annual 10^40 cm high with leaves 2-5 cm long, entire or divided into
linear segments. Flowers bright blue, about 1 cm long, in a scorpioid panicle.
Found occasionally; in valleys, on hillsides, and on light soil; in southern
Rocky Mountains.

Phacelia lyallii (Gray) Rydb. lyall's scorpionweed

Perennial with sparingly hirsute stems 10-20 cm high; leaves oblanceolate
in outline, 5-10 cm long, green, sparingly pubescent. Inflorescence short,
dense; corolla dark blue, 7-10 mm long. Rare; alpine slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Phacelia sericea (Graham) Gray (Fig. 179) silky scorpionweed

Perennial with a woody caudex, densely silvery and silky pubescent,
10-40 cm high. Inflorescence an elongate panicle of short cymes, with numer-
ous flowers; corolla dark bluish purple, rarely white; capsule 4-6 mm long.
Mountain slopes and disturbed areas; Rocky Mountains.

Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. tansy scorpionweed

An annual plant 20-80 cm high, sparsely pubescent throughout. Basal
leaves oblong-oval to ovate, 6-20 cm long, pinnately divided. Inflorescence
densely short-pubescent and hispid, of several corymbosely branched cymes;
flowers numerous; corolla 7-10 mm long, bluish purple; capsule 3^1 mm long.
Introduced; occasional weed of gardens and roadsides.

Phacelia thermalis Greene glandular scorpionweed

An annual with stem branched from base, 5-30 cm high. Whole plant
covered with whitish glandular hairs. Leaves pinnatifid with oblong lobes, 1-3
cm long. Flowers light blue with a paler tube; corolla about as long as calyx,
approx 6 mm. A plant of the dry intermountain plains of Washington and
Idaho that has been found in the southern Prairies.

Romanzoffia romanzoffia

Romanzoffia sitchensis Bong. sitka romanzoffia

A slender, few-branched perennial 5-25 cm high, slightly villous; leaf
sheaths widened, ciliate. Leaves round-reniform, 10-25 mm across; petioles
1-6 cm long. Inflorescence of a few cymes; corolla 6-9 mm long, white, on
pedicels 1-3 cm long; capsule 4-7 mm long. Rare; wet rocks and cliffs; south-
ern Rocky Mountains.

607

¥"

Fig. 179. Silky scorpionweed, Phacelia sericea (Graham) Gray.

608

BORAGINACEAE — borage family

Rough-hairy entire-leaved herbs with perfect, usually regular flowers, with
5-lobed calyx and corolla. Stamens attached at their base to inside of corolla
tube; style simple. Fruit usually of 4 nutlets.

1. Ovary of flower merely grooved, and style

at summit of the ovary Heliotropium

Ovary deeply divided into 4 lobes, and

style arising from the center 2

2. Nutlets with hooked prickles 3

Nutlets with no prickles or, if prickly, the

prickles not hooked 4

3. Nutlets prickly all over and spreading

horizontally Cynoglossum

Nutlets usually prickly on edges and

borne vertically Lappula

4. Flowers axillary or in leafy cymes 5

Flowers in cymes, with small bracts or

bractless 8

5. Upper leaves opposite or in threes Asperugo

Upper leaves alternate 6

6. Flowers white, small, 3-5 mm across Plagiobothrys

Flowers light or dark yellow, larger, 8-15

mm across 7

7. Leaves ovate-lanceolate; styles conspicu-

ously long exserted Onosmodium

Leaves oblong-lanceolate; styles

included Lithospermum

8. Inflorescence of cymes bracteolate to the

tip 9

Inflorescence of bractless cymes, or only

the lower flowers bracted 13

9. Flowers drooping; the pedicels recurved,

longer than the calyx Borago

Flowers not drooping; the pedicels erect

or ascending 10

10. Flowers white, usually less than 1 cm

across Cryptantha

Flowers bluish or purplish, mostly more

than 1 cm across 1 1

11. Stamens and style long exserted;

inflorescence racemose Echium

Stamens and style included; inflorescence

not racemose 12

609

12. Corolla tube curved in the middle, barely

exceeding the calyx Lycopsis

Corolla tube straight, distinctly longer

than the calyx Nonea

13. Flowers yellow, small, about 7 mm long Amsinckia

Flowers white, blue, or reddish purple 14

14. Plants to 1 m high; flowers 12-18 mm

long, purplish Symphytum

Plants smaller; flowers smaller, white or

blue 15

15. Flowers blue 16

Flowers white Cryptantha

16. Corolla tubular; inflorescence more or

less congested Mertensia

Corolla not tubular; inflorescence elon-
gate; flowers distant Myosotis

Amsinckia fiddle-neck

Amsinckia menziesii Nels. & Macbr. fiddle-neck

Plants 20-50 cm high, simple or branched. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lin-
ear-lanceolate, 2-7 cm long. Inflorescence elongate, 5-10 cm long, often
strongly curled at the tip; flowers 7-12 mm long, pale yellow; nutlets wrinkled
or papillate. Rare; disturbed areas, railways; Prairies and Parklands.

Asperugo madwort

Asperugo procumbens L. madwort

A weak-stemmed annual, with stems 20-70 cm long, spreading or pro-
cumbent. Leaves oblanceolate, 3-6 cm long. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils,
or sometimes 2-4 together; corolla blue, about 3 mm wide. Introduced; found
occasionally as a weed.

Borago borage

Borago officinalis L. oxtongue

An erect annual herb 20-60 cm high. Leaves elliptic to oblong or ovate,
3-10 cm long. Inflorescence in terminal many-flowered cymes; corolla bright
blue to white, 15-25 mm across. Introduced; occasionally planted as ornamen-
tal, and escaped.

Cryptantha cryptanthe

1. Plants perennial; cymes in a raceme C. nubigena

Plants annual; cymes not in a raceme 2

2. Cymes bracteolate to the tip C. minima

Cymes with only the lower flowers

bracteolate C.fendleh

610

Cryptantha fendleri (A. Gray) Greene fendler'S cryptanthe

A very hairy gray or whitish annual with linear leaves 2-6 cm long. Plant
sometimes growing to 50 cm high, but usually staying crowded and short.
Flowers small and white, borne at ends of branches in scorpioid clusters.
Fruits 4 smooth shiny brown nutlets. Common on sand dunes; in western
Prairies, sometimes forming ground cover of large areas.

Cryptantha minima Rydb. small cryptanthe

A small several-stemmed annual, blooming when only 1 or 2 cm high.
Leaves 5-15 mm long, spatulate; corolla 2.5-3 mm long. Rare or commonly
overlooked; eroded soils; Prairies.

Cryptantha nubigena (Greene) Payson clustered oreocarya

A low erect species 10-30 cm high, with lower leaves spatulate and upper
ones linear. Basal leaves 2-5 cm long; upper ones often shorter. Whole plant
covered with white bristly short hairs, often giving a grayish appearance.
Flowers white, about 6 mm across, in compact spike-like clusters at ends of
branches. Common on dry hillsides and prairies; throughout Prairies and
southern edge of Parklands. Syn.: C. bradburiana Payson; Oreocarya glomerata
(Pursh) Greene.

Cynoglossum hound's-tongue

Inflorescence leafy; flowers reddish to white C. officinale

Inflorescence leafless; flowers blue C. boreale

Cynoglossum boreale Fern. wild comfrey

An erect unbranched perennial with stems 40-60 cm high. Basal leaves
elliptic to lanceolate, 10-20 cm long, tapering to the petiole; stem leaves ses-
sile, narrowed at the base or somewhat clasping. Racemes 1-3, terminating an
elongate leafless peduncle; corolla blue, 6-8 mm across. Rare; in moist woods;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Cynoglossum officinale L. hound'S-tongue

A soft hairy biennial plant with erect leafy stems 40-80 cm high. Lower
leaves oblong-lanceolate, 15-25 cm long, with slender stalks; upper leaves
stalkless or clasping, and lanceolate. Flowers in scorpioid racemes at ends of
branches, reddish purple, about 5-10 mm across. Fruit a pyramid of 4 nutlets
10-15 mm across. An introduced weed; found occasionally in pastures and
waste places.

Echium viper's bugloss

Echium plant agineum L. purple bugloss

Cymes elongate from the upper 1 or 2 leaf axils; flowers 20-25 mm, pur-
ple, with a large calyx. Reported as a very rare weed.

Echium vulgare L. viper's bugloss

A coarse erect biennial, with stems 30-70 cm high and hairs somewhat
prickly. Basal leaves to 15 cm long; stem leaves progressively smaller. Cymes

611

numerous, in the axils of upper stem leaves; corolla 12-20 mm long, blue.
Introduced; weedy in several areas, but rare.

Heliotropium heliotrope

Heliotropium curassavicum L. var. obovatum DC.

SPATULATE-LEAVED HELIOTROPE

A perennial from thick fleshy white running roots, 5-30 cm high. Plants
smooth with a slight bloom, giving them a somewhat waxy appearance. Leaves
fleshy and spatulate, 2-5 cm long, with nerves very indistinct. Flowers white or
faintly bluish-tinged, about 6 mm across, in several scorpioid spikes, 1-10 cm
long, at ends of branches. Not common but very plentiful where found; in
saline slough margins; Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: H. spathulatum Rydb.

Lappula bluebur

1. Plants grayish pubescent; leaves 2-6 cm

long „ L. echinata

Plants green, pubescent; leaves 5-15 cm

long 2

2. Flowers 8-12 mm across L. deflexa var. americana

Flowers less than 8 mm across 3

3. Branches of inflorescence strictly ascend-

ing, densely flowered L. floribunda

Branches of inflorescence widely spread-
ing, loosely flowered L.jessicae

Lappula deflexa (Wahl.) Garcke var. americana (Gray) Greene

NODDING STICKSEED

A biennial, with downward-pointing hairs, 30-90 cm high. Leaves oblong-
lanceolate; lower ones stalked and upper ones sessile (stalkless), 5-15 cm long.
Inflorescence usually not leafy; pale blue flowers on reflexed stalks in a slender
raceme. Found occasionally; in moist, shady woodlands; throughout Prairies
and Parkland. Syn.: L. americana (Gray) Rydb.; Hackelia americana (Gray)
Fern.

Lappula echinata Gilib. bluebur

A hairy annual or winter annual weed 15-60 cm high, much branching.
Leaves 2-7 cm long, with only the lower ones stalked. Flowers pale blue, about
3 mm across, on erect leafy-bracted racemes at ends of branches. Fruit con-
taining 4 nutlets with 2 rows of hooked prickles around margins. Whole plant
has a strong smell resembling a mouse-infested building. Introduced from
Europe, but now very common and widespread; on waste places in cultivated
fields and in overgrazed pastures; throughout Prairies and Parkland.

The var. occidentalis (Wats.) Boiv. with nutlets having a single marginal
row of hooked prickles. A fairly common native plant; on sandhills, light dry
soils, and railway grades; throughout Prairies. Syn.: L. occidentalis (S. Wats.)
Greene.

612

Lappula floribunda (Lehm.) Greene large-flowered stickseed

A rough hairy biennial or perennial 40-100 cm high. Oblong-lanceolate or
linear-lanceolate leaves 5-10 cm long; lower ones stalked and upper ones
stalkless. Pale blue flowers in numerous erect racemes. Fairly common; in
moist woodlands; throughout Western Parklands and Rocky Mountains.
Syn.: Hackelia floribunda (Lehm.) Johnston.

Lappula jessicae McGregor Jessica's stickseed

Stems erect or ascending, 30-60 cm high; basal leaves 8-15 cm long,
15-20 mm wide. Inflorescence an open panicle, with several racemes; flowers
pale blue; corolla 3-5 mm across. Margins of woods and openings; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Lithospermum puccoon

Herbs with narrow hairy alternate leaves. Flowers perfect, regular, usually
bright yellow, funnelform or salverform with rounded spreading lobes. Fruit
usually 4 very hard nutlets.

1. Annual plants; nutlets brown, wrinkled,

and pitted L. arvense

Perennial plants; nutlets white, smooth 2

2. Corolla tube not longer than calyx;

flowers white or pale yellow L. officinale

Corolla tube longer than calyx 3

3. Lobes of corolla either fringed or toothed L. incisum

Lobes of corolla entire, neither fringed

nor toothed 4

4. Leaves lanceolate; plant very leafy;

flowers crowded, dull greenish yellow L. ruderale

Leaves linear to oblong; plant not very

leafy; flowers bright yellow or orange L. canescens

Lithospermum arvense L. CORN G ROM WELL

An erect usually branched plant, with stems 10-30 cm high. Leaves nar-
rowly lanceolate to almost linear, 20-25 mm long. Flowers white; corolla 6-8
mm across. Introduced; found occasionally as a weed.

Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) Lehm. hoary puccoon

A softly hairy, somewhat hoary perennial growing erect to 15-50 cm high.
Leaves linear-oblong, 1-4 cm long, without stalks. Flowers orange yellow, with
tube 10-12 mm long, without stalks, in a rather compact cluster at summit of
plant. Smooth white nutlets about 3 mm high. Fairly common; in bluffy coun-
try grasslands; eastern Parklands.

Lithospermum incisum Lehm. (Fig. 180) narrow-leaved puccoon

A deep taprooted perennial, often decumbent. Leaves linear, 1-5 cm long,
covered with short stiff hairs. Early flowers stalked, bright yellow, with a tube
about 2 cm long, and fringed spreading lobes. Later flowers smaller, self-ferti-
lized while in the bud, and very fertile. Nutlets about 3 mm high, white, shiny,

613

Fig. 180. Narrow-leaved puccoon, Lithospermum incisum Lehm.

614

with minute pits, very hard. Common; on dry prairie land; throughout Prairies
and Parklands. Syn.; L. angustifolium Michx.

Lithospermum officinale L. G ROM well

A finely haired perennial 15-60 cm high. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceo-
late, 1-7 cm long. Flowers pale yellow or yellowish white, few, solitary in leaf
axils, tube almost as long as calyx. Shiny nutlets about half as long as the se-
pals. An eastern weed, introduced from Europe, but has been found in south-
eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Lithospermum ruderale Lehm. woolly gromwell

A coarse hairy perennial from thick roots, with several erect stems;
densely leafy. Leaves lanceolate with a prominent midrib, 5-10 cm long, stalk-
less, and crowded on stem. Numerous dull greenish yellow flowers crowded at
top of stem in a leafy cluster. White, shining, ovoid nutlets about 3 mm high.
Fairly common; in grasslands; Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills.

Lycopsis bugloss

Lycopsis arvensis L. small bugloss

An annual rough hairy plant 30-50 cm high. Lanceolate alternate leaves
2-5 cm long. Flowers crowded into somewhat scorpioid terminal racemes,
bluish, up to 6 mm across. Tube of corolla slightly curved or bent, and throat
closed with stiff fine hairs. The 4 nutlets shorter than calyx. An introduced
weed; very uncommon; has been found in southeastern Parklands and in Prai-
ries.

Mertensia lungwort

Perennial plants with alternate leaves and fairly large blue or purple fun-
nelform flowers with lobes slightly spreading. Fruit erect wrinkled nutlets.

1. Plants entirely glabrous M. maritima

Plants pubescent 2

2. Plants 30-70 cm high; stem leaves 5-15

cm long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate M. paniculata

Plants 10-30 cm high; stem leaves 2-10

cm long, oblong to lanceolate 3

3. Plants with tuberous roots; flowers 15-25

mm long M. longiflora

Plants with taproot; flowers 10-15 mm

long M. lanceolata

Mertensia lanceolata (Pursh) DC. lance-leaved lungwort

A plant 15-30 cm high with linear to lanceolate leaves 5-10 cm long.
Leaves usually hairless, but may occasionally be somewhat short hairy on
upper side. Blue flowers 10-15 mm long, in few-flowered panicles at ends of
branches. Form with no hairiness on upper surface sometimes called M.
linearis Greene. Both forms fairly common; on open prairie and hillsides;
Prairies.

615

Mertensia longiflora Greene LARGE-FLOWERED LUNGWORT

Plants usually with a solitary stem, or rarely 2 or 3 stems, 10-30 cm high,
from a shallow tuberous root. Basal leaves 2-5 cm long, mostly confined to
sterile stems; stem leaves 2-7 cm long. Inflorescence often dense; flowers deep
blue, usually about 2 cm long. Grasslands and slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Mertensia maritima (L.) S. F. Gray seaside lungwort

Plants with spreading or decumbent stems to 60 cm long. Leaves 2-6 cm
long, ovate to spatulate-ovate, fleshy. Cymes often numerous, lax, leafy-bract-
ed; corolla 8-10 mm long, pinkish blue to white. Beaches; northeastern Boreal
forest.

Mertensia paniculata (Ait.) G. Don (Fig. 181) tall lungwort

An erect species 30-70 cm high. Leaves lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, some-
what hairy on both sides. Flowers in few-flowered clusters at ends of stems,
purplish blue, 10-15 mm long. Found in the woodlands and shady stream
banks; throughout Parklands, Boreal forest, and Rocky Mountains.

Myosotis forget-me-not

1. Pubescence of the calyx of appressed

straight hairs 2

Pubescence of the calyx of spreading

hooked hairs 3

2. Calyx lobes half as long as the tube;

corolla lobes much larger than calyx

lobes M. scorpioides

Calyx lobes equaling the tube; corolla

lobes equaling calyx lobes M. laxa

3. Flowers 5-8 mm across; plants perennial M. sylvatica var. alpesths

Flowers 2-3 mm across; plants annual or

biennial M. arvensis

Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill field forget-me-not

Plants with erect or ascending branching stems 1 5^40 cm high. Basal
leaves 1-2 cm long; stem leaves to 3 cm long. Racemes loosely flowered;
flowers blue or white, 2-3 mm across. Introduced; rare weed; in disturbed
areas.

Myosotis laxa Lehm. small forget-me-not

Perennial plants with decumbent or spreading stems, rooting at the nodes,
15-30 cm long. Leaves to 3 cm long, oblong or oblong-lanceolate. Racemes
loosely flowered; corolla about 4 mm across. Introduced; a rare weed; in
marshy areas.

Myosotis scorpioides L. marsh forget-me-not

Perennial plants with slender rootstocks; stems decumbent or ascending,
15-40 cm long, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves 2-8 cm long, oblong-lanceo-
late to oblanceolate. Racemes loosely flowered; corollas 6-8 mm across. Intro-
duced; a rare weed; in cultivated and disturbed moist areas.

616

Fig. 181. Tall lungwort, Mertensia paniculata (Ait.) G. Don.

617

Myosotis sylvatica Hoffm. var. alpestris (F. W. Schmidt) Koch. \ orgetme-not

Perennial plants with a short rootstock; stems usually upright, 10-20 cm
high. Leaves 2-5 cm long, oblong-lanceolate to spatulate. Racemes mostly
densely flowered; corolla 5-8 mm across. Alpine meadows and slopes; Rocky
Mountains.

Nonea monk's-wort

Nonea vesicaha (L.) Reich. RED monks-wort

Perennial plants with stout roots; stems 10^10 cm high. Leaves 3-10 cm
long, oblong-lanceolate. Racemes more or less densely flowered; corollas
10-15 mm across, dark red to brown red. Introduced; a very rare weed.

Onosmodium false gromwell

Onosmodium molle Michx. var. hispidissimum (Mack.) Cronq.

WESTERN FALSE GROMWELL

An erect coarse perennial 50-100 cm high, with rough hairy stems. Leaves
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 cm long, coarsely appressed hairy, with
venation very prominent on undersurfaces. Flowers yellowish white or green-
ish, 10-20 mm long, in leafy terminal scorpioid spikes. Nutlets 3-4 mm long,
distinctly constricted at the base. Margins of woods, openings, and grassland;
southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Smaller plants, 30-60 cm high, with
nutlets 2.5-3.5 mm long, not constricted at the base, are var. oceidentale
(Mack.) Cronq. Margins of woods and shrubbery; southeastern Parklands,
southern Rocky Mountains.

Plagiobothrys allocarya

Plagiobothrys scouleri (H. & A.) Johnston var. penicillatus (Greene) Cronq.

SCOULERS ALLOCARYA

A low, spreading much-branched annual herb, with linear leaves 1-5 cm
long; the lower ones sometimes opposite but the upper ones alternate. Flowers
white, very small, in a small scorpioid inflorescence, and also in axils of leaves.
Fruits consisting of 4 nutlets, rough on back. Fairly common locally; in slough
margins, sandy places, and moist bottomlands; throughout Prairies. Syn.;
Allocarya californica (F. & M.) Greene.

Symphytum comfrey

Leaves all petiolate, not decurrent S. asperum

Leaves decurrent, the upper ones sessile S. officinale

Symphytum asperum Lepechin ROUGH comfrey

A perennial herb with erect branched stems 50-100 cm high. Leaves
10-20 cm long, lanceolate to ovate, petioled; the petiole not decurrent on the
stem. Flowers blue, 12-18 mm long, numerous in scorpioid cymes. Intro-
duced; a rare weed in disturbed areas.

618

Symphytum officinale L. comfrey

A large coarse hairy perennial 60-100 cm high. Leaves lanceolate to
ovate-lanceolate, 8-25 cm long; lower ones with stalks decurrent along the
stem; upper ones sessile or stalkless. Flowers purplish or yellowish, 10-15 mm
long, in dense terminal scorpioid clusters. Fruit consists of shiny brown some-
what wrinkled nutlets. An introduced European plant; appears to be estab-
lished in a few places.

VERBENACEAE — vervain family

Verbena vervain

Annual or perennial hairy herbs with 4-sided stems and opposite leaves.
Flowers purplish or blue, tubular with 5 somewhat irregular lobes. There are 4
stamens, one pair longer than the other. Fruit of 4 linear nutlets.

1. Plants with decumbent stems; spikes con-

spicuously bracteose V. bracteata

Plants with erect stems; spikes not con-
spicuously bracteose 2

2. Spikes densely flowered, thick; flowers

and fruit overlapping V. hastata

Spikes loosely flowered, thin; flowers and

fruit distant V. urticifolia

Verbena bracteata Lag. & Rodr. bracted vervain

A prostrate or decumbent annual or short-lived perennial, much
branched, with a 4-sided stem. Plants 30-80 cm across and forming mats on
ground. Leaves 2-5 cm long, roughly spatulate, pinnately incised. Purplish
blue flowers about 2 mm across, on dense spikes 5-10 cm long; conspicuous
bracts about 6 mm long. Not common, but locally abundant; on prairie and
waste places on lighter soils; throughout Prairies. Syn.; V. bracteosa Michx.

Verbena hastata L. blue vervain

A tall erect perennial with a 4-sided stem 60-150 cm high. Leaves oppo-
site, lanceolate, sharply toothed, 5-10 cm long; lower leaves sometimes has-
tately lobed at base. Bluish white flowers on numerous terminal spikes 5-10
cm long; fruit densely overlapping on spikes. Fairly common; in woodlands
and river valleys; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Verbena urticifolia L. nettle-leaved vervain

Similar to V. hastata, but the leaves broadly lanceolate to oblong-ovate,
rounded at base, and decurrent into the petiole; the inflorescence more open
and more sparsely flowered; the corolla white. Thickets, moist fields, and
marshes; southeastern Boreal forest.

619

LABIATAE — mint family

Usually scented plants with square stems. Leaves simple, opposite, or
whorled, usually with small glandular pits. Flowers perfect, usually irregular in
shape, with 2 lips to corolla. Stamens usually 4, one pair longer than the other,
and sometimes only one pair bearing anthers. Fruit of 4 nutlets.

1. Inflorescences terminal 2

Inflorescences axillary 13

2. Inflorescence a more or less globose head Monarda

Inflorescence a more or less elongated

raceme 3

3. Calyx distinctly 2-lipped; the upper lip 3-

toothed, the lower one 2-lobed 4

Calyx indistinctly or not at all 2-lipped;

one lobe may be larger than the others 5

4. Plants with decumbent or creeping stems;

spikes dense, erect Prunella

Plants with erect stems; spikes loose and

lax Salvia

5. Inflorescence a raceme of oppositely

placed flowers Physostegia

Inflorescence a raceme of oppositely

placed clusters of flowers 6

6. Bracts much shorter than and differing

from the stem leaves 7

Bracts grading into the stem leaves 9

7. Plants annual; spikes strongly one-sided Elsholtzia

Plants perennial; spikes symmetrical 8

8. Calyx longer on upper than lower side,

somewhat oblique at throat Agastache

Calyx regular, clearly 5-lobed Mentha

9. Leaves entire, linear to linear-lanceolate Hyssopus

Leaves crenate to dentate, broader 10

10. Upper lip of the corolla inconspicuous,

reduced to two small lobes Teucrium

Upper lip of corolla distinctly visible 1 1

11. Upper lip of calyx much wider than the

other 4 Draeocephalwn

Upper lip of calyx equal to at least the

adjacent ones 12

12. Flowers white; leaves deltoid or deltoid-

ovate, cordate to subcordate at base;

calyx oblique Nepeta

Flowers purplish; leaves oblong to ovate,
obtuse to rounded at base; calyx
regular Stachys

620

13. Flowers solitary or in axillary racemes Scutellaria

Flowers in axillary clusters 14

14. Leaves palmately 3-lobed Leonurus

Leaves not palmately lobed, crenate to

serrate 15

15. Calyx with 10 lobes, each hooked at the

tip Marrubium

Calyx without hooks at tips of lobes 16

16. Calyx distinctly 2-lipped, the upper part

differing from the lower part 17

Calyx indistinctly 2-lipped or regular 19

17. Upper calyx lobe 3-4 times wider than

the other 4 Dracocephalum

Upper 3 calyx lobes differing from the

lower 2 18

18. Upper 3 lobes reduced to teeth, lower

lobes at least 3 times as long Melissa

Upper lobes short and broad, lower lobes

long, awl-shaped Hedeoma

19. Corolla 4- or 5-lobed, hardly, if at all,

2-lipped 20

Corolla distinctly 2-lipped 21

20. Stamens 2; flowers white, sessile Lycopus

Stamens 4; flowers blue or lavender,

pedicellate Mentha

21. Calyx lobes much shorter than the tube;

stems decumbent or creeping Glechoma

Calyx lobes as long as, or longer than, the

tube; stems erect or ascending 22

22. Calyx lobes with sharp, spiny, glabrous

tips Galeopsis

Calyx lobes herbaceous, pubescent to the

tips Lamium

Agastache giant-hyssop

Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Ktze. (Fig. 182) giant-hyssop

An erect, branched perennial, with smooth or minutely hairy stems 30-80
cm high. Leaves ovate or triangular-ovate, green above and pale below, 2-7
cm long, with short stalks. Flowers blue, 6-12 mm long, in a dense spike,
sometimes interrupted, 2-10 cm long and 12-18 mm thick at ends of stems.
Plant has a pleasant anise-like odor. Common; in open woodlands and semi-
open prairies; throughout Parklands. Syn.: A. anethiodora (Nutt.) Britton.

Dracocephalum false dragonhead

Inflorescence a dense terminal spike D. parviflorum

Inflorescence of loose interrupted racemes D. thymiflorum

621

Fig. 182. Giant-hyssop, Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Ktze.

622

Dracocephalum parviflorum Nutt. American dragonhead

An erect, usually branched, annual or biennial herb, with a finely hairy
stem 30-50 cm high. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, 2-5 cm long, stalked, and
with rather large pointed teeth. Flower clusters dense, at ends of branches,
usually 2-5 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. Calyx membranous, stiff and spiny, giv-
ing heads a prickly stiffness. Light blue corollas scarcely longer than calyx.
Locally abundant but not generally common; found in openings in woodlands
and old pastures; throughout Parklands; rare in Prairies. Syn.; Moldavica
parviflora (Nutt.) Britton.

Dracocephalum thymiflorum L. DRAGONHEAD

Similar to D. parviflorum, but the leaves with more rounded teeth, and the
inflorescence elongate. Introduced; a rare weed. Syn.: Moldavica thymiflora
(L.) Rydb.

Els holt zia

Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyl.

An annual herb with erect or ascending branched stems 30-50 cm high.
Leaves 3-7 cm long, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, petioled. Inflorescence of ter-
minal and axillary spikes, with the flowers crowded on one side of the axis.
Introduced; a rare weed; in wet and shady places.

Galeopsis hemp-nettle

Corolla tube 2-3 times as long as the calyx,
2-3 cm long, yellow G. speciosa

Corolla tube scarcely longer than the calyx,
1.5-2 cm long, purple G. tetrahit

Galeopsis speciosa Mill. yellow hemp-nettle

An annual herb with stems 30-100 cm high. Leaves coarsely toothed, 3-8
cm long. Flowers large, yellow; the lower lip often with a purple spot. Intro-
duced; a rare weed.

Galeopsis tetrahit L. hemp-nettle

A coarse rough hairy weedy annual 30-100 cm high. Stems usually swol-
len below nodes where leaves and axillary flower clusters join. Leaves ovate,
coarsely toothed, 5-10 cm long. Flowers in both terminal and axillary clusters,
with sharp needle-pointed calyx teeth. Corolla 15-20 mm, purple or pink var-
iegated with white. Seeds grayish brown, egg-shaped, about 3 mm long, some-
what similar to common hemp seed. Introduced from Europe; has become a
field weed; in various parts of Parklands and Boreal forest.

Glechoma ground-ivy

Glechoma hederacea L. ground-ivy

A creeping perennial, rooting at nodes, with thin dull greenish purple
stems 30^0 cm long. Leaves ovate-rounded, cordate at base, 2-A cm across,

623

often with a purplish tinge. Flowers 15-20 mm long, light blue, in clusters of 2
or 3 in leaf axils. An introduced plant; has become common in waste places in
southeastern Parklands and often found as a garden weed elsewhere.

Hedeoma mock pennyroyal

Hedeoma hispida Pursh rough pennyroyal

A low-growing annual 10-20 cm high, with erect branched stems. Leaves
narrowly linear, entire, 10-25 mm long. Numerous flower clusters in leaf axils.
Flowers bluish purple, about 6 mm long. Found occasionally; on sandy soil,
eroded slopes, and abandoned fields; Prairies.

Hyssopus hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis L. hyssop

A perennial with a stout woody rootstock, erect stems 30-60 cm high, and
entire, lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves 1-3 cm long. Flowers 3-7 in a cluster,
with the upper ones on each stem or branch forming a spike-like terminal
inflorescence; corolla blue, about 1 cm long. Introduced; occasionally culti-
vated for medicinal purposes, and rarely weedy.

Lamium dead-nettle

Leaves all stalked, ovate; flowers white;

perennial L. album

Upper leaves not stalked, roughly circular;

flowers red or purplish; annual or biennial L. amplexicaule

Lamium album L. white dead-nettle

A perennial from creeping rootstocks, 30-50 cm high. Leaves ovate,
sometimes somewhat cordate at the base, slightly hairy, 2-7 cm long. Pure
white flowers 20-30 mm long, in clusters of 7 or 8 in each leaf axil. An intro-
duced plant, has been found in the Prairie Provinces, but is, as yet, rare.

Lamium amplexicaule L. hen bit

A sparingly hairy annual or biennial with slender stems, branched from
base, often somewhat decumbent, 15-50 cm high. Leaves almost round, with
rounded teeth; the lower ones with slender stalks; the upper ones usually stalk-
less and somewhat clasping the stem, 1-5 cm across. Flowers red or purplish
with spots on middle lower lobe, 10-20 mm long, in few-flowered axillary and
terminal clusters. An introduced plant; uncommon; but found throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

Leonurus motherwort

Calyx strongly 5-angled and 5-ribbed; bracts

small L. cardiaca

Calyx not angled, 10-ribbed; bracts large L. sibiricus

Leonurus cardiaca L. motherwort

An introduced perennial 50-150 cm high, with slightly hairy or downy
stems. Leaves stalked, 2-10 cm long, decreasing in size toward upper part of

624

stem, deeply and irregularly cleft into 3-7 lobes. Pink flowers about 1 cm long,
in dense whorls around axils of upper leaves. Upper lip of corolla densely
white hairy. Occasionally persists as an intruder in shelterbelts.

Leonurus sibiricus L. SIBERIAN MOTHERWORT

Biennial plants, with softly retrorse-pubescent stems to 1 m high. Leaves
ovate or rotund in outline, deeply 3-parted, with the divisions toothed. Flowers
purple, about 1 cm long; upper lip of the corolla pubescent. Introduced; a rare
weed.

Lycopus water-horehound

Perennial plants of swamps and wet places, with flowers in dense axillary
clusters.

1. Leaves more or less deeply incised or

pinnatifid L. amerieanus

Leaves toothed but not deeply incised 2

2. Calyx lobes narrow and acute, longer

than nutlets L. asper

Calyx lobes ovate and blunt, not as long

as nutlets L. virginicus

Lycopus amerieanus Muhl. water-horehound

An erect perennial 30-80 cm high. Leaves at definite intervals on stem,
usually almost horizontally, giving plant an open and regular appearance.
Leaves 2-8 cm long, lanceolate, short-stalked, and except for the upper ones,
deeply cut or incised. Bluish white flowers about 3 mm across, in dense clus-
ters around stem at axils of leaves. Fairly common; in moist places, stream
banks, and swamps; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Lycopus asper Greene western water-horehound

A perennial 30-50 cm high; narrowly lanceolate leaves 2-7 cm long, with
small-toothed margins. Leaves either stalkless or with a very short stalk. Tiny
flowers in close clusters in leaf axils. Very common; in wet places and swamps
in the western Prairies and Parklands, but comparatively scarce toward the
eastern part.

Lycopus virginicus L. var. pauciflorus Benth. northern water-horehound

An erect perennial 15-70 cm high, with somewhat toothed margined lan-
ceolate leaves 2-7 cm long. Flowers about 3 mm long, in axils of leaves. Rare;
found in wet areas; northwestern Boreal forest. Syn.: L. uniflorus Michx.

Marrubium horehound

Marrubium vulgare L. COMMON HOREHOUND

A strongly aromatic perennial, with stout, erect, white pubescent stems
40-60 cm high. Leaves ovate, 3-5 cm long, with the lower ones petioled, white
pubescent. Flowers about 6 mm long, densely crowded in upper axils; calyx

625

teeth awl-shaped, smooth and hooked at the apex, catching on fur and cloth-
ing. Introduced; occasionally cultivated and escaped.

Melissa balm

Melissa officinalis L. honey balm

Perennial plants with erect stems 40-80 cm high. Leaves 4-7 cm long,
long-petioled, ovate to deltoid-ovate, coarsely crenate. Inflorescence of few-
flowered clusters; corolla blue to white, 10-15 mm long. Introduced; occasion-
ally cultivated for honey, flavoring, and medicinal purposes; rarely spreading.

Mentha mint

Flowers in axillary clusters M. arvensis

Flowers in terminal spikes M. spicata

Mentha arvensis L. var. villosa (Benth.) S. R. Stewart field mint

Erect perennial herbs with a strong but pleasant mint odor, growing to
10-50 cm high. Square stems with a line of hairs running down each angle.
Leaves almost hairless, but with minute glandular dots on both surfaces. Ovate
to lanceolate in shape, 1-5 cm long, sometimes long-stalked and sometimes
short-stalked. Flowers pink, about 3 mm long, in crowded whorls around
stems at leaf axils. Common; in sloughs and wet places, often growing in
water; found throughout the Prairie Provinces. Various authorities have split
the mints into several species using hairiness of leaves or length of leaf stalks in
relation to the size of flower clusters as distinguishing characteristics. It would
appear, however, that the mints of the Prairie Provinces should at present be
considered as a variety of one species.

Mentha spicata L. spearmint

Erect perennial herbs to 50 cm high, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves 2-6 cm
long, sessile or subsessile, oblong-lanceolate, sharply serrate. Spikes several,
terminating stem and short branches from the upper axils, 3-12 cm long, con-
tinuous or somewhat interrupted; flowers about 5 mm long. Introduced; culti-
vated for flavoring, and occasionally escaped.

Monarda wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa L. (Fig. 183) wild bergamot

Erect perennial plants with a strong but pleasant odor, 60-100 cm high.
Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, rounded or somewhat cordate based,
2-10 cm long. In the type species, leaves are only slightly hairy and have stalks
10-25 mm long. Inflorescence terminal and head-like, in clusters 3-6 cm
across. Calyxes narrow green tubes with small purplish teeth. Corollas hairy,
20-25 mm long, protruding far above calyxes, pink or lilac, very conspicuous.
Fairly common; on hillsides, thickets, and in shady places; eastern Parklands
and Boreal forest, being replaced farther west by the variety.

626

Fig. 183. Wild bergamot, Monarda fistulosa L.

627

The var. menthaefolia (Graham) Fern., western wild bergamot, which is
much more common than the species, differs by having very short leaf stalks,
less than 6 mm long, and leaves often downy-hairy. Occasionally white-
flowered specimens are found. Common; in edges of woods, along shady creek
banks and coulees, and in shelter of shrubby patches on prairies; throughout
almost all of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: M. menthaefolia Graham.

Nepeta catnip

Nepeta cataria L. c atnip

A very hairy branching perennial 30-75 cm high, with ovate, stalked
leaves, cordate at base, 2-7 cm long. Flowers white or pale purple with dark
spots, hairy, about 12 mm long, in fairly dense terminal heads, somewhat simi-
lar to American dragonhead. An introduced plant; found rarely in disturbed
areas.

Physostegia false dragonhead

Physostegia virginiana L. var.formosior (Lunell) Boiv. false dragonhead

An erect, rarely branched perennial 30-100 cm high. Leaves usually
rhomboid-lanceolate, 6-10 cm long, and stalkless, with short sharp teeth.
Flowers in terminal spikes, purple, 20-25 mm long. Fairly common locally;
along stream banks and moist places; southeastern Parklands and Boreal for-
est. Plants with narrower leaves, oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, are var.
ledinghamii Boiv.; Boreal forest. Plants with linear-lanceolate leaves, and
flowers 10-15 mm long are var. parviflora (Nutt.) Boiv. Syn.: P. parviflora
Nutt.; Dracocephalum nuttallii Britton.

Prunella selfheal

Prunella vulgaris L. SELFHEAL

An introduced perennial plant growing from running rootstocks, 5-30 cm
high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, rather blunt at apex, 2-5 cm long. Flowers in
short dense terminal spikes, violet purple, 8-12 mm long. Found occasionally;
in woodlands and moist places in grassland; Parklands and Rocky Mountains.

Salvia sage

Flowers 2-A at each node of the raceme 51. reflexa

Flowers numerous in whorls at the nodes S. nemorosa

Salvia nemorosa L. wood sage

Coarse densely downy perennial plants 30-80 cm high. Leaves oblong to
ovate-lanceolate, 2-8 cm long; lower leaves with stalks; upper ones stalkless.
Flowers in long, terminal, narrow spikes 5-15 cm long and 1-2 cm thick.
Corollas deep violet blue, 8-12 mm long. Introduced in alfalfa seed; has been
found on two or three occasions in widely scattered spots throughout the Prai-
rie Provinces.

628

Salvia reflexa Hornem. lance-leaved sage

Erect, much-branched annuals 30-60 cm high; stems finely pubescent
with recurved hairs. Leaves 3-5 cm long, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate;
petioles 1-2 cm long. Racemes 5-10 cm long, erect; flowers usually 2, rarely 3
or 4 at a node, about 1 cm long, blue; the corolla scarcely longer than the
calyx. Found occasionally as a weed; in southeastern Parklands.

Scutellaria skullcap

Perennial herbs with few flowers, usually borne in leaf axils. Corolla has
arched upper lip and is much longer than calyx, which has a crest-like protu-
berance on upper lip.

1. Flowers borne singly or in pairs in axils of

leaves 2

Flowers borne in several-flowered axillary

or terminal racemes S. lateriflora

2. Flowers 15-25 mm long S. galericulata

Flowers 7-10 mm long S. parvula var. leonardii

Scutellaria galericulata L. marsh skullcap

An erect-stemmed perennial from creeping roots, 30-60 cm high. Leaves
oblong to oblong-lanceolate, wavy-margined, 2-6 cm long; lower ones short-
stalked; upper ones stalkless. Flowers borne either singly or in pairs at axils of
leaves, blue, 15-25 mm long. Fairly common; in wet places and along stream
banks; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.; S. epilobiifolia Hamilton.

Scutellaria lateriflora L. blue skullcap

Very similar to S. galericulata, with ovate leaves. Flowers only about 6-10
mm long, in loose several-flowered racemes at leaf axils and occasionally at
the end of the stem. Fairly common; along stream banks, in swamps, and wet
places; southeastern Parklands.

Scutellaria parvula Michx. var. leonardii (Epling) Fern. small skullcap

Small perennials, with rootstocks deeply constricted between bead-like
segments; stems 10-20 cm high. Main stem leaves sessile, 10-16 mm long,
ovate-lanceolate to somewhat deltoid, glabrous or slightly scabrous. Flowers
axillary, blue; calyx glabrous or somewhat scabrous. Very rare; in peaty soil
over rock outcrops; southeastern Boreal forest.

Stachys hedge-nettle

Stachys palustris L. var.pilosa (Nutt.) Fern. (Fig. 184) marsh hedge-nettle

A hairy, branched perennial, usually erect, but occasionally decumbent,
30-80 cm high. Leaves somewhat coarse, hairy, lanceolate to oblong-lanceo-
late, 2-10 cm long, generally rounded at the base, sometimes with very short
stalks but usually without. Flowers pale purplish with darker spots, 10-15 mm
long, in axillary clusters in the top portion of the plant, sometimes appearing
as a leafy spike. Common; in moist places and along stream banks; through-
out the Prairie Provinces.

629

Fig. 184. Marsh hedge-nettle, Stachys palustris L. var. pilosa (Nutt.) Fern.

630

Teucrium germander

Teucrium canadense L. var. occidentale (Gray) McCl. & Epl.

HAIRY GERMANDER

A very hairy, branching perennial 30-75 cm high. Leaves narrowly ovate
to oblong-lanceolate, short-stalked, 2-7 cm long, white hairy beneath. Purplish
flowers 6-10 mm long, in a spike-like terminal raceme. Very scarce, but has
been reported from east central Saskatchewan.

SOLANACEAE — potato family

Herbs or vines with alternate leaves without stipules. Flowers perfect,
and, with one exception, regular. Corolla varies from funnel-like and bell-like
to rotate (wheel-shaped), with 5 stamens. Fruit either a berry or a capsule.
Many native members of this family have either narcotic or poisonous proper-
ties, although some parts are edible.

1. Plants shrubby, often spiny Lycium

Plants herbaceous 2

2. Corolla rotate (wheel-shaped) Solarium

Corolla bell-shaped or funnel-shaped 3

3. Fruit a berry, often enclosed in an

inflated bladder-like calyx Physalis

Fruit a capsule 4

4. Capsule prickly Datura

Capsule not prickly, top falling off when

mature Hyoscyamus

Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium L. jimsonweed

An annual, very poisonous, weedy plant with stout smooth green to pur-
plish stems, 50-150 cm high. Leaves simple, ovate, irregularly toothed, 7-20
cm long. Flowers funnel-shaped, white or purplish, 5-10 cm long and about 5
cm across, with slender-tipped lobes, borne in the axils of leaves. Fruit a large,
prickly capsule 3-6 cm long, breaking into four segments to release the many
seeds. A weed, probably escaped from gardens; has been found in two or three
places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Hyoscyamus henbane

Hyoscyamus niger L. (Fig. 185) black henbane

Sticky, hairy, evil-smelling biennial plants 30-100 cm high from a spin-
dle-shaped root. Leaves roughly ovate or oblong, irregularly toothed or lobed;
upper ones clasping the stem, 7-20 cm long. Flowers funnelform, about 2 cm
long and 25-35 mm across, greenish yellow with purplish veins, with purple
anthers. Borne on one side of stem, crowded at head of stem. Fruit a capsule

631

Fig. 185. Black henbane, Hyoscyamus niger L.

632

almost 12 mm long, enclosed in a swollen calyx. An introduced poisonous
plant, fortunately still rare; found in waste places and around gardens; in sev-
eral locations throughout Prairie Provinces.

Lycium matrimony vine

Lycium halimifolium Mill. matrimony vine

Shrubs with branches to 3 m long, glabrous or nearly so, arched or
recurved, sometimes climbing; spines, if present, at the nodes. Leaves 2-5 cm
long, lanceolate to spatulate, grayish green. Flowers pinkish violet, 10-12 mm
wide, in clusters of 1-4; berries scarlet, ellipsoid, 1-2 cm long. Occasionally
cultivated, and escaped.

Physalis ground-cherry

1. Corolla rotate, white; flowers 2-4 at a

node P. grandiflora

Corolla funnelform, white or yellowish;

flowers solitary 2

2. Filaments slender, uniform; corolla usu-

ally less than 15 mm long; plants

annual 3

Filaments flat, expanded; corolla usually
more than 15 mm long; plants
perennial 4

3. Pubescence villous, with the hairs long

and spreading P. pubescens

Pubescence, if present, of minute hairs P. ixocarpa

4. Corolla white, distinctly 5-lobed; fruiting

calyx bright red or orange P. alkekengi

Corolla yellow or greenish, not distinctly
lobed; fruiting calyx brownish or
green 5

5. Pubescence of stem villous, of soft spread-

ing hairs P. heterophylla

Pubescence of stem of short, stiff,

deflexed or recurved hairs P. virginiana

Physalis alkekengi L. CHINESE lantern plant

Perennial with creeping rootstocks. Stems soft, short pubescent, usually
several together, erect, unbranched, 40-60 cm high. Leaves petioled, ovate, to
15 cm long, to 8 cm broad, glabrous except on the veins. Fruiting calyx to 5 cm
long, bright red or orange, and finely reticulately veined at maturity. Berry
10-15 mm in diam, reddish or orange. Introduced as an ornamental; occasion-
ally escaped.

633

Physalis grandiflora Hook. large white ground-cherry

A tall erect annual plant with hairy and somewhat sticky stems 40-60 cm
high. Large ovate to lanceolate leaves entire and stalked, 6-12 cm long, some-
what hairy and sticky. Rotate or shallowly bell-shaped flowers, white with pale
yellow centers, 25—35 mm across. Fruit a berry partly enclosed in the persistent
calyx, about 12 mm long. In disturbed areas, open woodlands, especially on
sandy soils; northeastern Boreal forest. Sometimes called Chamaesaracha
grandiflora (Hook.) Fern.; Leucophysalis grandiflora (Hook.) Rydb.

Physalis heterophylla Nees yellow ground-cherry

Plants with erect or spreading stems, usually with many branches; pubes-
cence distinctly villous, the hairs spreading. Leaves mostly ovate to rhombic,
3-8 cm long, shallowly sinuate-dentate. Corolla 15-20 mm long; the pedicels
about 1 cm in flower, elongating to 3 cm in fruit; fruiting calyx 3-4 cm long.
Introduced; rarely found as a weed.

Physalis ixocarpa Brot. tomatillo

Stems erect or spreading, branched; nearly glabrous, except on young
shoots. Leaves ovate to rhombic, 2-6 cm long, glabrous below. Corolla 10—15
mm wide, yellowish, with a dark center; pedicels about 5 mm long, scarcely
elongating in fruit; berry purplish. A rare garden weed.

Physalis pubescens L. small yellow ground-cherry

Stems branching near the base, spreading or prostrate. Upper part of stem
and leaves densely pubescent. Leaves 4-8 cm long, sinuate-dentate, rounded
or cordate at base. Corolla 6-10 mm long, yellow; pedicels 3-6 mm in flower,
elongating to 1 cm in fruit; berry yellow. A rare garden weed.

Physalis virginiana Mill. prairie ground-cherry

A perennial from creeping rootstocks, about 45 cm high, somewhat hairy.
Leaves oblanceolate to spatulate, entire-margined and stalked, 25-50 mm
long. Bell-shaped flowers, dull yellow with a brownish center, about 15 mm
across. Fruit a yellow or greenish berry, entirely enclosed in the inflated blad-
der-like ovoid calyx. Rare; but found on sandy prairies and plains; in the east-
ern part of the Prairie Provinces.

Solatium nightshade

1. Climbing perennial vines with deep pur-

ple flowers S. dulcamara

Nonclimbing annual herbs with white or

yellow flowers 2

2. Plants prickly; flowers yellow 5". rostratum

Plants not prickly; flowers white 3

3. Leaves entire or merely wavy-margined;

erect plants S. nigrum

Leaves pinnatifid or incised; much

branched and decumbently spreading S. triflorum

634

Solanum dulcamara L. (Fig. 186) bittersweet

A woody-based perennial climbing or twining vine, with branches several
feet long. Leaves 5-10 cm long; upper leaves ovate, cordate at base, and
pointed at apex; lower ones often 3-lobed, with a large ovate middle lobe and
two small basal side lobes. Flowers in panicles or on compound cymes oppo-
site a leafstalk, somewhat rotate or wheel-shaped, with separate corolla lobes.
Corolla purple with yellow anthers erect and pyramidal around female organ
in center of flowers. Flowers 8-12 mm across, succeeded by oval or globose
berries, which are red and about 1 cm long. This introduced plant is very
poisonous, and as yet the only records of it in the area appear to be at Morden,
Man., Eastend, Sask., and Edmonton, Alta.

Solanum nigrum L. black nightshade

An erect annual weed 10-30 cm high, with entire-margined ovate leaves
2-5 cm long. White flowers rotate, about 1 cm across, in clusters of 3-10
flowers. Fruits green berries, about 5 mm across, turning black when ripe. An
introduced species; now a fairly common weed; in gardens and waste places;
across the Prairie Provinces. There appears to be considerable variation in the
hairiness of this species, some specimens, especially from the west, being quite
hairy, others almost hairless. Pubescent forms with black berries have been
called S. interius Rydb.; densely pubescent plants with yellow or orange ber-
ries, S. sarachoides Sendt. Some cultivated forms of this species have edible
fruit and are known as wonderberry or garden huckleberry. There is always a
danger, however, that the fruit may be injurious to some people.

Solanum rostratum Dunal buffalobur

An annual yellowish hairy prickly species 10-50 cm high. Leaves lobed
and pinnatifid, 5-8 cm long, and yellowish hairy. Bell-shaped flowers yellow,
about 2.5 cm across. Fruit a berry enclosed in a prickly calyx. A straggler from
farther south, found occasionally; in Prairies. Syn.; Androcera rostrata (Dunal)
Rydb.

Solanum triflorum Nutt. (Fig. 187) wild tomato

A low, spreading annual, forming mats 15-60 cm across. Leaves deeply
lobed, oblong or ovate, 2-6 cm long, with scattered hairs. Flowers white,
rotate, 6-10 mm across, usually in clusters of three. Fruit a smooth green berry
about 12 mm in diam. A native plant found on disturbed areas such as gopher
and badger mounds; in southern Prairies. With cultivation it persists as a very
bad garden weed. If pulled and turned upside down, it will develop rootlets
along the stems and continue to grow. Although it is enjoyed as preserves by
some people, it causes violent sickness in others.

(Figs. 186 and 187 overleaf)

635

Fig. 186. Bittersweet, Solarium dulcamara L.

636

Fig. 187. Wild tomato, Solarium triflorum Nutt.

637

SCROPHULARIACEAE — figwort family

Herbs with opposite, alternate, or whorled leaves with no stipules. Flow-
ers perfect, but generally irregular in shape, with petals partly united into a
tube and mostly 2-lipped. Perfect stamens, often only 2, usually 4, rarely 5.
Fruit a many-seeded capsule.

1. Five anther-bearing stamens; flowers

rotate, yellow, almost regular, in dense

spike-like racemes Verbascum

Only 2 or 4 stamens anther-bearing,

others sterile or absent 2

2. Corolla spurred at the base 3

Corolla not spurred at the base 4

3. Flowers axillary, blue; low slender

annuals Chaenorrhinum

Flowers in terminal racemes, yellow;

perennials Linaria

4. Four anther-bearing stamens and 1 long

sterile stamen Penstemon

Two or four anther-bearing stamens and

no sterile stamen 5

5. Anther-bearing stamens 2, any others

sterile 6

Anther-bearing stamens 4 9

6. Sepals and petal lobes 5 Gratiola

Sepals and petal lobes 4 7

7. Petals absent; inflorescence very hairy Besseya

Petals present 8

8. Corolla rotate; stamens not protruding Veronica

Corolla short-tubular; stamens protrud-
ing; inflorescence a very long, narrow,
spike-like raceme Veronicastrum

9. Floral leaves or bracts brightly colored,

usually red or yellow, or shades of

these colors Castilleja

Floral leaves or bracts usually green, but

may be brownish in Pedicularis 10

10. Leaves pinnately lobed or cleft Pedicularis

Leaves simple, neither pinnately lobed

nor cleft 1 1

1 1. Leaves alternate Orthocarpus

Leaves opposite, whorled, or basal 12

12. Leaves in a basal rosette; stem leafless;

flower solitary; annuals of mud or

water Limosella

Stems leafy; flowers not solitary 13

638

13. Flowers large and showy, 10-35 mm long 14

Flowers less than 10 mm long 17

14. Flowers in a terminal spike Chelone

Flowers in the axils of leaves or bracts 15

15. Calyx 4-lobed; corolla dark purple; calyx

and upper leaves violet-tinged Bartsia

Calyx 5-lobed; calyx and upper leaves or

bracts green 16

16. Leaves narrowly linear, 1-6 mm wide,

entire Agalinis

Leaves lanceolate to ovate or rotund,

dentate Mimulus

17. Calyx membranous, veiny, and inflated in

fruit Rhinanthus

Calyx not membranous and not much

inflated in fruit 18

18. Upper leaves stalkless 19

Leaves with stalks; flowers blue, about 6

mm long 21

19. Calyx and corolla 5-lobed; upper leaves

and flowers whorled Collinsia

Calyx 4-lobed; all leaves and flowers

opposite 20

20. Leaves about as wide as long, palmately

veined Euphrasia

Leaves lanceolate, pinnately veined Odontites

21. Leaves sharply and coarsely toothed;

flowers in terminal panicle-like cyme Scrophularia

Leaves barely toothed; flowers solitary in

the upper leaf axils Melampyrum

Agalinis agalinis

1. Pedicels all or nearly all shorter than the

calyx A. purpurea

Pedicels all or nearly all longer than the

calyx 2

2. Pedicels very slender; calyx lobes 1-1.5

mm long; corolla 10-15 mm long A. tenuifolia

Pedicels stout; calyx lobes 1.5-3 mm

long; corolla 20-25 mm long A. aspera

Agalinis aspera (Dougl.) Britt. rough agalinis

An annual herb 10-30 cm high, with leaves narrowly linear, very scabrous
above, often with axillary clusters of reduced leaves. Flowers on pedicels to 3
cm long; corolla 20-25 mm long, pinkish, with the tube pubescent. Rare;
moist grasslands; southeastern Parklands.

639

Agalinis purpurea (L.) Pennell var. parviflora (Benth.) Boiv. purple agalinis

An annual herb 10-50 cm high, simple or branched; leaves to 4 mm wide.
Flowers on short pedicels; corolla 15-25 mm long. Very rare; moist grasslahd;
southeastern Parklands.

Agalinis tenuifolia (Vahl) Raf. var. parviflora (Nutt.) Pennell slender agalinis

An annual herb 10-50 cm high, with stems very slender and usually much
branched. Leaves linear, 1-6 mm wide. Pedicels filiform; corolla 10-15 mm
long, pinkish. Rare; moist areas; southeastern Boreal forest.

Bartsia bartsia

Bartsia alpina L. velvet bells

Plants with a somewhat woody rootstock; stems erect, 5-15 cm high, vis-
cid-villous. Leaves sessile, ovate, 10-25 mm long, dentate, clasping the stem.
Inflorescence a dense raceme; flowers to 2 cm long, glandular. Plants blacken-
ing on drying. Arctic meadows; northeastern Boreal forest.

Besseya kittentails

Besseya wyomingensis (A. Nels.) Rydb. kittentails

Softly hairy perennial plants 10-30 cm high, often with reddish-tinged
leaves. Basal leaves stalked, ovate or oblong; stem leaves without stalks, alter-
nate, and smaller. Inflorescence a dense terminal spike, 2-5 cm long in flower,
and lengthening to 5-15 cm in fruit, very hairy, and usually with a purplish
tinge. Flowers bearing 2 protruding stamens but no petals. Fruits many-seeded
capsules. Found on open hillsides in the Foothills region and also on bench-
land in the Cypress Hills. Syn.; B. cinerea (Raf.) Pennell.

Castilleja Indian paintbrush

Annual, biennial, or perennial plants, usually partly parasitic on roots of
other plants. Stem generally simple or with a few branches above. Leaves
stalkless, alternate, lobed or entire. The bracts (leaves of the inflorescence)
usually red or yellow. Flowers in terminal spikes with a 2-lipped corolla; the
upper lip arched and called the galea, the lower one with 3 lobes.

1. Plants annual or biennial; inflorescence

red or yellow C. coccinea

Plants perennial, with more or less woody

rootstock 2

2. Flowers yellowish, 40-55 mm long,

strongly curved C. sessiliflora

Flowers smaller, usually straight and

erect 3

3. Inflorescence pinkish purple to deep

purple C. raupii

Inflorescence whitish to scarlet 4

640

4. Upper stem leaves 3- to 5-lobed, with the

lateral lobes linear 5

Upper stem leaves entire; floral leaves

coarsely 3-lobed 7

5. Inflorescence bright red to scarlet C. hispida

Inflorescence yellow or whitish 6

6. Calyx 20-25 mm long, with the lobes

rounded; corolla 18-22 mm long C. cusickii

Calyx 15-20 mm long, with the lobes

acute; corolla 15-20 mm long C. lutescens

7. Inflorescence reddish to scarlet C. miniata

Inflorescence whitish to yellow 8

8. Flowers 20-30 mm long C. occidentalis

Flowers 15-20 mm long 9

9. Stem stout, densely pubescent; leaves

lanceolate C. lutescens

Stem slender, finely pubescent to glab-
rous; leaves narrowly linear-lanceolate C. pallida

Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng. scarlet paintbrush

An annual or biennial species with hairy slender stems 30-50 cm high.
Basal rosette leaves entire but stem leaves deeply divided into 3-5 linear divi-
sions. Bracts crimson-tipped, 3- to 5-lobed, and usually about as long as
flowers. Corolla greenish yellow, with the tube shorter than the calyx, and the
upper lip much longer than the lower lip. Fairly common; in meadows and
open woods; southeastern Prairies and Parklands.

Castilleja cusickii Greenm. yellow paintbrush

A hairy simple-stemmed perennial species 20-30 cm high and very leafy.
Leaves 2-A cm long, hairy, and 3- to 5-ribbed; lower leaves lanceolate and
entire; upper ones broader and 3- to 5-cleft at tip. The broad pale sulfur yellow
bracts about as long as flowers. Calyx 15-20 mm long; corolla rarely protrud-
ing beyond calyx. Found occasionally; in extreme southwestern Alberta. Syn.:
C. lutea Heller.

Castilleja hispida Benth. hispid paintbrush

Stems several, 20^40 cm high, hirsute, not glandular. Leaves lanceolate to
ovate, with 2 or 3 pairs of ascending lobes. Inflorescence villose, scarlet to red;
calyx cleft into oblong, rounded lobes. Montane grasslands and open woods;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Castilleja lutescens (Greenm.) Rydb. stiff yellow paintbrush

Stems several, 30-50 cm high, scabrous to short-pubescent. Leaves lin-
ear-lanceolate to lanceolate, entire or the upper ones shallowly lobed.
Inflorescence pale yellow, somewhat hirsute; calyx cleft into ovate acute-to-
rounded lobes. Montane grasslands; southern Rocky Mountains.

641

Castilleja miniata Dougl. (Fig. 188) red Indian paintbrush

A perennial growing to 40-60 cm high; stem usually without hairiness
below inflorescence, sometimes branched above. Linear pointed leaves 2-5 cm
long. Bracts broader than leaves, scarlet or bright red; the lower ones usually
having 2 or 5 teeth near summit. Flowers longer than bracts, green with red
margins, lip a little shorter than tube. Found in open pine woods; in the Foot-
hills region and also in the Cypress Hills.

Castilleja occidentalis Torr. lance-leaved paintbrush

A smooth-stemmed perennial 15-50 cm high. Leaves 5-10 cm long; lower
leaves narrower than upper ones, and having 3-5 nerves. Yellowish, greenish
white, or purple bracts oblong, oval or obtuse, sometimes with small teeth, and
about as long as flower. Corolla 12-18 mm long; the upper lip 2-4 times as
long as the lower. Fairly abundant; in open woodlands; southeastern Park-
lands. Syn.: C. acuminata (Pursh) Spreng.; C. sulphurea Rydb.

Castilleja pallida (L.) Spreng. var. septentrionalis (Lindl.) Gray

LABRADOR PAINTBRUSH

Plants finely pubescent to glabrous; stems several, 15-30 cm high, simple.
Leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, with upper ones sometimes shallowly lobed.
Inflorescence pale yellow; calyx cleft into lance-ovate, acute lobes; corolla
puberulent above. Marshy areas; northeastern Boreal forest.

Castilleja raupii Pennell purple paintbrush

Stems usually several, 15-30 cm high, thinly pubescent. Leaves linear or
linear-lanceolate, 2-5 mm wide. Inflorescence narrow to fairly dense, violet to
deep violet purple; corollas shorter than bracts. Open areas, open forest, and
forest margins; Boreal forest, Peace River district.

Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh downy paintbrush

A perennial pale ashy gray downy-haired species 10-30 cm high. Leaves
2-4 cm long; lower leaves generally linear and entire; upper ones cleft into
narrow, spreading segments. Bracts green, shorter than flowers. Corolla 40-55
mm long, yellowish white; the upper lip about twice as long as the 3-lobed
lower lip. Found occasionally; on dry hills and prairies; throughout Prairies,
southeastern Parklands, and in Cypress Hills.

Chaenorrhinum small-snapdragon

Chaenorrhinum minus (L.) Lange small-snapdragon

A low glandular hairy annual 15-30 cm high, usually branched. Leaves
alternate, linear to linear-spatulate, 10-25 mm long. Flowers blue, 6-8 mm
long, with a short spur, borne on short stalks in axils of leaves. An introduced
plant; not common, but found occasionally; on or in the vicinity of railroad
grades; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

642

Fig. 188. Red Indian paintbrush, Castilleja miniata Dougl

643

Chelone turtlehead

Chelone glabra L. var. linifolia Colem. turtlehead

Perennial plants 50-80 cm high, with stems simple or branched above.
Leaves linear or nearly so, serrate, short-petioled to subsessile. Inflorescence
3-8 cm long; flowers greenish or yellowish white, 20-25 mm long. Rare; wet
areas and shrubbery; southeastern Boreal forest.

Collins iu bluelips

Collinsia parvi flora Dougl. BLUE-EYED MARY

A low much-branched spreading annual with slender purplish stems
10-30 cm long. Leaves linear to lanceolate, 10-25 mm long, opposite or with
upper leaves in whorls of 3 or 5. Flowers blue, about 6 mm long, borne either
singly or in clusters on stalks in axils of upper leaves. Not common, but plenti-
ful locally; found in shady woods or openings in woodlands; throughout
southern Parklands, Cypress Hills, and southern Rocky Mountains.

Euphrasia eyebright

Euphrasia arctica Lange northern eyebright

Annual plants with slender stems 10-20 cm high. Leaves in 3-10 pairs,
ovate, 5-15 mm long, with 3-5 teeth on each margin. Flowers white with pur-
ple lines, 4-7 mm long. In more or less disturbed soils; northern Boreal forest.
In var. dolosa Boiv. the flowers only 3^ mm long, and lacking the purple lines.
Northern Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

Gratiola hedge-hyssop

Gratiola neglecta Torr. clammy hedge-hyssop

Annual or perennial herbs 10-20 cm high, somewhat sticky hairy. Leaves
opposite, linear to oblong-lanceolate, 1-5 cm long, without stalks. Flowers
pale yellow to whitish, 6-10 mm long, borne singly on long stalks in axils of
leaves. Found occasionally; in mud or shallow water; particularly throughout
the Prairies and southern Parklands.

Limosella mudwort

Limosella aquatica L. mudwort

A low annual with stems that root at nodes, 7-10 cm high. Leaves linear
or spatulate, 5-30 mm long, on long stalks from plant crown. White or pur-
plish flowers solitary on short stalks from base of plants, about 3 mm long.
Found occasionally; rooted in mud or floating in shallow water around lakes
and in streams; throughout most of the Prairie Provinces.

Linaria toad-flax

1. Plants perennial, with extensive root-
stocks; flowers yellow and orange 2

644

Plants annual; flowers white, pink, or pur-
ple, not yellow 3

2. Stem leaves ovate to lanceolate, clasping L. dalmatica

Stem leaves linear to linear-lanceolate,

not clasping L. vulgaris

3. Lower lip of corolla violet; spur 6-10 mm

long; pedicels 2-4 mm long L. canadensis

Lower lip of corolla with an orange spot;
spur 8-15 mm long; pedicels 5-8 mm
long L. maroccana

Linaria canadensis (L.) Dum. var. texana (Scheele) Pennell field toad-flax

Stems erect, slender, 20-60 cm high, glabrous, with several sterile shoots
spreading from the base. Leaves 1-3 cm long. Racemes at first dense, later
elongating; corolla 10-14 mm long, with the spur filiform; seeds distinctly
rugose. Rare; an introduced weed.

Linaria dalmatica (L.) Miller broad-leaved toad-flax

An introduced perennial with a coarse branching growth 50-80 cm high.
Leaves numerous, 1-5 cm long, ovate to lanceolate, often clasping the stem at
the base. Flowers borne on a long spike-like raceme, 2-5 cm long, with long
spurs, bright yellow, sometimes with orange-colored throat entrance. Grown
as an ornamental in gardens, but has escaped in many places and is becoming
a persistent weed.

Linaria maroccana Hook. f. maroccan toad-flax

Plants to 50 cm high, with remote linear leaves. Raceme becoming lax;
corolla violet; the lower lip with a large orange spot; the spur conical. Rare; an
introduced weed.

Linaria vulgaris Miller butter-and-eggs, yellow toad-flax

A perennial from creeping rootstocks, 20-60 cm high. Leaves linear, stalk-
less, alternate, 2-7 cm long. Flowers bright yellow with orange throat entrance
and a long spur at base, mouth of flowers closed, 20-35 mm long, in dense ter-
minal raceme. Introduced as a garden plant from Europe, and found as a per-
sistent weed of fields and waste places; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Melampyrum cow-wheat

M elampy rum linea re Desr. (Fig. 189) cow-wheat

Annual plants 15-50 cm high with lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves
2-6 cm long. Lower leaves entire-margined; upper floral leaves more ovate
and often bearing bristle-pointed teeth. Flowers 8-12 mm long, generally whit-
ish with a yellowish lower lip, borne either solitary in upper leaf axils or in a
terminal leafy spike. Fairly common; on dry, sandy soil in woodlands; Boreal
forest.

645

■

Fig. 189. Cow-wheat, Melampy rum lineare Desr.

646

Mimulus monkeyflower

Perennial herbs of streams and very wet places, with large showy flowers.
Calyx angled, and corolla open-throated with upper lip spreading or reflexed.

1. Flowers blue or crimson 2

Flowers yellow 3

2. Flowers blue to violet; plants glabrous M. ringens

Flowers crimson to reddish; plants glan-
dular pubescent M. lewisii

3. Calyx regular or nearly so; corolla 5-12

mm long M . floribundus

Calyx distinctly 2-lipped; corolla 12-25

mm long 4

4. Stems mostly creeping; calyx 5-12 mm

long; corolla to 25 mm long M. glabratus

Stems mostly erect; calyx 12-17 mm long;

corolla 25-45 mm long M. guttatus

Mimulus floribundus Dougl. monkeyflower

An annual herb, with stems weak, villosely glandular pubescent, much
branched, 5-35 cm long. Leaves ovate, dentate, rounded or cordate at base,
the larger ones 1-3 cm long. Flowers yellow; the corolla 5-12 mm long, on
pedicels 5-25 mm long. Wet places; southern Rocky Mountains.

Mimulus glabratus HBK. smooth monkeyflower

Stems weak, glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves 1-4 cm long, ovate
to rotund, rounded at base. Flowers on pedicels 1-2 cm long, bright yellow,
pubescent in the throat. Rare; wet places, springs; southeastern Parklands.

Mimulus guttatus DC. yellow monkeyflower

Perennial plants from basal branches that root at nodes. Stem 10-50 cm
high, bearing opposite ovate or rounded leaves 1-5 cm long; lower leaves
stalked; upper ones usually clasping the stem. Conspicuous flowers 25-45 mm
long, bright yellow with an open mouth, somewhat hairy inside the lower lip;
calyx inflating somewhat at maturity to contain the many-seeded capsule. Not
common, but plentiful locally; found in running streams; in Prairies, southern
Rocky Mountains, and in Cypress Hills. Syn.; M. langsdorfii Donn.

Mimulus lewisii Pursh lewis monkeyflower

A somewhat sticky hairy perennial 30-60 cm high. Leaves lanceolate to
oblong, 3-7 cm long. Crimson or reddish flowers 3-5 cm long and somewhat
hairy inside open throat. Found along stream banks; in southern Rocky
Mountains.

Mimulus ringens L. blue monkeyflower

A hairless perennial from rootstocks 30-100 cm high. Leaves lanceolate to
oblong, opposite, 5-10 cm long, without stalks. Flowers blue or violet, 20-35
mm long, with a narrow throat. Fairly common; in swamps, along streams and
lakes; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

647

Odontites eyebright

Odontites serotina (Lam.) Dum. late-flowering eyebright

An annual herb with stems 10-40 cm high, finely retrorse-pubescent, usu-
ally branched. Leaves lanceolate, 1-3 cm long, roughly pubescent. Flowers
nearly sessile, about 1 cm long, pubescent, light red. Introduced; a rare weed;
along roads; in Boreal forest.

Orthocarpus owl's-clover

Orthocarpus luteus Nutt. owl'S-C lover

A short erect annual 10-30 cm high, sometimes with erect growing
branches. Leaves 10-25 mm long, linear or narrowly lanceolate, crowded and
ascending. Yellow flowers 10-15 mm long, on very leafy narrow terminal
spikes, and followed by numerous many-seeded capsules. Common; on open
dry prairie; throughout the Prairies and Parklands.

Pedicularis lousewort

Annual or perennial herbs with pinnately cleft or lobed leaves and flowers
in dense terminal spikes or racemes.

1. Galea prolonged into a tubular recurved

beak 2

Galea not prolonged, the apex broad 5

2. Flowers purplish red or pink P. groenlandica

Flowers white or yellow 3

3. Leaves serrulate to crenate P. racemosa

Leaves deeply lobed or divided 4

4. Beak of galea bent into a half circle P. contorta

Beak of galea slightly bent, at most one-
quarter of a circle P. lapponica

5. Flowers in an elongating inflorescence,

becoming axillary P. parviflora

Flowers in well-defined, more or less

crowded racemes 6

6. Stem leaves opposite or subopposite P. lanceolata

Stem leaves alternate 7

7. Flowers 3-5 in a short raceme; corolla

30-35 mm long P. capitata

Flowers more numerous, usually less than

25 mm long 8

8. Inflorescence glabrous P. flammea

Inflorescence pubescent to glandular

pubescent 9

648

9. Inflorescence pubescent in the rachis

only P. lapponica

Inflorescence more pubescent 10

10. Bracts of the inflorescence strongly

ciliate p. bracteosa

Bracts not ciliate 1 1

11. Inflorescence puberulent p. labradorica

Inflorescence more or less densely

villous-lanate 12

12. Flowers predominantly yellow 13

Flowers some shade of pink 14

13. Calyx distinctly oblique and 2-lipped P. canadensis

Calyx not 2-lipped, the lobes subequal P. oederi var. albertae

14. Stem leaves 1-3 below the middle of the

stem P. sudetica

Stem leaves more or less numerous along

entire stem 15

15. Pubescence of calyx long, woolly, obscur-

ing the veins P. lanata

Pubescence of calyx less dense; veins not

obscured P. langsdorffii

Pedicularis bracteosa Benth. western lousewort

A perennial species with an erect stem 30-90 cm high. Leaves alternate,
10-30 cm long, divided so deeply into toothed leaflets that they appear pin-
nate. Flowers pale yellow, about 2 cm long, in a dense terminal spike 10-30 cm
long. Bracts of inflorescence almost as long as flowers, but a shorter-bracted
variety has been named P. montanensis Rydb. Fairly plentiful; among bushes
and in moist places; Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills.

Pedicularis canadensis L. common lousewort

A somewhat hairy, erect, perennial herb 15-50 cm high. Oblong leaves
deeply incised or lobed, 7-15 cm long. Flowers 20-25 mm long, yellow or red-
dish, in a dense spike at head of stem. Fairly common; in woodlands; south-
eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Pedicularis capitata Adans. large-flowered lousewort

Small plants, with the stems usually solitary, 10-20 cm high, leafless, glab-
rous to somewhat pubescent. Inflorescence a terminal raceme with 2-5 flowers,
yellowish white to pinkish-tinged, 25-40 mm long. Alpine tundra; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Pedicularis contorta Benth. coiled-beak lousewort

Plants with stems 30-60 cm high, glabrous throughout. Leaves to 15 cm
long, 2-3 cm wide. Inflorescence dense; the bracts the same length as or
shorter than the flowers; flowers 15 mm long, white or pale yellow, with the
hood of the galea recurved in a semicircle, finely purple-spotted. Dry montane
and alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

649

Pedicularis flammea L. FLAME-COLORED LOUSEWORT

Small plants with spindle-shaped roots; stems 5-20 cm high, with 1 or 2
stem leaves. Inflorescence few-flowered, 2-5 cm long; flowers 15-20 mm long,
with the lower lip yellow, the galea purple to crimson. Arctic and alpine mead-
ows; northeastern Boreal forest, northern Rocky Mountains.

Pedicularis groenlandiea Retz. (Fig. 190) elephants-head

An erect hairless perennial 20-60 cm high, from rootstocks. Leaves lan-
ceolate, very deeply incised; lower ones stalked, 5-15 cm long. Flowers borne
on a terminal spike 5-15 cm long, usually purple or deep red, 10-15 mm long.
Upper lip of corolla long, curved downward and then upward, making flowers
resemble small red elephant heads. Found in swampy places and stream
banks; in Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

Pedicularis labradorica Wirsing Labrador lousewort

Low very branchy plants to 30 cm high; stems and foliage puberulent to
retrorsely pilose. Inflorescence about 5 cm long; flowers about 15 mm long, at
first yellow, and then fading purplish. Bogs and tundra; northeastern Boreal
forest.

Pedicularis lanata C. & S. woolly lousewort

Small plants, with densely woolly stems; leaves 2-3 cm long, glabrous.
Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, with flowers 20-25 mm long, reddish purple to rose.
The lower lip the same length as the galea. Mountain meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Pedicularis lanceolata Michx. swamp lousewort

A practically hairless perennial, with stout erect stems 30-90 cm high.
Leaves both alternate and opposite, 5-12 cm long, with short marginal lobes.
Yellow flowers 20-25 mm long with slight difference between lengths of upper
and lower lips. Borne in a short dense terminal spike. Not common; but has
been found in swamps; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Pedicularis langsdorffii Fisch. arctic rattle

Similar to P. lanata, but not so woolly, the flowers deep pink, and the
lower lip only half as long as the galea. Alpine slopes; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Pedicularis lapponica L. lapland rattle

Plants 10-20 cm high, with stems and inflorescence densely retrorse-pu-
bescent, otherwise glabrous. Inflorescence few-flowered, with the flowers
15-20 mm long, yellow. Tundra; northeastern Boreal forest.

Pedicularis oederi Vahl. var. albertae (Hulten) Boiv. oeder'S lousewort

Low plants 5-15 cm high, with glabrous stems and leaves; leaves 3-6 cm
long. Inflorescence 3-10 cm long, woolly, and somewhat glandular; densely
flowered; flowers 20-25 mm long, yellow, with the galea purple-tinged. Alpine
tundra; southern Rocky Mountains.

650

Fig. 190. Elephant's-head, Pedicularis groenlandica Retz.

651

Pedicularis parviflora Smith purple loi sewort

An annual or biennial species 15-50 cm high, much branched. Leaves 2-A
cm long, deeply divided. Flowers 10-15 mm long, purple, with galea rounded
at apex. Uncommon; but has been found in marshlands and bogs; Boreal for-
est.

Pedicularis racemosa Dougl. leafy lousewort

Plants with stems 30-50 cm high; leaves all on the stem, 4-7 cm long, 1-2
cm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence loose, leafy-bracted; the bracts as long as or
longer than the flowers; flowers 10-15 mm long, pale violet to purple, with the
galea strongly recurved. Moist open areas in montane woods; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Pedicularis sudetica Willd. purple rattle

Plants 10-20 cm high, with stems and leaves glabrous or somewhat short-
pubescent. Leaves mostly basal, typically with a solitary stem leaf.
Inflorescence 3-5 cm long, densely woolly; flowers 15-20 mm long, violet pur-
ple, with the lower lip pale pink, purple-dotted. Wet tundra; northeastern
Boreal forest.

Penstemon beardtongue

Perennial herbs with opposite leaves and irregular entire flowers. There
are 4 fertile stamens and 1 sterile stamen that is usually more or less bearded.
Fruit an ovoid many-seeded capsule. Some authorities spell the generic name
Pentstemon or Pentastemon.

1. Plants shrubby; stems woody, decumbent

to ascending 2

Plants herbaceous; stems erect or nearly

so 3

2. Stems 20-50 cm high; leaves lanceolate P. fruticosus

Stems matted, to 20 cm high; leaves ellip-
tic to orbicular P. ellipticus

3. Flowers 8-12 mm long , 4

Flowers 15-40 mm long 5

4. Flowers dark bluish purple P. procerus

Flowers white to yellowish P. confertus

5. Style yellowish, long-pilose, exserted P. eriantherus

Style not yellow-pilose, included 6

6. Flowers 35-40 mm long P. lyallii

Flowers 15-25 mm long 7

7. Flowers white, finely purplish lined or

spotted P. albidus

Flowers blue or purplish 8

8. Flowers blue; foliage glaucous; lower

bracts suborbicular P. nitidus

652

Flowers purple to violet; foliage not glau-
cous; bracts lanceolate 9

9. Inflorescence glabrous; flowers bluish

purple P. albertinus

Inflorescence glandular pubescent;

flowers pale lilac P. gracilis

Penstemon albertinus Greene blue beardtongue

Stems 10-30 cm high, mostly decumbent at the base, glabrous to the
inflorescence. Leaves 2-A cm long; lower ones petioled, glabrous; upper stem
leaves denticulate. Inflorescence interrupted; flowers deep blue to purplish,
15-20 mm long; calyx 2.5-4.0 mm long. Slopes, openings in woods, and dis-
turbed areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Penstemon albidus Nutt. white beardtongue

A rather short, stout, clustered, and erect species 15-30 cm high, with fine
hairs on stem. Lower leaves oblong to spatulate and stalked; upper ones stalk-
less and lanceolate, 2-7 cm long. Flowers about 2 cm long, white; whole flower
somewhat sticky hairy. Inflorescence a narrow terminal raceme. Flowering in
late May and early June, usually a little later than P. nitidus. Common; on dry
prairies and hillsides; throughout the Prairies and southern parts of Parklands.

Penstemon confertus Dougl. yellow beardtongue

A perennial species, usually with several slender stems 10-50 cm high, not
hairy. Leaves 5-10 cm long, lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear, and entire-
margined. Flowers yellow, 10-15 mm long, in dense clusters on an interrupted
terminal spike. Common; on hillsides and dry areas; southern Rocky Moun-
tains; introduced at Swift Current, Sask.

Penstemon ellipticus C. & F. creeping beardtongue

A mat-forming species, woody at the base; flowering stems 10-20 cm
high, puberulent. Leaves thick, elliptic to orbicular, 5-15 mm long.
Inflorescence few-flowered, glandular pubescent; flowers 20-35 mm long, pur-
ple violet; calyx 7-10 mm long. Alpine slopes and ridges; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Penstemon eriantherus Pursh crested beardtongue

A somewhat hairy-stemmed erect species 15-40 cm high. Upper portion
of stem sticky hairy and glandular. Lower leaves oblong to spatulate and
stalked; upper ones often somewhat clasping, acute, 2-5 cm long. Flowers red
or purple, 20-25 mm long, with sterile stamens densely hairy; inflorescence a
fairly dense, leafy, terminal raceme. Found occasionally; in grassland; south-
ern Rocky Mountains.

Penstemon fruticosus (Pursh) Greene shrubby beardtongue

Plants forming dense clumps; stems 10-50 cm high, glabrous below the
inflorescence. Leaves thick, leathery, narrowly lanceolate, 1-5 cm long, serru-
late to denticulate. Inflorescence somewhat glandular pubescent, somewhat
one-sided; flowers 25-40 mm long, purplish blue to violet. Slopes and ridges;
southern Rocky Mountains.

653

Penstemon gracilis Nutt. (Fig. \9\A) lilac-flowered beardtongue

A slender ereet speeies 15-40 cm high. Leaves linear-oblong to linear-
lanceolate, slightly toothed at margins, 2-7 cm long. Usually flowering in mid-
June; flowers borne in clusters of 2 or 3 in the axils of upper leaves, forming an
open panicle, pale purple or lilac, 20-25 mm long. Fairly common; on moist
prairie, slough margins; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Penstemon lyallii Gray large-flowered beardtongue

Plants with a woody caudex; stems 20-30 cm high, grayish pubescent.
Leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 2-7 cm long, entire to finely denticu-
late. Inflorescence somewhat glandular pubescent; flowers 35^0 mm long,
deep blue to purple; calyx 10-12 mm long. Mountain slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Penstemon nitidus Dougl. (Fig. 1915) smooth blue beardtongue

A stout-stemmed, often branching, hairless species 15-30 cm high. Lower
leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, 2-5 cm long; upper leaves smaller and
ovate. Inflorescence a fairly dense, somewhat leafy raceme; flowers 15-20 mm
long, usually deep blue, but also varying from purple through all shades of red
and pink to pure white; earliest of penstemons, flowering in May. Very com-
mon; on dry hills, and eroded areas and banks; throughout Prairies, Park-
lands, and Rocky Mountains.

Penstemon procerus Dougl. (Fig. 191C) slender beardtongue

A slender-stemmed, low-growing perennial 15-30 cm high; stems often
decumbent at base. Basal leaves stalked and usually oblanceolate; stem leaves
not stalked, oblong to lanceolate, 2-7 cm long. Inflorescence a dense, terminal
spike, often interrupted; usually flowering from end of May until early
August; flowers crowded on the stem; corolla dark blue, 10-15 mm long.
Common; usually found in large colonies around slough margins, in shelter of
shrubs, and in openings in woodlands; Prairies, Parklands, and Rocky Moun-
tains.

Rhinanthus yellowrattle

Rhinanthus crista-galli L. yellowrattle

Somewhat branching annual plants 30-60 cm high. Leaves opposite, lin-
ear to lanceolate, 2-5 cm long, with finely toothed margins. Flowers pale yel-
low, 6-10 mm long, borne either in upper leaf axils or in a one-sided leafy
terminal spike; calyx hairy, greenish yellow, compressed, membranous, and at
maturity inflated, enclosing a capsule. Not common; has been found at widely
scattered locations in moist places and open woodlands; throughout Park-
lands, Boreal forest, and Rocky Mountains.

Scrophularia figwort

Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh hare figwort

An erect plant 50-200 cm high, with stems and inflorescence somewhat
glandular. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, coarsely toothed, 2-15 cm long, on short
stalks borne oppositely on stem. Flowers greenish, 8-12 mm long, on stalks in
a tall terminal inflorescence. Rare; has been found on moist ground; Prairies.

654

Fig. 191. Beardtongues: A, lilac-flowered beardtongue, Penstemon gracilis
Nutt.; B, smooth blue beardtongue, Penstemon nitidus Dougl.; C, slender
beardtongue, Penstemon procerus Dougl.

655

Verbascum mullein

1. Lower stem leaves long-petioled, ovate-

cordate V. nigrum

Lower stem leaves sessile, ovate-
lanceolate 2

2. Leaves long-decurrent; filaments of upper

stamens 3-4 times as long as the

anthers V. thapsus

Leaves short-decurrent, ovate; filaments
of upper stamens 1.5-2 times as long as
the anthers V. phlomoides

Verbascum nigrum L. black torch

Biennial plants 50-150 cm high, pubescent. Leaves stellate-pubescent
below; lower leaves long-petioled, mostly cordate at the base; upper stem
leaves sessile. Inflorescence a raceme; flowers 2-5 together, 15-20 mm across,
light yellow; filaments purplish pubescent. Introduced; a rare roadside weed.

Verbascum phlomoides L. woolly mullein

Biennial plants with stems 50-200 cm high, densely yellow woolly pubes-
cent with branched hairs. Inflorescence spike-like; flowers 30-35 mm across,
yellow; stigma club-shaped. Introduced; a rare garden and roadside weed.

Verbascum thapsus L. common mullein

Biennial plants, tall, erect, woolly, 30-200 cm high. Stems very stout and
straight, bearing large, densely woolly spatulate to elliptic leaves 10-30 cm
long. Flowers yellow, almost regular, 5-lobed, 20-25 mm across, on a dense
woolly spike 10-50 cm high; lower flowers usually opening first. Rare; has
been found on railway grades and waste places; at widely separated locations
throughout Prairies and Parklands. Its scarcity is rather surprising, because in
British Columbia and in Eastern Canada this species is a common roadside
weed, appearing to thrive best in dry, dusty, and exposed locations.

Veronica speedwell

Annual or perennial herbs usually associated with wet places. Leaves
opposite. Flowers perfect, 4-lobed, rotate, slightly irregular, with 2 stamens.
Fruit a several-seeded capsule.

1. Calyx 5-lobed, with the upper 2 long and

the lower 3 short V. teuchum

Calyx 4-lobed 2

2. Flowers solitary in axils of leaves;

annuals 3

Flowers in axillary or terminal racemes;

perennials 6

3. Flower stalks shorter than or equaling

leaves 4

Flower stalks as long as or longer than

leaves 5

656

4. Leaves narrowly oblong to oblong-lan-

ceolate; capsule glabrous, veinless V. peregrina var. xalapensis

Leaves oblong-ovate to almost rotund;

capsule reticulate-veined V. agrestis

5. Flowers 10-15 mm across; capsule reticu-

late-veined V. persica

Flowers 4-6 mm across; capsule glandu-
lar pubescent V. polita

6. Flowers in terminal racemes 7

Flowers in axillary racemes 9

7. Racemes well-defined, dense; leaves 5-15

cm long, often in whorls V. longifolia

Racemes not well-defined, loose; leaves

mostly less than 5 cm long 8

8. Leaves all sessile; capsule longer than

wide, barely notched V. alpina var. unalaschensis

Lower leaves petioled; capsule as long as

wide, deeply notched V. serpyllifolia var. humifusa

9. Leaves ovate to oblong, all with short

stalks 10

Leaves linear to lanceolate, those of

flowering shoots without stalks 1 1

10. Leaves and stems glabrous; semiaquatic

plants V. americana

Leaves glabrous or pubescent, and stem
with 2 rows of hairs; a plant of gardens
and waste areas V. chamaedrys

1 1. Leaves broadly lanceolate; fruit not much

flattened, with its stem less than twice

as long as fruit V. comosa var. glaberhma

Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate; fruit
much flattened, with its stem several
times as long as fruit V. scutellata

Veronica agrestis L. prostrate speedwell

Annual plants with prostrate or ascending stems 10-30 cm long. Leaves
ovate to rotund, crenately serrate, rounded or truncate at the base, 1-2 cm
long. Flowers 6-8 mm across, blue or white, with blue veins; pedicels 6-10 mm
long, elongating in fruit. Introduced; a rare garden weed.

Veronica alpina L. var. unalaschensis C. & S. alpine speedwell

Stems erect or decumbent at the base, 10-20 cm high, more or less villous
throughout. Leaves all sessile, elliptic to oblong, 15-35 mm long, pilose on
both sides. Inflorescence densely villous, elongating during and after
flowering; flowers about 5 mm across, blue; capsules 5-8 mm long, about 3-5
mm wide, barely notched. Alpine meadows and moist areas; Rocky Moun-
tains.

657

Veronica americana (Raf.) Schwein. AMERICAN speedwell

An aquatic or semiaquatic, rather weak-stemmed plant 10-50 cm long.
Leaves all stalked, oblong-lanceolate to ovate, 2-6 cm long. Flowers blue or
white, 3-5 mm across, in long loose racemes in axils ofleaves. Not common;
found in streams and around springs; Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains, and
Cypress Hills.

Veronica chamaedrys L. GERMANDER SPEEDWELL

A sparsely pubescent perennial; stems prostrate, 20-40 cm long. Leaves
sessile or nearly so, ovate to deltoid-ovate, 2-3 cm long, serrate. Racemes few,
erect from the upper axils, loosely 10- to 20-flowered, 8-15 cm long; flowers
about 1 cm across, blue, with darker lines; capsules rarely produced, 4-5 mm
wide, shallowly notched. Introduced; a rare garden weed.

Veronica comosa Richt. var. glaberrima (Pennell) Boiv. water speedwell

A branched species 20-70 cm long, with stalkless, often clasping, lanceo-
late leaves 2-7 cm long. Flowers blue, 8-10 mm across, in loose axillary
racemes. Uncommon; has been found in wet places and along rivers; Boreal
forest and Cypress Hills. Syn.: V. catenata Pennell; V. connata Raf. ssp.
glaberrima Pennell.

Veronica longifolia L. spiked speedwell

Perennial plants with erect stems 40-100 cm high. Leaves opposite or in
whorls of 3, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate. Racemes erect, spike-like; axis
pubescent; flowers 8-10 mm across, blue. Introduced ornamental; occasion-
ally escaped and established.

Veronica per egrina L. var. xalapensis (HBK.) St. John & Warren

HAIRY SPEEDWELL

A glandular hairy erect species 10-30 cm high. Leaves spatulate to linear,
10-25 mm long. Flowers whitish, about 3 mm across, borne singly in axils of
leaves. Not common but locally abundant; on moist sandy soils and in low
areas; across the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: V. xalapensis HBK.

Veronica persica Poir. bird'S-EYE

A low-spreading, very branching, finely hairy annual. Leaves oval, short-
stemmed, 10-25 mm long, coarsely toothed. Flowers blue, about 8-15 mm
across, borne singly on long stalks from axils ofleaves. Introduced; becoming
increasingly abundant as a garden weed.

Veronica polita Fr. smooth speedwell

A species similar to V. persica, but with flowers at most 6 mm across and
usually smaller. Introduced; a rare garden weed.

Veronica scutellata L. marsh speedwell

A species with decumbent or ascending stems 20-50 cm high. Leaves lin-
ear to linear-lanceolate, sharp-pointed, 2-7 cm long. Flowers about 6 mm
across, blue, in long loose racemes in axils ofleaves. Fairly common; in moist
meadows and swamps and around springs; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

658

Veronica serpyllifolia L. var. humifusa (Dicks.) Vahl. THYME-LEAVED speedwell

A slender-stemmed perennial 5-20 cm high, much-branched from base.
Leaves ovate to oblong or almost orbicular, 5-15 mm long. Flowers white or
pale blue, 5-8 mm across, in short narrow leafy terminal racemes. An eastern
species, very rare; has been found in low swampy ground; Cypress Hills.

Veronica teucrium L. broad-leaved speedwell

An erect finely pubescent perennial 30-60 cm high. Leaves sessile or
nearly so, ovate to lanceolate, 2-4 cm long, serrate. Racemes 2-4, from the
upper axils, 5-10 cm long, on pedicels to 10 cm long, rather densely flowered;
flowers about 12 mm across, blue. Introduced ornamental; occasionally
escaped and established.

Veronicastrum Culver's-root

Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farwell culver'S-ROOT

A coarse erect leafy-stemmed perennial 30-150 cm high, with opposite or
whorled leaves. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, 7-15 cm long, varying from 2 to 7
at a node. Flowers white, with prominent protruding stamens 4-6 mm long,
crowded on long narrow terminal racemes 6-20 cm long. An eastern species;
has been found on roadsides and meadows; southeastern Parklands and
Boreal forest.

LENTIBULARIACEAE — bladderwort family

Small plants found growing in water or wet locations, carnivorous or
insectivorous, catching small insects and aquatic life by means of sticky leaves
or submersed bladders. Leaves basal. Flowers irregular, perfect, with 2 sta-
mens.

Calyx with 5 sepals; land plants; leaves entire,
basal; flowers solitary Pinguicula

Calyx with 2 sepals; plants floating on or sub-
mersed in water; leaves dissected, bearing
small bladders; flowers several in a raceme
above water Utricularia

Pinguicula butterwort

1. Stem villous below; flower 6-8 mm long P. villosa

Stem glandular pubescent; flower more

than 17 mm long 2

2. Lower corolla lip over 12 mm long; flower

dark purple with a straight spur P. macroceras

Lower corolla lip less than 12 mm long;
flower pale purple with slightly
recurved spur P. vulgaris

659

Pinguicula macroceras Willd. western butterwort

A low bog plant with a basal rosette of sticky leaves. Flower single, 2-3
cm long, dark purple, on a stalk 5-10 cm high. Not common; found occasion-
ally in bogs and swamps; southern Rocky Mountains.

Pinguicula villosa L. small butterwort

A low bog plant, similar to P. macroceras, but even smaller, 2-5 cm high;
stem densely villous below, glandular puberulent above. Tundra and subarctic
bogs; northern parts of Boreal forest.

Pinguicula vulgaris L. butterwort

A low plant with leaves in a basal rosette. Leaves oval or elliptic, 2-3 cm
long, usually somewhat rolled at edge, and having a sticky secretion. Flower
single, 12-18 mm long, pale purple, on a stalk 3-10 cm high. Very rare; has
been found in bogs and cold swampy lands; Boreal forest and Rocky Moun-
tains.

Utricularia bladderwort

1. Bladders minute; leaves thread-like, sim-

ple, not readily seen U. cornuta

Bladders readily seen; leaves finely

dissected 2

2. Stems either submersed or floating;

flowers 15-25 mm long U. vulgaris var. americana

Stems creeping on bottom in shallow

water; flowers 3-10 mm long 3

3. Flower stalks ascending; flowers 10-15

mm long U. intermedia

Flower stalks recurved; flowers 3-8 mm

long U. minor

Utricularia cornuta Michx. horned bladderwort

A delicate terrestrial plant; stems creeping underground. Leaves linear-
filiform, with bladders in the margins. Scapes erect, 3-15 cm high, bearing 1-3
yellow flowers 15-25 mm long; spur 7-12 mm long. Rare; peaty or muddy
shores and bogs; Boreal forest.

Utricularia intermedia Hayne flat-leaved bladderwort

An aquatic plant creeping on mud in shallow water, with somewhat
floating branches 6-15 cm long. Leaves scattered and very finely dissected into
thread-like segments; some branches leafless, bearing several bladders 3-10
mm long. Flowers yellow, with a large lower lip, about 10 mm long, in a 1- to
4-flowered raceme on a leafless upright stem. Found occasionally; in bogs and
shallow water; Parkland, Boreal forest, and Cypress Hills.

Utricularia minor L. lesser bladderwort

A small submersed plant with alternate leaves. Leaves having a few
thread-like divisions, very minute, less than 6 mm long, bearing a few bladders

660

slightly longer than 1.5 mm. Flowers pale yellow, less than 8 mm long, on
curved stalks on an upright flowering stem. Very rare; has been found in bogs
and shallow water; Boreal forest.

Utricularia vulgaris L. var. amehcana Gray (Fig. 192) greater bladderwort

A species often floating on the surface of the water, with leaves sub-
mersed. Stems 30-80 cm long, branched. Many much-divided leaves 2-5 cm
long, bearing numerous bladders 3-5 mm long. Flowers yellow, 15-25 mm
long, in a raceme of 6-15 flowers on a long, flowering stem 10-30 cm high.
Fairly common; in lakes and sloughs; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.;
U. macrorhiza Le Conte.

OROBANCHACEAE — broom-rape family

Low pinkish herbs without green foliage, parasitic on roots of other plants
(particularly Artemisia). Leaves scale-like. Flowers perfect and irregular; calyx
5-lobed; corolla 2-lipped; stamens 4. Fruit a many-seeded capsule.

Calyx deeply cleft on the lower side only;
glabrous throughout Conopholis

Calyx nearly regular or cleft on both upper
and lower sides; glandular puberulent Orobanche

Conopholis squawroot

Conopholis americana (L.) Wallr. cancerroot

Stems stout, erect, 5-20 cm high, pale brown or yellowish throughout,
covered by ovate fleshy leaf scales to 2 cm long. Spike about half the height of
the stem, 15-20 cm thick; corolla 10-15 mm long. Very rare; parasitic on
shrubs and trees; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Orobanche broom-rape

1. Plants with a solitary flower; scale leaves

blunt O. uniflora

Plants with more than one flower; scale

leaves acuminate 2

2. Flowers borne singly on a naked stalk,

with no bracts beneath each flower O.fasciculata

Flowers borne in a racemose cluster, with

1 or 2 long bracts beneath each flower O. ludoviciana

Orobanche fasciculata Nutt. CLUSTERED BROOM-RAPE

A low pinkish-stemmed plant 3-10 cm high, parasitic on roots of
Artemisia and other Compositae. Leaves scale-like. Flowers 1-10, purplish to
yellow, about 25 mm long, each on a naked unbracted stalk. Common; wher-
ever Artemisia is found; throughout Prairies. Syn.; Anoplanthus fasciculatus
(Nutt.) Walp.

661

Fig. 192. Greater bladderwort, Utricularia vulgaris L. var. americana Gray.

662

Orobanche ludoviciana Nutt. Louisiana broom-rape

A stout, somewhat sticky, glandular hairy, pink-stemmed plant 5-25 cm
high, parasitic on roots of Artemisia and other Compositae. Leaves scale-like.
Flowers purplish, 1-2 cm long, in a dense terminal spike, with 1 or 2 long
bracts beneath each flower. Not so common as O. fasciculata\ found on sandy
soil; throughout Prairies. Syn.: Myzorrhiza ludoviciana (Nutt.) Rydb.

Orobanche uniflora L. small broom-rape

A small thin-stemmed plant; stem almost entirely underground, only 1-3
cm showing, bearing a few overlapping, glabrous, oblong-obovate scale leaves.
Pedicels 1-4, usually 2, erect, 6-20 cm long, finely glandular pubescent, each
bearing a single flower, about 2 cm long, white to violet. Rare; margins of
woods and wooded slopes; southern Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills.

PHRYMACEAE — lopseed family

Phryma lopseed

Phryma leptostachya L. lopseed

Perennial plants with stems 50-100 cm high, erect, simple or with a few
branches. Petioles to 5 cm long in lower leaves, shorter in higher leaves, and
absent or nearly absent in uppermost leaves; leaves ovate, 6-15 cm long,
coarsely toothed. Inflorescence a spike-like raceme; flowers 6-8 mm long, pale
purple to white, opposite, subtended by 3 small bracts; fruiting calyx to 1 cm
long, reflexed-appressed. Rare; moist woods; southeastern Boreal forest.

PLANTAGINACEAE — plantain family

Plantago plantain

Plants with leaves usually having several prominent longitudinal ribs.
Flowers borne in long narrow spikes, having a 4-lobed calyx, a 4-lobed corolla,
and 2 or 4 stamens. Fruit a pyxis (capsule), with a conical top falling off at
maturity and releasing the seeds.

1. Plants with stem leaves opposite or

whorled P. psyllium

Plants with all leaves basal 2

2. Leaves coarsely toothed to pinnately

lobed P. coronopus

Leaves all entire, or distantly and shal-

lowly toothed 3

3. Leaves lanceolate to ovate 4

Leaves linear to filiform (thread-like) 8

663

4. Leaves lanceolate, gradually tapering to

stalks 5

Leaves ovate, abruptly joining stalk 7

5. Spikes of inflorescence long and narrow;

plants of saline areas P. eriopoda

Spikes of inflorescence short, dense, and
oblong; stamens protruding and very
conspicuous 6

6. Stem and leaves densely pubescent;

flower bracts smaller than buds, acute P. canescens var. cylindrica

Stems and leaves not densely pubescent;

flower bracts larger than buds, blunt P. lanceolata

7. Leaves glabrous to sparsely pubescent,

long-petioled; peduncle slightly longer
than leaves; filaments white,

inconspicuous P. major

Leaves short-pubescent, short-petioled;
peduncle many times longer than
leaves; filaments lilac, conspicuous P. media

8. Plants densely white silky-woolly P. patagonica

Plants not densely woolly 9

9. Flower spike densely long-pubescent P. aristata

Flower spike not long-pubescent 10

10. Leaves thick, fleshy; flowers pubescent P. maritima

Leaves thread-like, not fleshy; flowers

glabrous P. elongata

Plantago aristata Michx. buckhorn

An annual plant with scapes 15-25 cm high, more or less villous. Leaves
linear or very narrowly lanceolate, 10-15 cm long, more or less pubescent.
Spikes cylindric, 3-6 cm long; bracts linear, with the lowest ones to 2 cm long
and the upper ones shorter, hirsute to long-villous. Introduced; a rare weed in
disturbed soils; Prairies.

Plantago canescens Adams var. cylindrica (J. M. Macoun) Boiv.

WESTERN RIBGRASS

A perennial species with a woolly-pubescent scape about 15 cm high.
Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 10-15 cm long, woolly-pubescent, especially
below. Spike about 5 cm long, rather loose in fruit. Dry grasslands; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Plantago coronopus L. BUCKHORN PLANTAIN

A biennial or short-lived perennial; scapes 5-20 cm high. Leaves 3-15 cm
long, with several pairs of linear lobes 5-20 mm long, pubescent. Spike 3-8 cm
long, dense; flowers puberulent. Introduced; a rare weed; southeastern Park-
lands.

664

Plantago elongata Pursh linear-leaved plantain

An annual plant 6-15 cm high. Leaves very narrow, thread-like, 3-12 cm
long, about 2 mm wide, single-ribbed. Inflorescence a loosely flowered very
narrow spike 5-10 cm long. Not common; found occasionally in wet places
and low flats; throughout Prairies.

Plantago eriopoda Torr. saline plantain

A somewhat fleshy perennial species from a long coarse rootstock. Leaves
oblanceolate, 5-20 cm long, with several longitudinal ribs borne on long stalks
usually arising from a mass of long brown hairs at crown of root. Inflorescence
a somewhat dense narrow spike 2-10 cm long, on a long stem. Common; on
saline or alkaline soils, river flats, and slough margins; throughout Prairies and
Parklands.

Plantago lanceolata L. ribgrass

An introduced biennial or perennial species with a short rootstock.
Leaves numerous, narrowly lanceolate, 3- to 5-ribbed, 5-30 cm long, tapering
to very short stalks, usually some tufts of brownish hair at crown of root.
Flowering stems much longer than leaves, 30-50 cm; inflorescence a short
thick dense spike 2-8 cm long; stamens much protruding, often forming a con-
spicuous yellow or white ring around flower head. Found occasionally where
imported lawn grass has been sown and as a weed in newly seeded lawns.

Plantago major L. (Fig. 193) common plantain

A perennial species from a short thick rootstock. Leaves numerous, very
dark green, oval or ovate, 3-25 cm long, with many conspicuous longitudinal
ribs contracting abruptly at the base into a long stalk. Flowering stems fairly
long; inflorescence a dense narrow spike 7-30 cm long. Common; a weed in
lawns, waste places, and yards; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Possibly
introduced, but, if so, having spread across the country.

The var. asiatica (L.) Dene., with tapering leaf bases and more upright
leaves, has been found in Boreal forest.

Plantago maritima L. seaside plantain

A short-lived perennial with scapes 5-20 cm high. Leaves thick and fleshy,
almost 3-angled in cross section, entire or somewhat distantly toothed. Spikes
2-10 cm long, often somewhat interrupted below, with the axis pubescent; se-
pals and corolla tube pubescent. Shores and saline areas; Boreal forest, rare in
southern edge of Boreal forest and Parklands.

Plantago media L. hoary plantain

Perennial plants. Leaves elliptic to obovate, 10-20 cm long, narrowed at
the base to a petiole. Scapes 20-40 cm high, somewhat pubescent; spikes at
first narrowly conic, elongating to short-cylindric, 3-10 cm long. Introduced; a
rare weed of disturbed soils and waste areas.

665

*r 2

/

Fig. 193. Common plantain, Plantago major L.

666

Plantago patagonica Jacq. PURSH'S plantain

An annual plant, very pale green and whitish silky-woolly all over. Leaves
2-6 cm long, linear, with 1-3 nerves. Inflorescence a dense spike 2-12 cm long,
on a stem 7-10 cm long, and very woolly. Found in sandy soil, on river flats,
and dry soils; throughout southwestern part of the Prairie Provinces. An indi-
cator of an overgrazed condition. Syn.: P. purshii R. & S.; P. spinulosa Dene.

Plantago psyllium L. sand plantain

Annual plants with erect stems, 10-50 cm high, pubescent throughout.
Leaves linear, 3-8 cm long. Heads 10-15 mm long, on peduncles 3-5 cm long
arising from leaf axils; bracts broadly scarious-margined. Introduced; a rare
weed of disturbed soils.

RUBIACEAE — madder family

Plants with opposite or whorled leaves, stipules, and perfect regular
flowers. As many stamens as corolla lobes. Fruit a capsule, berry, or drupe.

1. Leaves opposite, in pairs; low plants Houstonia

Leaves apparently whorled; the stipules

resembling the leaves; stems square 2

2. Inflorescence of open cymes Galium

Inflorescence a head, subtended by

bracts Asperula

Asperula woodruff

Asperula arvensis L. field woodruff

Annual plants, with stems 20-30 cm high, erect; the angles retrorsely
scabrous. Leaves in whorls of 4-8, lanceolate or the lower ones obovate. Flow-
ers subsessile in a terminal head, blue to purplish; bracts pubescent. Intro-
duced; a very rare weed of disturbed areas.

Galium bedstraw

1. Ovary and fruit bristly or hairy 2

Ovary and fruit glabrous 4

2. Principal stem leaves in whorls of 4 G. boreale

Principal stem leaves in whorls of 6 or 8 3

3. Leaves mostly in whorls of 8; plants

annual G. aparine

Leaves mostly in whorls of 6; plants

perennial G. triflorum

4. Flowers yellow; leaves strongly revolute,

in whorls of 6-12 G. verum

Flowers white or greenish; leaves in

whorls of 2-6 5

667

5. Flowers in many-flowered cymes,

short-pedicellate G. palustre

Flowers solitary or in few-flowered

cymes, long-pedicellate G. trifidum

Galium aparine L. cleavers

A trailing or decumbent annual with a square stem 30-100 cm long and
covered with retrorse (backward-pointing) bristly hairs. Leaves in whorls of 6
or 8, oblong-linear to oblanceolate, sharp-tipped, rough bristly on margins and
midrib, and 2-5 cm long. Long-stalked cream-colored flowers in axillary clus-
ters of 4-9. Fruits in pairs, bearing hooked hairs. Found often; in moist wood-
lands and along riverbanks; a troublesome weed in Parklands. Syn.: G. aparine
L. var. vaillantii (DC.) Koch; G. vaillantii DC.

Galium boreale L. (Fig. 194) northern bedstraw

An erect perennial 20-50 cm high, from thin brown rootstocks, with a
slender square stem. Leaves in whorls of 4 around stem, linear to lanceolate, 3-
ribbed, 2-6 cm long. Inflorescence a terminal leafy panicle, fairly dense, many-
flowered; flowers white, about 3 mm across, with 4 corolla lobes, and faintly
fragrant. Fruits in pairs, about 1.5 mm long, covered with short whitish hairs.
Common; in openings in woodlands, along roadsides and moister places on
prairies; almost throughout the Prairie Provinces. In some years, almost the
dominant roadside flower. Most of the plants of this species found in the prai-
ries are var. intermedia DC, with short curved hairs on fruit. Syn.: G. septentri-
onale R. & S.

Galium palustre L. marsh bedstraw

A slender perennial with simple or branched stems 20-60 cm long,
sparsely retrorse-scabrous on the angles. Leaves 5-15 mm long, linear to nar-
rowly oblanceolate, commonly in whorls of 4 or 6. Inflorescences many-
flowered, often forked; pedicels widely spreading; corolla white, about 4 mm
wide. Rare; wet places, bogs, and marshes; Boreal forest.

Galium trifidum L. small bedstraw

A slender-stemmed perennial with decumbent or erect weak stems 20-40
cm long. Leaves borne in whorls of 4, linear to spatulate, 6-12 mm long. Flow-
ers terminal or axillary, on long stalks, greenish white, in 2's or 3's, very small,
usually with 3 blunt corolla lobes. Fruits in pairs, smooth, without any hairi-
ness. Found occasionally; in moist places; Parkland, Boreal forest, and
Cypress Hills.

Galium triflorum Michx. sweet-scented bedstraw

A spreading, branched perennial 30-100 cm long, often trailing or decum-
bent, with an almost hairless stem. Leaves usually in whorls of 6, narrowly
oval or oblanceolate, with a sharp, pointed tip, 2-6 cm long. Flowers long-
stalked, greenish white, in clusters of 3, with 4 corolla lobes. Fruits in pairs,
covered with long hooked hairs. Fairly common; in moist places and damp
woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

668

Fig. 194. Northern bedstraw, Galium boreale L.

669

Galium varum L. LADIES" BEDSTRAW

A perennial with a woody roots tock; stems erect, 30-80 cm high, finely
pubescent. Leaves linear, 1-3 cm long, mostly in whorls of 8, often deflexed at
maturity. Inflorescences several from the upper axils, many-flowered. Intro-
duced; a very rare weed; mostly along roadsides; southeastern Parkland.

Houstonia bluets

Houstonia longifolia Gaertn. long-leaved bluets

Low, tufted perennials 6-25 cm high, usually with a purplish square stem.
Leaves opposite, linear to linear-oblong, 10-25 mm long, with small whitish or
purplish stipules at base. Flowers pinkish or purple, 3-5 mm long, in very leafy
terminal clusters. Fruit an ovoid capsule. Found occasionally; on grasslands
and sandy soils; Parklands and Boreal forest.

CAPRI FOLIACEAE — honeysuckle family

Trees, shrubs, vines, or perennial herbs with opposite leaves without stip-
ules. Flowers perfect; corolla varying from rotate or campanulate to urn-
shaped; usually having 5 stamens, except for one genus, Linnaea, with only 4.
Fruit a berry, drupe, or capsule.

1. Leaves pinnately compound Sambucus

Leaves simple, at most deeply lobed 2

2. Low, trailing evergreen shrub; flowers

with 4 stamens Linnaea

Shrubs or small trees; flowers with 5

stamens 3

3. Corolla rotate; inflorescence all terminal

in compound cymes; fruit a drupe con-
taining a flattened stone Viburnum

Corolla tubular or bell-shaped;
inflorescence axillary as well as termi-
nal; fruit a capsule or berry with 2 or
more seeds 4

4. Leaves with finely toothed margins; calyx

with 5 linear lobes; fruit a capsule Diervilla

Leaves with entire or wavy margins; calyx

with short lobes; fruit a berry 5

5. Flowers regular, bell-shaped, in clusters;

fruit a white berry Symphoricarpos

Flowers often slightly irregular, tubular,
usually in pairs; fruit a red or black
berry Lonicera

670

Diervilla bush-honeysuckle

Diervilla lonicera Mill. bush-honeysuckle

A shrub 50-100 cm high, with opposite simple leaves. Leaves short-
stalked, ovate to oval, finely toothed on margins, 5-12 cm long. Flowers nar-
row, funnel-shaped, about 2 cm long, yellow, in axillary and terminal clusters
of 1-5. Fruit a slender capsule with linear stamens remaining on the end. Not
common; found in rocky woodlands; along the eastern Boreal forest.

Linnaea twinflower

Linnaea borealis L. var. amehcana (Forbes) Rehder (Fig. 195,4) twinflower

A very low, creeping or trailing evergreen plant 15-75 cm long. Leaves
opposite, short-stalked, oval or orbicular, 10-15 mm across, with a somewhat
wavy margin. Flowers pink, fragrant, funnelform, about 1 cm long, with only 4
stamens, in pairs, pendent or hanging downward from the top of a stem 3-10
cm high. Common; in cool woodlands and often found on decayed, fallen tree
trunks; throughout the entire wooded parts of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.; L.
americana Forbes.

Lonicera honeysuckle

1. Somewhat twining shrub; inflorescence a

terminal cluster 2

Erect shrubs; leaves not connate-perfoli-
ate; inflorescence axillary and flowers
in pairs 3

2. Uppermost connate leaves glaucous,

obtuse or acute L. dioica var. glaucescens

Uppermost connate leaves green, pointed

at tip L. hirsuta var. schindleri

3. Bracts below flowers large, broad, and

leaf-like; berries of the 2 flowers

separate L. involucrata

Bracts below flowers thin or minute; ber-
ries of the 2 flowers more or less united. 4

4. Ovaries completely fused, ripening into a

single bluish black berry L. caerulea var. villosa

Ovaries only partly united, with berries

distinguishable 5

5. Pith of branches brown, not filling the

entire core L. tatarica

Pith of branches white, filling the entire

core 6

6. Leaves densely puberulent, at least below L. ob/ongifo/ia

Leaves subglabrous to lightly pilose

below L. utahensis

67

Fig. 195. A, Twinflower, Linnaea borealis L. var. americana (Forbes) Rehder;
B, twining honeysuckle, Lonicera dioica L. var. glaucescens (Rydb.) Butt.

672

Lonicera caerulea L. var. villosa (Michx.) T. & G. blue fly honeysuckle

Low erect shrubs 30-100 cm high; twigs sometimes finely hairy. Leaves
oval to obovate, slightly downy when young, very short-stalked, 2-4 cm long.
Flowers in pairs in axils of leaves, yellow, about 12 mm long. Fruit an oblong
or globose bluish black berry, covered with a bloom, edible. Fairly common in
moist or swampy places in woodlands; Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.
Syn.: L. villosa (Michx.) R. & S. var. solonis (Eat.) Fern.

Lonicera dioica L. var. glaucescens (Rydb.) Butt. (Fig. 1955)

TWINING HONEYSUCKLE

A more or less twining shrub with light-colored shreddy bark. Leaves
obovate or oval, all opposite, often connate (joined at bases) and perfoliate,
especially the upper ones, 5-8 cm long, pale, and often hairy below, particu-
larly on veins. Flowers in a terminal cluster, yellow, later turning reddish,
20-25 mm long. Fruits in clusters of red berries. Fairly common; in wood-
lands; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: L. glaucescens Rydb.

Lonicera hirsuta Eat. var. schindleri Boiv. hairy honeysuckle

Similar to L. dioica, but with leaves dull green, and, except for the upper
ones, short-petioled; young stems glandular pubescent. Rare; moist woods;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Lonicera involucrata (Richards.) Banks involucrate honeysuckle

A shrub 1-3 m high, sometimes with downy stems. Leaves oblong to oval,
5-10 cm long, somewhat glandular-dotted and downy below, with a prominent
midrib. Flowers in pairs, yellow, with large leaf-like bracts at bases. Fruits 2
large berries, very dark purple to black, about 8 mm across, surrounded by
persistent bracts. Fairly common; in woodlands; Boreal forest and Rocky
Mountains. Syn.: Distegia involucrata (Richards.) Cockerell.

Lonicera oblongifolia (Goldie) Hook. swamp fly honeysuckle

A shrub 50-150 cm high, with ascending branches. Leaves oblong, downy
below when young, 2-5 cm long. Flowers yellow with a purplish tinge inside,
10-15 mm long, 2-lipped, in pairs on a long stem. Fruits in pairs of more or
less united purplish red berries. Found occasionally; in swamps and marshy
lands; eastern Boreal forest. Syn.: Xylosteon oblongifolium Goldie.

Lonicera tatarica L. Tartarian honeysuckle

A shrub 1-3 m high, with thin, ovate, somewhat cordate-based leaves 2-8
cm long. Flowers pink or white, about 15 mm long, in pairs, very numerous.
Fruit an orange or yellow berry about 6 mm in diam. An introduced species,
commonly used for ornamental planting and hedges. Has become established
in woodlands and moist spots; in several locations in the Prairie Provinces.
Syn.: Xylosteon tataricum (L.) Medic.

Lonicera utahensis Wats. utah honeysuckle

A low shrub 60-150 cm high; leaves oblong to oblong-ovate, 2-5 cm long,
entire, thin glabrous or sparsely pubescent below, obtuse to blunt at the base.
Flowers in pairs; peduncle slender, 10-15 mm long; bracts 2, very narrow, 1-3

673

mm long; corolla 15-20 mm long. Berries red. Moist, coniferous woods; south-
ern Rocky Mountains.

Sambucus elder

Sambucus racemosa L. red elderberry

Shrubs 1-6 m high, with 3-7 leaflets and yellowish brown pith.
Inflorescence ovate in outline, 5-8 cm long, 3-5 cm wide; flowers somewhat
greenish white to yellowish.

In var. pubens (Michx.) Wats., twigs and leaflets pubescent, inflorescence
rather oblong-ovate, berries small, and stems rarely more than 3 m high. Moist
open woods; eastern Boreal forest, rarely in eastern Parklands.

In var. arborescens (T. & G.) Gray, leaves and twigs subglabrous,
inflorescence more compact and broadly ovate, berries large and deep red, and
stems to 6 m high. Moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Symphoricarpos snowberry

Low shrubs with strongly creeping roots. Leaves opposite, simple, short-
stalked. Flowers perfect, small, pink and white, campanulate (bell-shaped).
Fruit a small, round, 2-seeded, white berry.

Stamens and styles not protruding from
corolla S. albus

Stamens and styles protruding from corolla S. occidentalis

Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake snowberry

An erect shrub 50-150 cm high. Leaves thin, oval 1-5 cm long, sometimes
slightly toothed. Flowers in several-flowered clusters. Berry waxy, white, 6-10
mm across. Found occasionally; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest. The var.
pauciflorus (Robbins) Blake, few-flowered snowberry, a low-growing spreading
shrub 10-50 cm high. Leaves oval or round, 1-3 cm long, softly hairy beneath.
Flowers borne singly in upper leaf axils or in terminal clusters of 2 or 3, about
6 mm long. Berries white, waxy, about 6 mm in diam. This variety is more
common than the species; in rocky and sandy woodlands; throughout bush
areas of the Prairie Provinces and in Cypress Hills. Syn.: S. pauciflorus (Rob-
bins) Britt.

Symphoricarpos occidentalis Hook. western snowberry. buckbrush

A shrub 50-100 cm high, growing from creeping roots. Leaves oval, ovate,
or almost round, somewhat softly hairy beneath, 2-6 cm long. Flowers pink
and white, with styles and stamens conspicuously projecting from corolla, in
rather dense terminal and axillary spikes. Fruits snow white waxy berries,
often in large numbers. One of the most widespread and commonest shrubs; in
dense stands on open prairie, in ravines, coulees, and woodlands; throughout
the Prairie Provinces.

674

Viburnum bush-cranberry

Shrubs or small trees with opposite leaves and flowers all in terminal clus-
ters. Corolla rotate or wheel-shaped to short bell-shaped, regular, 5-lobed;
flowers perfect, with 5 stamens and a short 3-cleft style. Fruits single-seeded
edible drupes; stone somewhat compressed or flattened.

1. Leaves usually 3-lobed, with veins radia-

ting from base 2

Leaves not lobed, with veins pinnate from

midrib 3

2. Outer flowers of cluster large and neutral

(sexless), with large lobes V. opulus var. americanum

None of flowers large and neutral V. edule

3. Leaves densely hairy beneath, with stalks

not more than 6 mm long V. rafinesquianum

Leaves not hairy beneath, with slender

stalks more than 6 mm long V. lentago

Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf. (Fig. 196) low bush-cran berry

A rather straggly shrub 50-200 cm high. Leaves usually shallowly 3-lobed,
4-10 cm across; leaf bases usually flat or cordate. Inflorescence few-flowered,
1-3 cm across; flowers all perfect. Fruit a red drupe about 3 mm long. Fairly
common; in rich moist woodlands; throughout the heavily wooded areas of
the Prairie Provinces. Syn.; V. eradiatum (Oakes) House.

Viburnum lentago L. NANNYBERRY

A tall shrub or small tree up to 6 m high. Leaves 4—10 cm long, ovate, with
sharp, small, marginal teeth tapering to a point at apex. Flowers in large clus-
ters 5-12 cm across. Fruit an edible bluish black berry 8-12 mm long, covered
with a bloom. Common; in woodlands; southeastern Boreal forest.

Viburnum opulus L. var. americanum (Mill.) Ait. high bush-cranberry

A shrub \-4 m high, with smooth branches. Leaves palmately veined,
broad, 3-lobed, 5-10 cm across. Outer flowers in clusters 10-15 mm across,
with 5 large petals, but neutral (without fully formed styles or stamens); inner
flowers smaller, creamy white, and perfect. Fruit a red berry, about 1 cm in
diam, very acid. Fairly common; in woodlands throughout heavily wooded
areas. Syn.: V. trilobum Marsh.

Viburnum rafinesquianum Schultes downy arrowwood

A shrub 50-150 cm high, with many slender gray branches. Leaves
coarsely toothed, oval or ovate, slightly cordate at base, 2-7 cm long; under-
surface densely velvet-hairy. Inflorescence rounded, 2-7 cm across; flowers all
perfect, white. Fruits in large clusters, almost black, about 6 mm long; stone
grooved slightly on both sides. Fairly common; in woodlands; eastern Boreal
forest. Syn.: V. ajfine Bush var. hypomalaeum Blake.

675

Fig. 196. Low bush-cranberry, Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf.

676

ADOXACEAE — moschatel family

Adoxa moschatel

Adoxa moschatellina L. moschatel

A dwarf perennial plant from a scaly rootstock, 10-20 cm high, with sev-
eral long-stalked basal leaves divided into 3 long-stalked, somewhat 3-cleft
leaflets. Flowers very small, in a cluster about 6 mm across, greenish or yellow-
ish, at head of slender stem bearing 2 leaves. Found occasionally; in cool
mossy woodlands; along margins of Boreal forest.

CUCURBITACEAE — gourd family

Echinocystis balsam-apple

Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) T. & G. wild cucumber

An annual, succulent, trailing vine 3-6 m long, climbing by means of ten-
drils over bushes and shrubbery. Stem somewhat angled, bearing long, spirally
twisted tendrils. Leaves thin, pale green, rough on both sides, palmately
veined, with 3-7 large lobes 5-12 cm across. Flowers greenish white, unisex-
ual; male flowers in panicles or racemes; female flowers 1 or 2, in axils of
leaves. Fruit a pepo (a large, ovoid, fleshy berry with a thick skin), pale green,
covered with weak spines. Fruits 4-10 cm long, containing several large, flat,
roughened, almost black seeds. Fairly common; in moist locations among
bushes; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.: Micrampelis lobata
(Michx.) Greene.

CAMPANULACEAE — bluebell family

Campanula bellflower

Perennial plants with rootstocks and alternate simple leaves. Flowers per-
fect, usually blue, campanulate or funnelform, in panicles; stamens 5; stigmas
3-5. Fruit an ovoid capsule containing many seeds.

1. Stem simple, bearing a solitary terminal

flower 2

Stem usually bearing many flowers 3

2. Leaves sharply dentate; corolla 15-30

mm long C. lasiocarpa

Leaves entire or glandular denticulate;

corolla 10 mm long C. uniflora

3. Flowers in part crowded into a head C. glomerata

Flowers not crowded 4

4. Stem leaves broad, ovate to ovate-

lanceolate C. rapunculoides

Stem leaves narrow, linear to filiform 5

677

5. Basal leaves ovate or cordate, soon with-
ering; flowers more than 12 mm long C. rotundi folia

Basal leaves linear or narrowly lanceo-
late; flowers not over 12 mm long C. aparinoides

Campanula aparinoides Pursh marsh bellflower

A very thin slender-stemmed plant 20-50 cm high. Stem 3-angled, some-
what roughened, with downward-pointing stiff short hairs. Leaves lanceolate
to linear-lanceolate, 2-5 cm long. Flowers at ends of branches, usually white
or with a faint bluish tinge, 10-15 mm long. Found often; in wet meadows and
marshes; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Includes C. uliginosa Rydb.

Campanula glomerata L. clustered bluebell

An erect perennial with a short rootstock and glabrous to softly pubescent
stems 30-70 cm high. Leaves 2-5 cm long, oblong-lanceolate; lower leaves
petiolate; upper ones sessile to more or less clasping. Flowers 2-3 cm long, vio-
let blue, sessile in a terminal head subtended by leafy bracts. Introduced orna-
mental; locally escaped and established.

Campanula lasiocarpa Cham. ALASKA bluebell

Small perennial plants 4-15 cm high, from a creeping rootstock. Leaves
2-7 cm long, spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate; lower leaves petioled; upper
ones sessile, with margin laciniate-denticulate. Flowers solitary and terminal;
calyx long villous; lobes lanciniate. Mountain meadows; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Campanula rapunculoides L. creeping bluebell

Erect perennial plants with a creeping rootstock; stems 40-100 cm high,
usually unbranched. Leaves coarse, serrate, usually sparsely pubescent below,
lower leaves petioled; upper ones sessile or subsessile, 3-7 cm long.
Inflorescence one-sided; flowers 2-3 cm long, blue. Introduced ornamental;
locally escaped and established.

Campanula rotundifolia L. (Fig. 197) harebell

A perennial growing from rootstocks, to 10-50 cm high, often with many
stems. Basal leaves soon disappearing, ovate or deeply cordate-based, 10-25
mm long, on long stalks; stem leaves linear or linear-oblong, 1-5 cm long.
Flowers blue, campanulate, 15-25 mm long, occasionally solitary, but more
often in a raceme of 3 or 4 flowers. Common; throughout the Prairie Prov-
inces.

Campanula uniflora L. alpine bluebell

A dwarf perennial 10-20 cm high, with a single flower terminating the
stem. Leaves and calyx lobes entire or finely glandular denticulate. Arctic and
alpine meadows; northeastern Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

678

Fig. 197. Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia L.

679

LOBELIACEAE — lobelia family

Annual or perennial herbs often with a bitter, milky sap. Leaves alternate
or basal. Flowers perfect, irregular, with a 2-lipped corolla split to the base on
one side in one genus; stamens 5. Fruit a many-seeded capsule.

Annual plants; corolla not split; fruit 1-celled Downingia

Perennial plants; corolla split; fruit 2-celled Lobelia

Downingia downingia

Downingia laeta Greene downingia

Low-growing annual herbs 5-15 cm high. Leaves alternate, oblong, to 15
mm long. Flowers in axils of upper leaves or bracts, about 1 cm long, light blue
with darker blue veins and with a whitish throat spotted with yellow. Very
scarce; has been found in moist and saline places; southwestern Prairies. Syn.:
Bolelia laeta Greene.

Lobelia lobelia

1. Plants aquatic, with leaves all submerged L. dortmanna

Plants terrestrial 2

2. Stem leaves linear; plants of moist mar-

shy places; racemes few-flowered L. kalmii

Stem leaves lanceolate to ovate; plants of

drier soils; racemes many-flowered L. spicata var. hirtella

Lobelia dortmanna L. water lobelia

A perennial plant with a submerged rosette of hollow basal leaves 2-9 cm
long and fleshy, linear. Stem 40-70 cm high, hollow, with minute filiform stem
leaves. Raceme emersed, few-flowered; flowers usually about 15 mm long, pale
blue to white. Shallow lakes; Boreal forest.

Lobelia kalmii L. kalm'S lobelia

A leafy-stemmed biennial or perennial branching plant 10-30 cm high.
Lower leaves spatulate, 10-25 mm long; upper leaves linear. Flowers light
blue, about 1 cm long, in loose racemes; each flower stalk usually bearing 2
small bracts or 2 glands. Fairly common; in bogs and wet meadows; through-
out Boreal forest, rare in Parklands. Syn.: L. sthetiflora (Rydb.) Lunell.

Lobelia spicata Lam. var. hirtella A. Gray spiked lobelia

A perennial with a simple erect stem 30-100 cm high. Lower leaves spatu-
late, 2-10 cm long; stem leaves lanceolate to spatulate. Flowers on a long,
spike-like terminal inflorescence, pale blue, about 1 cm long. In the type, se-
pals and bracts slightly or not at all hairy. Found occasionally; in dry sandy
soil; throughout eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

680

VALERIANACEAE — valerian family

Valeriana valerian

Perennial herbs with scented roots. Leaves opposite, without stipules,
varying; lower leaves often entire and spatulate; upper ones pinnately lobed
with a large terminal lobe. Flowers usually rose or white, 5-lobed, small, in
many-flowered clusters, lengthening and becoming paniculate as the plant
matures. Seed an achene.

Stem leaves with 9-15 segments; basal leaves
oblong to spatulate, petioled V. dioica var. sylvatica

Stem leaves with 3-7 segments; basal leaves, if
present, pinnate V. sitchensis

Valeriana dioica L. var. sylvatica (Sol.) Gray (Fig. 198) northern valerian

An erect rather weak-stemmed plant 20-60 cm high. Basal leaves entire,
usually spatulate; stem leaves pinnate, with a large terminal lobe pinnately
veined. Flowers white, about 3 mm across, in dense terminal clusters, later
lengthening into a short cymose panicle. Fairly common; in wet places;
throughout Boreal forest. Syn.; V. septentrionalis Rydb.

Valeriana sitchensis Bong. mountain heliotrope

A robust species with a stout rootstock; stems 40-100 cm high, glabrous
or nearly so. Stem leaves 10-15 cm long, 3- to 5-pinnate; leaflets 3-5 cm long,
with those of the lower leaves ovate and those of the upper ones lanceolate and
coarsely sinuate-dentate; basal leaves similar to stem leaves or simple, usually
absent at flowering time, sparingly pilose to glabrous. Inflorescence in dense
terminal clusters; corolla 6-8 mm long, white or pinkish. In var. scouleri
(Rydb.) M. E. Jones, basal leaves larger than stem leaves, leaflets less deeply
toothed, and corolla 5-6 mm long. Both varieties in mountain meadows and
moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

DIPSACACEAE — teasel family

Knautia bluebuttons

Knautia arvensis (L.) Duby field scabious

An erect hairy perennial 30-100 cm high. Lower leaves stalked, oblong-
lanceolate, 9-25 cm long; upper stem leaves opposite, pinnatifid or lobed,
without stalks. Flowers pale lilac or blue, in heads 2-A cm broad, with involu-
cral bracts resembling heads of Compositae. Introduced from Europe; found
occasionally; western Alberta and near Winnipeg. Syn.: Scabiosa arvensis L.

(Fig. 198 overleaf)

68

Fig. 198. Northern valerian, Valeriana dioica L. var. sylvatica (Sol.) Gray.

682

COMPOSITAE — composite family

Compositae is a very large and diverse family (Fig. 199). The flower head
is composed of many florets or small flowers borne on a common receptacle,
which is surrounded by an involucre composed of one or more rows of bracts.
There are 2 main types of floret: tubular (or disk) and ray (or ligulate). Tubu-
lar florets are regular and tube-shaped; a flower head entirely composed of this
type of floret is called discoid. Ray florets are irregular in shape and have a
single strap-like petal; a head entirely composed of this type of floret is called
ligulate. When both forms of floret are present, the flower head is called radi-
ate. In such cases, the tubular florets occupy the center (or disk) and the ray
florets form the margins. In ligulate and discoid flowers the florets are all per-
fect (having both pistil and stamens). In radiate flowers the tubular florets are
usually perfect and the ray florets are either female (pistil only) or neutral
(without either pistil or stamens). Often there are bracts or scales, which are
called the chaff, among the florets on the top of the receptacle. If there are no
bracts, the receptacle is said to be naked. There are 5 stamens, usually with
their anthers united to form a ring around the pistil. In some genera the
flowers are unisexual, the male and female florets being borne in separate
flowers. The fruit is an achene, sometimes enclosed in a bur-like closed involu-
cre, sometimes provided with a pappus (or tuft of hairs) to aid in dissemina-
tion, and sometimes having awns or scales. In one group all the species contain
latex, a sticky, often milky sap. In this publication, for convenience in making
identifications, this large family has been divided into three groups.

1. Stamens not united to form a tube around

the pistil Group 1, p. 683

Stamens united to form a tube around the

pistil 2

2. Some or all of the florets tubular Group 3, p. 703

None of the florets tubular, heads ligu-
late; plants with a milky or sticky sap Group 2, p. 689

GROUP 1

The plants in this group are annual or perennial herbs, usually with alter-
nate leaves. There are no perfect florets, and the flowers are inconspicuous. In
one genus, both male and female florets are borne on the same head, but in the
others they are borne on separate heads in different parts of the plant. Heads
composed entirely of male florets and those with both male and female florets
hang downward; this trait is helpful in recognizing this group. When the male
and female florets are borne in separate heads, the fruit is often enclosed in a
bur-like or nut-like involucre. Pollen from flowers of this group is often
responsible for causing hay fever.

1. Both male and female florets on one
head; achenes not contained in bur-
like involucre Iva

Male and female florets on separate
heads; involucre of female flowers bur-
like or nut-like 2

683

L i gul ate heods

Radiate bead

Tubular florets

He/ ianthus

TYPES OF FRUIT

Ratibida Go illardia Bidens Cirsium Lactuca Tragopogon

A.G. &udd

Fig. 199. Characteristics of composite flowers and fruit.

684

2. Leaves not lobed or dissected; female

heads with 2 florets; involucre forming

an oblong bur with hooked prickles Xanthium

Leaves lobed or divided; female heads
usually with one floret; prickles on
involucre not hooked 3

3. Involucre of female heads with a single

series of prickles or tubercles, and with

spines short Ambrosia

Involucre of female heads with several
rows of spines, and with spines long
and prominent Franseria

Ambrosia ragweed

1. Leaves all opposite, some entire, some

with 3-5 lobes A. trifida

Leaves opposite or alternate, all once- or

twice-divided 2

2. Annuals; leaves with stalks; fruit with

sharp spines or tubercles A. artemisiifolia var. elatior

Perennials with running rootstocks;
leaves without stalks; fruit without
sharp spines A. psilostachya var. coronopifolia

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. var. elatior (L.) Descourtils common ragweed

An erect annual 30-90 cm high. Leaves much-divided, stalked, somewhat
grayish hairy below. Many male heads borne in long narrow racemes; fewer
female heads borne in small clusters. Common; a weed of roadsides and waste
places; in eastern Parklands, but scarcer farther west. Syn.: A. elatior L.

Ambrosia psilostachya DC. var. coronopifolia (T. & G.) Farwell

PERENNIAL RAGWEED

A grayish hairy erect perennial 30-90 cm high, from running rootstocks.
Leaves once- or twice-divided, without stalks. Inflorescence similar to A.
artemisiifolia. Fruit almost devoid of spines. Fairly common; along roadsides
and waste places; eastern Parklands, but scarcer farther west. Syn.: A.
coronopifolia T. & G.

Ambrosia trifida L. great ragweed

A rather stout-stemmed erect annual 60-150 cm high, with a rough hairy
stem. Leaves all opposite, 5-25 cm across, stalked, mostly 3- to 5-lobed, with 3
main palmate veins. Male flowers in long terminal racemes; female flowers in
clusters in axils of upper bract-like leaves. Common; along roadsides and in
waste places and fields; eastern Parklands, but scarce elsewhere.

Franseria bur-ragweed

Franseria acanthicarpa (Hook.) Coville bur-ragweed

An annual, usually rather decumbent and spreading plant 15-60 cm high,
much-branched. Leaves doubly divided, 5-10 cm long. Male flowers in long

685

terminal racemes; female flowers clustered in leaf axils; involucre with long
straight spines making the plant very prickly. May be plentiful locally; only
found in sand dunes; Prairies.

Iva marsh-elder

Low-growing perennials with creeping woody
roots; flowers solitary on stalks in leaf axils /. axillaris

Tall-growing coarse annuals with fibrous
roots; flowers in terminal and axillary spike-
like panicles /. xanthifolia

Iva axillaris Pursh povertyweed

An erect herbaceous perennial 10-50 cm high, with woody running roots.
Leaves stalkless, entire, 3-nerved, obovate to linear-oblong, \~4 cm long; lower
leaves opposite; upper ones alternate. Flowers small, yellow, reflexed in leaf
axils. A serious weed in many farming areas where soil conditions favor its
growth. Very plentiful locally; in heavy somewhat saline soils; Prairies.

Iva xanthifolia Nutt. (Fig. 200) false ragweed

A tall, erect, branching annual with a rough downy stem 0.5-2 m high.
Leaves broadly ovate, rough above and downy below, long-stalked, 5-15 cm
long. Heads small, inconspicuous, crowded on terminal and axillary panicles.
Plant looks like a sunflower except for its inflorescence. Very common; in
vacant lots and waste places in towns and settlements; throughout the Prairie
Provinces, a common weed along roadsides and fields in Prairies and Park-
lands. Syn.; Cyclachaena xanthifolia (Nutt.) Fresn.

Xanthium cocklebur

Annual herbs with alternate leaves. Male flowers in terminal spikes or
racemes; female flowers in axils of leaves. Fruit a bur with 2 stout beaks at one
end, covered with hooked prickles, and containing 2 long flat seeds; one seed
germinating rapidly, but the other having a long-delayed germinating period.

Xanthium strumarium L. (Fig. 201) cocklebur

An annual herb, rather decumbent, coarse-stemmed, much-branched,
15-60 cm high. Leaves roughly ovate, with wavy or slightly lobed margins,
2-8 cm long. Male flowers clustered at ends of branches; female flowers in
clusters below; involucre of female flower closed, ending in 2 beaks; involucre
forming a bur over fruit. Fruit with 2 terminal beaks, and covered with stout
hairy hooked prickles. Common; around slough margins and low places, espe-
cially somewhat saline areas; throughout entire southern portion of the Prairie
Provinces. Cocklebur seedlings considered poisonous to swine. Authorities dis-
agree on the identification of species of Xanthium: X. echinatum Murr., X.
commune Britt., X. italicum Moretti, X. macounii Britt., and X. glanduliferum
Greene have been reported for Western Canada, but the identification is
doubtful.

686

Fig. 200. False ragweed, Iva xanthifolia Nutt.

687

Fig. 20 1 . Cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L.

688

GROUP 2

The plants in this group have a ligulate (strap-like) irregular corolla in
each of the florets. All the florets are perfect (with both pistils and stamens),
and the anthers of the stamens are united in a ring around the pistil. The
leaves are either basal or alternate, and all the plants contain a milky sap. The
primary leaves, those appearing after the cotyledons or seed leaves of seed-
lings, are a single leaf instead of a pair of equal leaves.

1. Plants with leaves all basal or with a few

reduced leaves on the stem 2

Plants with normal stem leaves 7

2. Leaves tomentose ciliate; achene about 8

mm long Microseris

Leaves glabrous, or if pubescent, not

tomentose 3

3. Flower heads solitary on a long stalk 4

Heads several on a flowering stalk 5

4. Bracts of the involucre imbricated (over-

lapping like shingles) Agoseris

Main bracts of the involucre equal, with

shorter spreading bracts at their base Taraxacum

5. Pappus hairs plumose (with fine hairs on

either side like a feather); bracts of

involucre few Hypoehoeris

Pappus hairs simple, not plumose 6

6. Bracts in a single series, all equal with

their midribs thickened Crepis

Bracts in series of 1-3, with their midribs

not thickened Hieracium

7. Pappus not hairy, merely covered with

scales 8

Pappus hairy 9

8. Flowers blue Cichorium

Flowers yellow Lapsana

9. Pappus bristles plumose (branched) 10

Pappus bristles simple 13

10. All leaves long, narrow, grass-like; heads

solitary on the stem Tragopogon

Not all leaves grass-like; more than one

head on the stem 1 1

1 1. Ligules pink Stephanomeria

Ligules yellow to red 12

12. Stem leaves few, small, mostly basal Hypoehoeris

Stem leaves many, reaching to the

inflorescence Picris

689

13. Pappus double, the outer ring consisting

of 5 small scale-like appendages, the

inner ring bristles Krigia

Pappus simple, consisting of bristles only 14

14. Leaves narrowly linear or scale-like;

flowers pink Lygodesmia

Leaves broader and leaf-like; flowers yel-
low, white, or purplish 15

15. Seeds flattened; pappus usually white 16

Seeds not flattened; pappus tawny or

white 17

16. Seeds with a long beak at the apex Lactuca

Seeds without a long beak at the apex Sonchus

17. Stems leafy at the base only; leaves

mostly basal Microseris

Stems leafy throughout or at least to mid-
way up the stem 18

18. Pappus white; involucre of one series of

equal bracts Crepis

Pappus brownish or tawny; involucre

usually of unequal bracts 19

19. Heads borne erect; leaf margins entire or

merely toothed; bracts of involucre

narrow and green Hieracium

Heads usually nodding; leaves divided or
lobed; bracts of involucre broad and
colored Prenanthes

Agoseris false dandelion

Perennial herbs from a taproot, with leaves all basal and usually long and
narrow. Large yellow flower heads, about 2 cm across, borne singly on a long
stalk or scape. Pappus composed of white hairs.

1. Achene beaked, with the beak 2-4 times

as long as the body; outer bracts much

broader than the inner ones A. grandiflora

Achenes with the beak less than twice as

long as the body 2

2. Ligules yellow; beak half as long as the

body or less A. glauca

Ligules orange; beak longer than the

body A. aurantiaca

Agoseris aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene orange false dandelion

A species with narrowly linear leaves 5-35 cm long, 1-30 mm wide, and
entire or with a few teeth or a short lobe. Involucral bracts narrow, often pur-
plish-dotted; ligules deep orange, usually drying to purple or pinkish. Achenes
5-9 mm long; beak thin, from shorter to longer than the body. Alpine mead-
ows and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

690

Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Raf. false dandelion

A hairless species with linear-oblanceolate sometimes toothed leaves up
to 25 cm long. Flowers 2-5 cm across, light yellow when young but turning
pinkish at maturity, on a stem 15-45 cm high. Common; on moist prairie;
throughout most of the Prairie Provinces, but occasionally replaced by var.
dasycephala (T. & G.) Jepson, with leaves oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate,
10-30 cm long, usually entire-margined, and pubescent. Involucre of large
flower head 2-3 cm across; bracts hairy, at least along the margins. Common;
on hillsides and prairies; Cypress Hills, Rocky Mountains, Peace River.

Agoseris grandiflora (Nutt.) Greene large-flowered false dandelion

Stems 25-60 cm high, from a branched caudex. Leaves linear to spatulate,
entire to irregularly lobed, glabrous to canescent, usually pubescent along the
midribs. Scapes tomentose below; flower heads 3-6 cm across; involucral
bracts in 4 or 5 series; outer bracts conspicuously ciliate; ligules yellow,
shorter than the bracts. Beak of achene filiform. Moist meadows; western
Parklands, Peace River.

Cichorium chicory

Upper stem leaves large, triangular or

rounded, entire C. endivia

Upper stem leaves small, lanceolate, dentate C. intybus

Cichorium endivia L. endive

Annual or biennial plants, with stems 15-60 cm high. Leaves mostly
basal, 10-20 cm long, deeply toothed to pinnatifid; upper stem leaves 3-5 cm
long, clasping. Flowers 3-5 cm across, bright blue, in clusters of 3 or 4 along
upper part of stem. Introduced, cultivated for salad; occasionally escaped.

Cichorium intybus L. chicory

A perennial plant from a long thick deep root, with branching hairy stems
60-100 cm high. Leaves mostly near base of stem, somewhat spatulate, but
deeply toothed or pinnatifid with backward-pointing lobes, 7-15 cm long;
upper stem leaves small, lanceolate, entire or lobed, stalkless. Flowers bright
blue, almost 5 cm across, in clusters of 3 or 4 without stalks, at intervals along
upper leafless part of stems. Seed without hairy pappus, but having a series of
short blunt scales. An introduced weedy plant; has become fairly common in
some localities in Parklands and at scattered locations in Prairies.

Crepis hawk's-beard

1. Annuals; stem with many stalkless leaves 2

Perennials; few and smaller stem leaves 3

2. Basal rosettes persistent; stems several to

many C. capillaris

Basal rosettes absent when flowering;

stems solitary C. tectorum

3. Plants dwarfed, with stems 5-10 cm high C. nana

Plants with well-developed stems 4

691

4. Stems and foliage glabrous and glaucous,

with stems much-branched C. elegans

Stems or foliage or both pubescent 5

5. Plants glabrous except for the rosette

leaves C. runcinata

Plants lightly to densely pubescent

throughout C. occidentalis

Crepis capillaris (L.) Wallr. green hawks-beard

An annual or biennial plant with several stems from a taproot. Stems
2-60 cm high, slender, somewhat pubescent at the base. Basal leaves 3-20 cm
long, lanceolate, runcinate-pinnatifid, glabrous or somewhat pubescent with
yellow hairs. Inflorescence corymbiform, with several to many heads 10-15
mm across, light yellow. Achenes at first gray, later black. Introduced; a rare
weed of open areas; southern Rocky Mountains.

Crepis elegans Hook. young I a

Many-stemmed plants from a deep taproot; stems 10-25 cm high. Basal
leaves petiolate, 1-3 cm long, lanceolate to spatulate, entire to crenate; stem
leaves numerous, linear-lanceolate to linear. Flower heads numerous, 6-8 mm
high, about 1 cm across. Gravel flats along creeks and rivers; Rocky Moun-
tains.

Crepis nana Rich. dwarf hawks-beard

Stems 5-10 cm high, leafless, as long as or shorter than the leaves. Basal
leaves to 7 cm long, long-petioled, ovate to suborbicular, glaucous, often pur-
plish, clustered on the long thick taproot. Heads 10-13 mm high; ligules short,
yellow tinged with purple. Rare; loose gravel and slides; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Crepis occidentalis Nutt. small-flowered hawks-beard

A gray hairy or scurfy plant 20-60 cm high. Basal leaves deeply lobed or
divided, 10-15 cm long; stem leaves smaller and less divided. Several yellow
heads, 12-20 mm across, borne near top of flowering stem. Uncommon; may
be found on hillsides; Prairies and southern Rocky Mountains. Syn.: C
intermedia A. Gray.

Crepis runcinata (James) T. & G. scapose hawks-beard

A species with a stem 20-80 cm high. Basal leaves oblanceolate to spatu-
late, 5-15 cm long, usually entire, but occasionally somewhat toothed. Flower
heads 20-25 mm across, on stalks near top of flowering stem. Found in mead-
ows, wooded areas, and low places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

The var. glauca (Nutt.) Boiv. (Fig. 202), smooth hawk's-beard, with invo-
lucral bracts neither hairy nor glandular. Found in low often alkaline areas;
Prairies. The var. hispidulosa Howell, larger than the typical form, with leaves
usually glandular along the midrib. Grasslands; southern Rocky Mountains
and Cypress Hills.

692

Fig. 202. Smooth hawk's-beard, Crepis runcinata (James) T. & G. var. glauca
(Nutt.) Boiv.

693

Crepis tectorum L. narrow-leaved hawks-beard

An introduced annual with a slender, branched, leafy stem 10-50 cm
high. Stem leaves linear and stalkless; basal leaves 10-15 cm long, usually with
backward-pointing teeth. Many small yellow flowers, 10-15 mm across. Plenti-
ful as a weed; on light soils and roadsides; in Boreal forest and Parklands, and
spreading farther southward.

Hieraeium hawkweed

Perennial herbs with alternate or basal leaves. Bracts of involucre in series
of 1-3 with a few smaller bracts at their base. Pappus composed of brownish
or tawny hairs.

1. Flowers white or cream H. albiflorum

Flowers yellow or orange 2

2. Rootstock long, slender, with offshoots;

flowers orange H. aurantiacum

Rootstock short, stout, without offshoots;

flowers yellow 3

3. Bracts of involucre imbricate (overlap-

ping like shingles) H. umbellatum

Bracts of involucre almost in a single row 4

4. Involucres and flower stalks with dense

long yellow hairs H. cynoglossoides

Involucres blackish or glandular, with

very few yellow hairs H. triste var. graci/e

Hieraeium albiflorum Hook. white hawkweed

A species growing to 30-60 cm high. Basal leaves stalked, hairy, spatulate,
5-12 cm long; stem leaves smaller and without stalks. Flowers white or pale
cream, about 12 mm across, in an open-branched cluster at the head of^ the
stem. Found fairly often; in woodlands; southern Rocky Mountains and
Cypress Hills.

Hieraeium aurantiacum L. orange hawkweed

A perennial with slender running roots. Basal leaves hairy, spatulate, 5-15
cm long. Stem glandular hairy, 15-50 cm high, and bearing a cluster of orange
red flowers 20-25 mm across and sometimes 1 or 2 small leaves. Rare; has
been found in scattered locations in the Prairie Provinces. A common weed in
Eastern Canada.

Hieraeium cynoglossoides Arv.-Touv. woolly hawkweed

A species 30-50 cm high, with long white or yellowish hairs. Leaves 5-15
cm long; lower leaves having winged stalks; upper ones oblong to lanceolate,
stalkless, hairy. Not common; found occasionally on hillsides and in wood-
lands; southern Rocky Mountains. Syn.; H. albertinum Farr.

694

Hieracium triste Willd. var. gracile (Hook.) Gray alpine hawkweed

A plant very similar to H. cynoglossoides, but smaller, to 30 cm high, with
the foliage glabrous or nearly so, and with the involucre densely black pubes-
cent. Mountain meadows; Rocky Mountains.

Hieracium umbellatum L. Canada hawkweed

An erect plant 30-100 cm high, with a leafy stem. Leaves ovate to lanceo-
late, 3-8 cm long. Numerous yellow heads 20-25 mm across. Fairly common;
in dry woodlands; Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains. Syn.: H. canadense
Michx.

Hypochoeris cat's-ear

Hypochoehs radicata L. cats-ear

A perennial with stems 20-50 cm high and with a basal rosette of lobed,
somewhat hairy leaves. Leaves 5-15 cm long, oblanceolate, with backward-
pointing lobes or teeth; the few stem leaves scale-like. Flowers yellow, stalked,
3 or 4 at summit of stems; flower heads 20-25 mm across. Achene (seed) with
a long beak and a pappus of plumose white hairs. Introduced; a rare weed;
Prairie Provinces.

Krigia dwarf dandelion

Krigia biflora (Walt.) Blake dwarf dandelion

Perennial plants with fibrous roots; stems 20-80 cm high. Leaves mostly
basal, 3-25 cm long, oblanceolate to broadly elliptic, entire or toothed or occa-
sionally lobed; stem leaves few, sessile, clasping, usually small. Heads several;
involucre 7-14 mm high; ligules orange yellow, about 15 mm long. Rare;
woods, openings, and fields; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Lactuca lettuce

Tall leafy plants, annual, biennial, or perennial, with yellow, blue, or
white flowers and alternate leaves. Involucres in 1 or 2 rows of almost equal
inner main bracts, and with smaller bracts at base. Seeds with white or brown
pappus hairs.

1. Pappus brown; achenes without a beak L. biennis

Pappus white; achenes with a distinct

beak 2

2. Flowers blue; achenes with a short beak;

plant smooth, with a bluish bloom, or

blue L. pulchella

Flowers yellow or blue; achenes with a

long slender beak; annual or biennial 3

3. Heads with 6-12 florets L. serriola

Heads with 12-20 florets 4

4. Leaves with hairs or bristles on underside

of midrib L. ludovicianci

Leaves smooth, without hairs or bristles 5

695

5. Pappus on a long beak; flowers yellow;

inflorescence crowded L. canadensis

Pappus sessile; flowers blue; inflorescence

open L. floridana

Lactuca biennis (Moench) Fern. TALL blue LETTUCE

An annual or biennial plant 1-2.5 m high, with a leafy stem. Leaves large,
10-25 cm long, deeply lobed or pinnatifid, with sharp-toothed margins. Flow-
ers very numerous, about 5 mm across, blue or creamy white, in a large dense
panicle. Found occasionally; in swampy or moist places; throughout Boreal
forest. Syn.: L. spicata (Lam.) Hitchc.

Lactuca canadensis L. TALL YELLOW LETTUCE

An annual or biennial plant, smooth, hairless, 1-3 m high, very leafy.
Leaves with wavy or lobed margins, lanceolate, 5-20 cm long. Numerous
flowers pale yellow, about 6 mm across, in an open, long, terminal panicle.
Rare; has been reported from eastern Boreal forest. Native to Eastern Canada.

Lactuca floridana (L.) Gaertn. annual blue lettuce

An annual or biennial plant with stems 50-150 cm high. Leaves mostly
petiolate, often pubescent on the underside of the main veins, toothed and
often also pinnatifid, 8-30 cm long. Heads numerous in a large panicle; invo-
lucre 10—15 mm high; ligules bluish. Margins of woods; southeastern Boreal
forest.

Lactuca ludoviciana (Nutt.) Riddell western lettuce

A biennial species, hairless, 50-150 cm high, with a leafy stem. Leaves
ovate-oblong, 5—10 cm long, wavy-lobed; lobes often spiny-tipped. Flowers
numerous, yellow or pale lilac, 5-10 mm across, in an open panicle. Not com-
mon; found occasionally along riverbanks; southeastern Parklands.

Lactuca pulchella (Pursh) DC. blue lettuce

A pale bluish green, smooth, glaucous perennial 30-100 cm high, with
white running rootstocks. Leaves usually linear-lanceolate, often with back-
ward-pointing lobes. Flowers bright blue, nearly 25 mm across, in a few-
flowered panicle. Seed with a short thick beak and a pappus of white hairs.
Common; a weed in cultivated lands and along roadsides; throughout the
Prairie Provinces.

Lactuca serriola L. lobed prickly lettuce

An annual, winter annual, or biennial plant, erect, 30-150 cm high.
Leaves 5-20 cm long, deeply lobed; upper leaves clasping stem and often
eared at base; underside of midrib bearing a row of short stiff prickles. Flow-
ers 6-8 mm across, yellow, with 6-12 florets; many florets on a large open
panicle. Seeds long-beaked, bearing a pappus of white hairs. Introduced, but
very common; a weed along roadsides, slough margins, waste places, and on
cultivated land; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

696

The var. integrata Gren. & Godr., dentate prickly lettuce, is similar to the
species in every way except the leaves are neither lobed nor pinnatifid, except
for those at the base. As plentiful in most locations as the type; both often
found growing together. Syn.: L. virosa L.

Lapsana nipplewort

Lapsana communis L. common nipplewort

An annual plant with hirsute to subglabrous stems 15-150 cm high.
Leaves 3-10 cm long, thin, ovate to subrotund, toothed or occasionally lyrate.
Inflorescence corymbiform or paniculate, with several to many heads; involu-
cre 5-8 mm high; ligules yellow. Very rare; a weed of shaded places; south-
eastern Boreal forest.

Lygodesmia skeletonweed

Stiff-stemmed branching plants with leaves very narrow or reduced
almost to scales. Flower heads pink to rose, with 3-10 florets. Pappus with
white or very light brown hairs.

Perennials from deep tough rootstocks; leaves
small or scale-like L.juncea

Annuals from a tough taproot; leaves long and
very narrow; flowers racemose among
branches L. rostrata

Lygodesmia juncea (Pursh) D. Don (Fig. 203) skeletonweed

A much-branched skeleton-like perennial herb 10^0 cm high, from deep,
tough, sticky rootstocks. Lower leaves linear-lanceolate, sometimes 36 mm
long; upper ones smaller or reduced to scales. Flower heads with 3-5 florets,
pink, 12-15 mm across, borne singly at ends of branches. Seeds short, without
a beak, and bearing a pale brownish pappus. Common; on light sandy soil and
in sandhills; throughout the southern and central portions of the Prairie Prov-
inces.

Lygodesmia rostrata A. Gray annual skeletonweed

A branching thin-stemmed annual 10-60 cm high, from a tough thin root.
Leaves linear, 3-nerved, sharp-tipped, 7-16 cm long; upper leaves much
smaller than lower ones. Flowers numerous, with 6-10 florets, pink, about 12
mm across, borne in racemes toward ends of branches. Seeds almost 12 mm
long, with a tapering beak and a pappus of white hairs. Somewhat rare; has
been found in sandhills and similar locations; in southwestern part of the Prai-
rie Provinces.

Microseris scorzonella

A plant very similar to Agoseris, but with the achenes beakless and the
pappus subsessile.

Leaves all basal; scape with a solitary flower M. cuspidata

Leaves not all basal, usually at least one stem
leaf. M. nutans

697

Fig. 203. Skeletonweed, Lygodesmia juncea (Pursh) D. Don.

698

Microsehs cuspidata (Pursh) Schultz-Bip. prairie false dandelion

Leaves linear, 10-20 cm long, somewhat hairy, very narrow, tapering to a
long narrow point; margins somewhat crinkled. Flowering stem usually no
longer than leaves, and bearing a single head with involucres about 20 mm
high. Rare, has been found occasionally; eastern Parklands. Syn.; Agoseris
cuspidata (Pursh) Raf.

Microseris nutans (Hook.) Schultz-Bip. nodding scorzonella

A perennial with fleshy taproot; stems few, erect or curved at base, 10-50
cm high, usually branched and leafy above. Leaves 10-30 cm long, linear or
linear-lanceolate, entire to toothed or pinnatifid. Inflorescence with 1 to sev-
eral heads, nodding before flowering; involucres 8-22 mm high; bracts glab-
rous to scurvy puberulent; ligules yellow, 3-8 mm long. Mountain slopes;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Picris bitterweed

Picris echioides L. bristly oxtongue

Coarse spiny-hispid annual plants, with stems 30-80 cm high. Leaves
10-20 cm long and 7 cm wide, toothed or entire; lower leaves oblanceolate,
petioled; upper ones oblong to lanceolate, sessile, often clasping. Involucre
1-2 cm high; bracts in two series; inner bracts narrow, with spiny tip; ligules
about 1 cm long, yellow. Introduced; a rare weed of waste places; southern
fringe of Boreal forest, Peace River.

Prenanthes rattlesnakeroot

Perennial plants with alternate, usually stalked leaves. Heads clustered,
usually nodding or pendent. Bracts of involucre usually colored, not green.
Pappus hairs brownish or tawny.

1. Bracts of involucre hairy; basal leaves

tapering to winged stalks P. racemosa

Bracts of involucre not hairy; basal leaves
cordate- or hastate-based, abruptly
joining stalk 2

2. Flower heads nodding; leaves lobed or

cleft P. alba

Flower heads erect; leaves dentate P. sagittata

Prenanthes alba L. white lettuce

A smooth hairless plant with an erect stem 50-150 cm high, sometimes
purplish. Stalkless lower leaves hastate, cordate, or triangular, sometimes
lobed, 2-15 cm long; upper leaves lanceolate and without stalks. Heads in a
long terminal panicle, drooping, greenish or yellowish white with purplish
bracts, slightly scented. Pappus cinnamon brown, very conspicuous. Found
often; in open woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Nabalus
albus (L.) Hook.

699

Prenanthes racemosa Michx. GLAUCOUS white lettuce

A very erect stout perennial 50-150 cm high; stem usually covered with a
white bloom. Lower leaves oblanceolate to spatulate, 10-20 cm long, tapering
to a winged stalk; upper leaves smaller and somewhat clasping. Heads in a
long spike of crowded clusters, purplish, about 12 mm long and 6 mm broad,
usually not as pendent as in P. alba. Pappus straw-colored. Fairly abundant;
in wooded areas; across the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Nabalus racemosus
(Michx.) DC.

Prenanthes sagittata (Gray) Nels. purple rattlesnakeroot

An erect glabrous perennial with stems 30-70 cm high. Lower leaves
petioled, sagittate or hastate, dentate, glabrous, with blades 10-15 cm long;
upper leaves sessile, lanceolate. Heads in a narrow panicle, at first erect, later
spreading; involucres about 12 mm high; ligules purplish-tinged. Mountain
woods; northwestern Boreal forest, Rocky Mountains.

Sonchus sow-thistle

1. Flowering heads 3-5 cm across; perenni-

als from creeping rootstocks 5". arvensis

Flowering heads not over 2.5 cm across;

annuals growing from deep taproots 2

2. Ears at base of clasping leaves rounded S. asper

Ears at base of clasping leaves acutely

pointed S. oleraceus

Sonchus arvensis L. (Fig. 204) perennial sow-thistle

A weedy plant 50-150 cm high, with vigorous creeping rootstocks. Stems
usually hollow and slightly branched. Lower leaves runcinate-pinnatifid or
with backward-pointing lobes, 10-25 cm long, and narrowed to a short stalk;
upper leaves less lobed and without stalks; teeth of leaves spiny-pointed.
Flowers numerous, showy, bright yellow, on bristly stalks in a corymbose
panicle; involucres glandular hairy. Very common; in moister districts and wet
places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

The var. glabrescens Guenth., Grab. & Wimm., smooth perennial sow-
thistle, differing from the species in having a smooth, hairless, not glandular
involucre. Common; in many locations; throughout the Prairie Provinces.
Syn.; S. uliginosus Bieb.

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill prickly sow-thistle

An annual weedy plant 50-150 cm high. Leaves clasping stem at base,
slightly lobed or divided; leaf lobes usually having spine-tipped teeth; basal
lobes rounded. Flowers 12-25 mm across, pale yellow. Fairly common; a weed
of gardens and roadsides; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Sonchus oleraceus L. annual sow-thistle

An annual plant 50-200 cm high, slightly branched. Leaves deeply lobed,
with rather soft prickles; lower leaves stalked; upper ones clasping the stem.

700

A.C. Budd

Fig. 204. Perennial sow-thistle, Sonchus arvensis L.

701

Heads pale yellow, 12-25 mm across. Fairly common; in gardens and waste
places. Leaves undivided in f. integrifolius (Wallr.) G. Beck.

Stephanomeria skeletonweed

Stephanomeria runcinata Nutt. RUSH-PINK

Plants similar to Lygodesmia, with creeping rootstocks. Leaves toothed or
pinnatifid, well-developed. Heads terminal; ligules 10-15 mm long, pink. Pap-
pus plumose. Rare; badlands, loose shale beds; Prairies.

Taraxacum dandelion

1. Involucral bracts all appressed or

ascending T. ceratophorum

Involucral bracts reflexed 2

2. Leaves deeply divided, almost to midrib,

into narrow segments, with terminal

lobe small; seeds reddish T. laevigatum

Leaves shallowly divided, with terminal
lobe large; seeds greenish or brownish
yellow T. officinale

Taraxacum ceratophorum (Ledeb.) DC. dandelion

Plants similar to T. officinale, but usually less robust; leaves less lobed,
commonly glabrous or nearly so. Flower heads 15-20 mm across; involucre
about 15 mm high; outer bracts appressed to spreading, often with horned tip.
Open ground; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Taraxacum laevigatum (Willd.) DC. red-seeded dandelion

A stemless perennial plant, with all leaf and flower stalks arising from a
fleshy root crown, and growing from a deep taproot. Leaves 10-20 cm long,
deeply divided into narrow segments. Flowers 25-35 mm across, with many
florets, bright yellow, borne singly on stems or scapes 10-30 cm high. Seeds
bright red, with a white hairy pappus on a long thin beak. Fairly common; in
waste places and roadsides; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Introduced from
Europe. Syn.; T. erythrospermum Andrz.

Taraxacum officinale Weber dandelion

An introduced stemless perennial with deep fleshy taproots. Leaves
coarsely incised, with triangular lobes and a large terminal lobe; leaf stalks
and flowering stems arising from a root crown. Flower heads yellow, 35-50
mm across, with very many florets. Seed greenish buff, with a long beak and a
pappus of white hairs. Often the earliest plant blooming in spring. Very com-
mon; on lawns, along roadsides, and in waste places; throughout the Prairie
Provinces.

Tragopogon goafs-beard

A fairly tall biennial or perennial plant, with deep fleshy taproots and
grass-like leaves. Flowering heads large. Seeds and plumose seed heads very

702

large; seeds narrow and long, with 5-10 ribs, ending in a long beak terminat-
ing in a pappus of plumose hairs.

1. Flowers purple; involucral bracts much

longer than the florets T. porhfolius

Flowers yellow; involucral bracts varying

in length 2

2. Involucral bracts longer than florets; stem

usually thickened below flower head T. dubius

Involucral bracts not longer than florets;
stem slightly thickened below flower
head T. pratensis

Tragopogon dubius Scop. yellow goats- beard

A coarse biennial plant from a deep fleshy taproot 30-60 cm high. Leaves
narrow, erect, grass-like, 10-30 cm long, stalkless, clasping at base. Flowers
sulfur yellow, 3-5 cm across; involucral bracts 10-14, longer than yellow
florets; heads borne singly on summit of an erect scape or stem that is decid-
edly thickened just below head. Seed heads plumose, very conspicuous, usu-
ally 7-10 cm in diam; seeds long, tapering to a long beak, having ribs of min-
ute tubercles and a pappus of plumose white hairs; body of seed about 12 mm
long, with beak slightly longer. An introduced plant, apparently coming from
southwestern United States through Colorado. Common; along roadsides and
in waste places; almost throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Tragopogon porrifolius L. SALSIFY

A perennial or biennial with an edible fleshy taproot 30-80 cm high.
Leaves grass-like. Flower heads 5-10 cm across; florets purple; bracts much
exceeding the florets. A garden plant sometimes found as a weed; in southeast-
ern Parklands and southern Rocky Mountains.

Tragopogon pratensis L. goats-beard

A biennial very similar to T. dubius, but somewhat smaller. Florets
chrome yellow; bracts of involucre usually 8 or 9, not longer than florets. Seed
somewhat shorter than that of T. dubius, but similar in appearance. Not as
aggressive and rapid-spreading as T. dubius, which came into the Prairies from
the west. A fairly common weed; in eastern Parklands.

GROUPS

This very large group consists of plants in which some or all florets are
tubular. The tubular (central) florets are usually perfect or bisexual, whereas
the marginal or ligulate (strap-shaped) florets are either female or neutral.
Plants are without milky sap. The primary leaves (those following the cotyle-
dons or seed leaves) are usually in pairs.

1. Flower heads with all florets tubular (dis-
coid heads) 2

Flower heads with florets both tubular

and ray (radiate heads) 33

703

2. Bracts of involucre dry, parchmcnty or

membranous, not green 3

Bracts of involucre not dry or parch-

menty, usually green 7

3. Some florets bisexual, with both male and

female florets on same plant 4

No fertile bisexual florets, with male and

female florets on separate plants 6

4. Leaves alternate; flowers all perfect Gnaphalium

Leaves opposite 5

5. Pappus consisting of terminal awns; inner

bracts about twice as long as outer

ones Thelesperma

Pappus absent; heads subtended by foli-
age leaves Psilocarphus

6. Tall plants; stems leafy. Anaphalis

Low plants; leaves mostly basal, with

stem leaves reduced Antennaria

1 . Pappus none or inconspicuous 8

Pappus present, distinct 11

8. Leaves large, deltoid-ovate Adenocaulon

Leaves elliptic, lobed or

divided 9

9. Inflorescence glandular sticky; leaves

linear-elliptic Madia

Inflorescence not glandular; leaves lobed

or divided 10

10. Heads small, numerous, in open or spike-

like panicles Artemisia

Heads larger, 4-7 mm across 11

11. Leaves 2-3 times pinnatifid, or

pinnately divided into toothed
segments, inflorescence has no

ray florets Tanacetum

Leaves entire or toothed, not
pinnately divided. Inflorescence
usually with white ray florets Chrysanthemum

12. Involucral bracts spiny-tipped or with

hooked bristles 13

Involucral bracts not spiny-tipped and

without hooked bristles 16

13. Involucral bracts with hooked bristles;

leaves large, cordate, and not prickly. Arctium

Some bracts spiny-tipped 14

14. Pappus hairs not longer than achene Centaurea

Pappus hairs much longer than achene 15

704

15 . Pappus hairs plumose or feathery. Cirsium

Pappus hairs roughened but not plumose Carduus

16. Florets purplish white, purple, or rose 17

Florets yellow or greenish yellow 25

17. Pappus consisting of scales; flower heads

globose Echinops

Pappus consisting of bristles or hairs 18

18. Pappus hairs not longer than achene Centaurea

Pappus hairs much longer than achene 19

19. Flowers in terminal, more or less flat-

topped clusters or solitary. 20

Flowers in elongated racemes or spikes 22

20. Leaves alternate; flowers purple 21

Leaves opposite or whorled; flowers pur-
plish white or purple Eupatorium

2 1 . Pappus plumose, white Saussurea

Pappus barbed, purple Vemonia

22. Florets purple Liatris

Florets whitish 23

23 . Involucre 3-4 mm high Ehgeron

Involucre 8- 15 mm high 24

24. Leaves linear Aster

Leaves deltoid or cordate Brickellia

25 . Low grayish shrubs , with linear leaves Chrysothamnus

Herbs 26

26. Leaves with spiny-tipped teeth : Haplopappus

Leaves without spiny-tipped teeth 27

27 . Most of the leaves opposite ■ 28

Leaves alternate 29

28. Pappus a series of rough bristles Arnica

Pappus of barbed teeth Bidens

29. Flowers appearing before the large felty-

pubescent leaves Petasites

Flowers appearing after the leaves 30

30. Heads not over 5 mm across, in open or

spike-like panicles Artemisia

Heads over 5 mm across, in more or less

flat-topped clusters 31

31. Stems and leaves usually white woolly. Hymenopappus

Stems and leaves green and scarcely

hairy 32

32. Foliage and flowers not scented Senecio

Foliage and flowers scented, especially

when bruised Matricaria

705

33. Ray florets yellow 34

Ray florets not yellow, usually blue, pur-
ple, or white 53

34. Pappus eomposed of hairs 35

Pappus, when present, composed of scales

or bristles 39

35. Involucral bracts usually one series, not

or scarcely imbricated (overlapping

like shingles) 36

Involucral bracts in 2 or more series,

well-imbricated 37

36. Leaves opposite Arnica

Leaves alternate Senecio

37. Heads small and numerous, in terminal or

axillary clusters; leaves simple, not pin-

natifid or divided Solidago

Heads usually solitary at ends of

branches 38

38. Stems leafy almost to inflorescence; pap-

pus double, with the outer series com-
posed of scales or small bristles Chrysopsis

Leaves mostly basal, with stem leaves

reduced; pappus not double Haplopappus

39. Receptacle (disk to which florets are

attached) bare and naked, without

chaffy scales but sometimes bristly 40

Receptacle with chaffy scales between

florets 45

40. Flower heads not more than 6 mm across,

in terminal clusters Gutierrezia

Flower heads more than 6 mm across 41

41. Involucre of flower heads sticky and

gummy Grindelia

Involucre not sticky and gummy 42

42. Heads large, usually more than 35 mm

across; disk florets purple; ray florets

yellow with usually a purplish base Gaillardia

Heads usually less than 35 mm across; all

florets yellow 43

43. Involucral bracts decidedly reflexed or

turned backward when mature; leaves

lanceolate Helenium

Involucral bracts not reflexed; leaves usu-
ally pinnatifid with narrow lobes 44

44. Lower leaves opposite; seeds long, the

length four times the width Bahia

All leaves alternate; length of seeds less

than four times the width Hymenoxys

706

45. Pappus absent, or present merely as a

short crown 46

Pappus composed of scales, bristles, or

barbs 50

46. Ray florets neutral, sterile 47

Ray florets female 48

47. Receptacle flat; flowers not over 25 mm

across; ray florets orange; leaves pin-

nately divided into narrow segments Coreopsis

Receptacle convex; flowers 5 cm or wider
across; ray florets yellow; leaves not
divided into narrow segments Rudbeckia

48. Annual plants with glandular sticky

inflorescence; plants strongly scented;

leaves linear Madia

Perennial plants; leaves broad 49

49. Leaves basal, large, and white woolly

beneath; roots thick, exuding a sticky

balsam Balsamorhiza

Leaves opposite, very rough Heliopsis

50. Achenes (seeds) with barbed awns 51

Achenes without barbed awns 52

51. Aquatic floating plants, with the sub-

mersed leaves very finely divided;

perennial Megalodonta

Plants not aquatic, but often found stand-
ing in water or mud; mostly annual Bidens

52. Plants with entire, undivided leaves;

receptacle flat Helianthus

Plants with pinnately divided leaves;

receptacle cylindrical and tall '. Ratibida

53. Pappus composed of numerous hairs 54

Pappus absent or composed of a few

hairs 59

54. Ray florets not conspicuous 55

Ray florets conspicuous 56

55. Bracts nearly equal; flowers purplish Aster

Bracts unequal; flowers white Erigeron

56. Leaves all basal, appearing after the

flowers Petasites

Leaves appearing before the flowers 57

57. Plants low, stemless, tufted; leaves usually

extending beyond the flowers Townsendia

Plants usually with leafy stems; leaves not

extending beyond flowers 58

707

58. Ray florets 50 or more; bracts in 1 or 2

series Erigeron

Ray florets 10-50; bracts in several series Aster

59. Receptacle with chaffy scales 60

Receptacle naked, without chaffy scales 63

60. Leaves opposite Galinsoga

Leaves alternate 61

61. Flowers large and purple; leaves

undivided Echinacea

Ray florets white; leaves divided 62

62. Heads small, numerous, in dense almost

flat-topped clusters; plant not strongly

scented Achillea

Heads fewer, about 25 mm across; plant

unpleasantly scented Anthemis

63. Pappus composed of bristly scales or with

2-4 slender bristles Boltonia

Pappus absent, or composed of merely a

border 64

64. Leaves entire, not divided; heads solitary

on stem, 25-50 mm across; plants not

scented Chrysanthemum

Leaves much divided into narrow seg-
ments; heads several to a stem, less
than 25 mm across; plants usually
somewhat scented Matricaria

Achillea yarrow

1. Leaves pinnately dissected into linear-lan-

ceolate segments A. millefolium

Leaves subentire to incised, not pinnately

dissected 2

2. Leaves subentire to serrate; ligules 3-5

mm long A. ptarmica

Leaves incised; ligules 1-2 mm long A. sibirica

Achillea millefolium L. yarrow, milfoil

A perennial from rootstocks, with stems 20-100 cm high, and somewhat
aromatic. Leaves pinnately dissected, with the ultimate segments 1-2 mm
wide; blades 3-15 cm long and to 25 mm wide. Heads numerous, in a flat-
topped inflorescence, white to pinkish. Moist meadows, woods, and openings;
Parklands, Boreal forest, and Rocky Mountains. In f. purpurea (Gouan) Schinz
& Thell., ligules purple.

The var. occidentalis DC, woolly yarrow, a perennial from shallow root-
stocks, 10-30 cm high, usually covered with silky hairs. Leaves 3-10 cm long,
finely divided into segments. Flowers in a compact round-topped cluster at
head of stem, white, rarely pink, about 6 mm across; involucral bracts with

708

straw-colored margins. Common; on prairies and along roadsides; throughout
the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: A. lanulosa Nutt.

In var. nigrescens E. May., tips and margins of bracts dark brown to
blackish. This form more common than the others in the northern part of
Boreal forest. Syn.: A. borealis Bong.

Achillea ptarmica L. (Fig. 205) sneezeweed

A perennial with creeping rootstocks; stems 30-60 cm high, villous-
tomentose above, subglabrous below. Leaves glabrous or nearly so, 8-10 cm
long, 2-6 mm wide, closely serrate to subentire. Heads several to numerous in
a corymbiform inflorescence; involucre 4-5 mm high; ligules white, 3-5 mm
long. Introduced; commonly the "double-flowered" form, occasionally
escaped and established; Boreal forest.

Achillea sibirica Ledeb. many-flowered yarrow

A perennial 30-60 cm high. Leaves linear, deeply toothed, 3-7 cm long.
Flowers very similar to those of A. ptarmica, but bracts having dark brown
margins. Found occasionally; in wooded areas and disturbed places; Boreal
forest. Syn.: A. multiflora Hook.

Adenocaulon

Adenocaulon bicolor Hook. trailplant

A slender fibrous-rooted perennial 30-70 cm high. Leaves mostly basal,
long-petioled, 3-15 cm wide, deltoid-ovate to cordate, subglabrous above,
white lanate below. Inflorescence an open panicle; heads discoid; involucral
bracts about 2 mm long, reflexed in fruit. Moist shady woods; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Anaphalis pearly everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) C. B. Clarke pearly everlasting

A woolly-stemmed perennial growing in a cluster from numerous running
rootstocks; stem usually erect, 30-80 cm high, often branched near top. Leaves
stalkless, alternate, linear-lanceolate, white woolly beneath, grayish above,
5-12 cm long. Flowers numerous, in a fairly dense terminal cluster up to 15 cm
across; each flower head discoid, 6-8 mm across, white, with pearly white
papery bracts. Found in open woodlands; in eastern Parklands.

The var. subalpina Gray, with very congested inflorescence, found in
southern Rocky Mountains and in Cypress Hills.

Antennaria everlasting

Perennial herbs, usually mat-forming, with leaves mostly basal and usu-
ally woolly or hairy. Flowers unisexual, sometimes with both sexes on the
same plant, but usually on separate plants; female heads sometimes producing
fertile seed without pollination; involucral bracts papery. Achenes bearing a
white, hairy pappus.

709

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COLL: J. Loa

<S MANITOBA

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Fig. 205 . Sneezeweed, ^ c/z/7/efl ptarmica L.

710

1. Plants with well-developed stem leaves;

basal leaves, if present, upright around
the stem; leaves mostly linear-
lanceolate 2

Plants with greatly reduced stem leaves;
basal leaves in well-developed
appressed rosettes; leaves usually
small, ovate to spatulate 6

2. Plants low, densely cespitose; flowering

stems 2-5 cm high; heads solitary A. dimorpha

Plants not low and densely cespitose;
flowering stems to 50 cm high; heads
several on a stem 3

3. Involucres 4-5 mm high; bracts scarious

throughout, glabrous A. luzuloides

Involucres 6-10 mm high; bracts scarious

only at the tip, woolly at the base 4

4. Bracts of involucre conspicuously dark

green or brown below; plants usually

10-20 cm high A. lanata

Bracts of involucre with or without a

brown spot; plants 20-50 cm high 5

5. Involucral bracts in 6 or 7 series; base

with a large dark spot; tip brownish or

yellowish A. pulchenima

Involucral bracts in 3 or 4 series; base
with or without a small dark spot; tip
white A. anaphaloides

6. Heads on long peduncles; inflorescence

open, spread out along the stem A. racemosa

Heads on short peduncles or subsessile;
inflorescence more or less crowded at
the top of the stem 7

7. Rosette leaves densely pubescent on both

sides 8

Rosette leaves glabrous to subglabrous

above, densely pubescent below 19

8. Terminal part of involucral bracts green-

ish or light to dark brown 9

Terminal part of involucral bracts color-
less, white, or pink 15

9. Terminal part of involucral bracts pale to

dark brown 10

Terminal part of involucral bracts

greenish 12

10. Involucre 4-5 mm high; tips of bracts

pale brown A. umbrinella

Involucre 6-7 mm high; tips of bracts

pale or dark brown 1 1

71 1

11. Rosette leaves 5-10 mm wide; tips of

bracts golden brown A. russellii

Rosette leaves 1-5 mm wide; tips of

bracts dark brown A. alpina

12. Involucre 8-10 mm high; leaves narrowly

oblanceolate 13

Involucre 4-7 mm high; leaves

oblanceolate 14

13. Leaves green, glabrous or nearly so

above A. glabrata

Leaves grayish tomentose above, espe-
cially those of rosettes A. angustata

14. Flower heads typically solitary; bracts

squarrose A. monocephala

Flower heads typically 3-5 on a stem:

bracts appressed A. alpina

15. Terminal part of involucral bracts roseate

to deep pink, even at maturity A. rosea

Terminal part of involucral bracts whitish

or light pink when young 16

16. Involucral bracts with a large dark spot at

the base A. corymbosa

Involucral bracts green or whitish at the

base 17

17. Rosette leaves to 50 mm long, 20 mm

wide A. neodioica

Rosette leaves to 25 mm long, usually less

than 10 mm wide 18

18. Involucre 5-7 mm high; stems with 8-12

leaves A. parvifolia

Involucre 8-13 mm high; stems with 5-7

leaves A. aprica

19. Rosette leaves clearly 3- to 5-veined, often

to 50 mm long by 30-40 mm wide 20

Rosette leaves with only the midrib
clearly visible, and usually smaller than
50 mm long by 40 mm wide 21

20. Rosette leaves glabrous; involucre 5-9

mm high A. plant agini folia

Rosette leaves at first somewhat pubes-
cent above; involucre 7-10 mm high A. howellii

21. Rosette leaves glabrous or glabrate, 20-40

mm long; involucre 7-10 mm high A. parlinii

Rosette leaves usually thinly pubescent
above to glabrate, 10-50 mm long;
involucre 6-9 mm high A. neodioica

712

Antennaria alpina (L.) Gaertn. alpine everlasting

A mat-forming perennial with more or less leafy stolons; stems 3-15 cm
high. Basal leaves 5-20 mm long, 1-5 mm wide, oblanceolate, loosely pubes-
cent on both sides. Heads 3-5 in a small cyme; involucres mostly 4-7 mm
high; bracts pointed with terminal part dark brown or blackish green. Rare;
alpine meadows, openings, and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

The common form is var. canescens Lange, with leaves persistently pubes-
cent on both sides.

Antennaria anaphaloides Rydb. tall everlasting

A tall species, not mat-forming, 20-50 cm high, with oblanceolate basal
leaves 5-10 cm long and long narrow stem leaves. Many-flowering heads in an
open corymb; bracts with white tips, and with or without very small dark
spots. Found often; in southern Rocky Mountains and locally in Cypress
Hills.

Antennaria angustata Greene PUSSY-TOES

A mat-forming perennial without stolons. Rosette leaves linear-oblanceo-
late, tomentose, often glabrescent above. Heads usually solitary; involucres
8-10 mm high; tips of bracts greenish black. Alpine slopes; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Antennaria aprica Greene low everlasting

A low mat-forming perennial usually less than 15 cm high. Spatulate- or
wedge-shaped rosette leaves 1-2 cm long, densely whitish woolly on both
sides; stem leaves 5-7, linear, about 1 cm long. White flower heads occasion-
ally with a faint pinkish tinge, in compact, short-stalked clusters on a stem
5-15 cm high. Common; on dry prairies; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Antennaria corymbosa E. Nels. corymbose everlasting

A medium-tall species with stems 20-30 cm high. Rosette leaves oblan-
ceolate, 1-3 cm long, grayish, finely woolly; stem leaves linear and sharp-tip-
ped. Flower heads stalked, in a terminal corymb; bracts having white upper
portions. Found in mountain meadows; in southern Rocky Mountains and in
open woodlands in Cypress Hills.

Antennaria dimorpha Nutt. cushion everlasting

A densely cespitose grayish tomentose perennial with a many-branched
caudex forming small mats or cushions. Stems 1^4 cm high, leafy, terminated
by a solitary flower head; involucre 10-15 mm high. Rare, but probably often
overlooked; more or less open grassland; Prairies and southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Antennaria glabrata (Vahl) Greene pussy-toes

Possibly only a much less pubescent, often almost glabrous, form or vari-
ety of A. angustata. Rare; moist slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

713

Antennaria howellii Greene (Fig. 206) HOWELL'S everlasting

A tall species 20-35 cm high. Basal leaves ovate, wedge-shaped, 2-5 cm
long, closely silky-woolly beneath, but bright green above; stem leaves small
and narrow. Heads in a corymb. Three varieties are distinguished in this spe-
cies:

1. Rosette leaves 1-2 cm wide var. howellii

Rosette leaves 5-10 mm wide 2

2. Stems to 20 cm high when in flower, elon-

gating to 35 cm at maturity var. athabascensis (Greene) Boiv.

Stems 15-20 cm high at maturity var. campestris (Rydb.) Boiv.

The var. howellii is commonly found in pine woods and open coniferous
forests in Boreal forest, Riding Mountain, and Cypress Hills; var.
athabascensis, in Parklands and dry open areas in Boreal forest; var.
campestris, in moist grasslands in Prairies and on slopes in Parkland.

Antennaria lanata (Hook.) Greene woolly everlasting

A perennial with a rather thick caudex or rootstock. Stems densely gray-
ish tomentose, stout, erect, leafy, 10-20 cm high. Basal leaves in tufts, linear-
oblanceolate to oblanceolate, 2-6 cm long, 3-15 mm wide, obscurely to dis-
tinctly 3-nerved. Heads 6-12 in a dense cyme; involucre densely tomentose,
5-8 mm high; outer bracts with a dark brown tip. Alpine meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Antennaria luzuloides T. & G. silvery everlasting

A perennial with a somewhat woody caudex and erect or ascending leafy
stems 10-50 cm high. Basal leaves erect in tufts, 3-10 cm long, 1-5 mm wide,
thinly tomentose. Heads often numerous, in a dense cyme or cymose panicle;
involucres 4-5 mm high, glabrous or nearly so; bracts pale green or brownish
with white or somewhat pinkish tips. Alpine meadows and slopes; southern
Rocky Mountains.

Antennaria monocephala DC.

Plants with dense basal rosettes and stems 5-10 cm high. Rosette leaves
8-15 mm long, silky tomentose below; stem leaves linear, 5-10 mm long.
Heads usually solitary; involucre about 5 mm high; bracts with greenish
brown tips, squarrose. Alpine meadows and slopes; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Antennaria neodioica Greene common pussy-toes

A fairly tall species with rosette leaves indistinctly 3-ribbed, oblanceolate
to obovate, woolly, 2-3 cm long, yellowish green, more or less tomentose
above. Flower heads with rather long stalks, on a leafy stem 15-25 cm high,
strongly stoloniferous. Syn.: A. obovata E. Nels. Plants with the leaves glabrous
above distinguished as var. randii (Fern.) Boiv. Syn.: A. canadensis Greene.
Both forms found in dry open woods, shrubbery, and moist grassland;
throughout Parklands and southern fringes of Boreal forest.

714

si?**1* \

Fig. 206. Howell's everlasting, Antennaria howellii Greene.

715

Antennaria parlinii Fern. EASTERN everlasting

A mat-forming stoloniferous plant with stems 20-40 cm high. Rosette
leaves 2-6 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, bright green and glabrous above, obovate-
spatulate. Heads 4-8 in a corymb; involucres 7-10 mm high. Open woods;
southeastern Boreal forest.

Antennaria parvifolia Nutt. small-leaved everlasting

A mat-forming perennial 15-25 cm high. Rosette leaves very small, barely
exceeding 15 mm long, white, densely woolly on both sides, somewhat angular
but roughly spatulate. Stem leaves 7-12, about 10 mm long, linear. Flower
heads nodding or pendent when young. Very plentiful; on dry prairie and in
saline meadows; throughout Prairies.

Antennaria plantaginifolia (L.) Hook. plantain-leaved everlasting

A tall species; basal leaves oval to spatulate, 3-7 cm long, woolly above
and below. Flower heads on an erect leafy stem 20-50 cm high. Found occa-
sionally; southeastern Boreal forest.

Antennaria puleherrima (Hook.) Greene showy everlasting

Perennials, not mat-forming plants, 30-50 cm high. Basal leaves oblan-
ceolate, 5-10 cm long, 3-ribbed, woolly; stem leaves narrow and smaller.
Heads in a cluster at the top of the stem; bracts usually brownish with gray
white tips. Found occasionally; in moist soils; Boreal forest and Rocky Moun-
tains.

Antennaria racemosa Hook. racemose everlasting

Plants with elongate stolons and tufts of basal leaves; stems 10-60 cm
high, erect, leafy. Basal and stolon leaves elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 2-8 cm
long, 1-5 cm wide, 1- to 3-nerved, glabrous or nearly so above, more or less
tomentose below. Heads in open racemes; lower ones on peduncles 2-5 cm
long; involucres 6-8 mm high. Coniferous woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Antennaria rosea Greene rosy everlasting

A somewhat mat-forming white woolly perennial 15-50 cm high. Basal
rosette leaves 10-25 mm long, oblanceolate to spatulate, stalked, white woolly,
pointed at apex. Flower heads in a close terminal cluster, having conspicuous
pinkish-tipped involucral bracts. Found in meadows and moist hillsides in
favored localities; throughout the Prairie Provinces, but more particularly in
Cypress Hills and Rocky Mountains.

Antennaria russellii Boiv. RUSSELL'S everlasting

A species very similar to A. neodioica, but with the tips of the involucral
bracts golden brown or straw-colored, and with the involucre smaller (only
6-7 mm high). Open woods; Cypress Hills.

Antennaria umbrinella Rydb. brown-bracted mountain everlasting

A low mat-forming species 2-6 cm high, with small, whitish, silky rosette
leaves and linear-lanceolate stem leaves. Bracts of the few small flower heads
dark brown. Very local, but found on dry hillsides; southern Rocky Moun-
tains and Cypress Hills. Syn.; A. aizoides Greene.

716

Anthem is mayweed

Anthemis cotula L. stinking mayweed

A hairless annual weed, much-branched, 30-70 cm high, having a fetid
and unpleasant odor. Leaves deeply dissected into very narrow lobes, 2-5 cm
long. Flowers about 2 cm across, with numerous yellow disks; ray florets
10-18, white, borne on heads of stems, forming a large flat cluster. An intro-
duced weed, plentiful in Eastern Canada, rare in southeastern and northwest-
ern Parklands. Most plants recently reported in the Prairie Provinces as stink-
ing mayweed now have been identified as Matricaria maritima var. maritima
(M. inodora). Syn.: Maruta cotula (L.) DC. Another species, A. tinctoria L.,
with yellow flowers and somewhat broader leaf divisions, also reported, but
very rare.

Arctium burdock

Large, coarse, biennial plants with broad, oval, or cordate leaves, which
are long-stalked and paler beneath. Flowers discoid; involucres globose and
much-imbricated; bracts stiff, hook-tipped.

1. Bracts of involucre densely cottony A. tomentosum

Bracts of involucre not cottony, some-
times slightly woolly 2

2. Involucre 2 cm or more across; inner

bracts as long as, or longer than, flower

head A. lappa

Involucre 10-25 mm across; inner bracts

not longer than flower head A. minus

Arctium lappa L. common burdock

A coarse, branching plant 1-3 m high. Leaves broadly ovate, stalked, pale
beneath, often cordate-based, up to 45 cm long. Flowers purple, discoid, with
a globose involucre 25-40 mm across; bracts tipped with hooked bristles. An
introduced weed becoming increasingly plentiful; in waste places; eastern
Parklands and southeastern Boreal forest.

Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. lesser burdock

A coarse, tall, branching biennial 1-2 m high, from deep thick taproots.
Leaves large, cordate, pale and downy beneath, up to 30 cm long. Flower
heads numerous, usually in a leafy one-sided raceme, discoid with purple
florets, 15-25 mm across. Involucre somewhat globose, green to purplish,
bracts with hooked bristles. Burs (seed-bearing heads) very prickly, and can be
carried on clothing and the coats of animals. An introduced and widely dis-
tributed weed, very plentiful locally; as soon as it becomes established, becom-
ing very common.

Arctium tomentosum Mill. cotton burdock

A species similar to A. minus, but with involucres slightly larger and cov-
ered with a cottony web. Involucral bracts having hooked tips. Introduced;
found in a few locations, widely separated, but still quite rare.

717

Arnica arnica

Perennial plants from rootstocks, with opposite leaves and large radiate
yellow or orange heads. Pappus a single series of rough bristles.

1. Leaves cordate to oblong 2

Leaves oblong-lanceolate to linear 4

2. Stem leaves long-petioled; the large ones

cordate or ovate A. cordifolia

Stem leaves with the petiole shorter than

the blade, oblong 3

3. Pappus pale brown; lower stem leaves

deltoid, dentate A. diversifolia

Pappus white; lower stem leaves

elliptic-lanceolate A. latifolia

4. Stem leaves numerous, in 4-8 pairs 5

Stem leaves less numerous, in 1-3 pairs 8

5. Lower stem leaves ovate or deltoid,

sharply dentate A. diversifolia

Lower stem leaves lanceolate, entire to

remotely dentate 6

6. Heads solitary or few A. mollis

Heads several to many 7

7. Bracts with a distinct tuft of hairs at the

tip A. chamissonis

Bracts not with a tuft of hairs, and with

the tip acute A. longifolia

8. Heads discoid; pappus tawny to

brownish A. parry i

Heads radiate; pappus white to brownish 9

9. Pappus straw-colored or brownish;

flowering stems without tufts of basal

leaves 10

Pappus white; basal leaves mostly

present 1 1

10. Heads usually several, narrow,

top-shaped A. diversifolia

Heads usually solitary or few, nearly

half-round A. mollis

11. Basal leaves usually petiolate, ovate to

cordate A. latifolia

Basal leaves linear to lanceolate or

oblanceolate 12

12. Lower leaves mostly more or less

long-petioled 13

Lower leaves sessile to short-petioled 15

13. Leaves dentate or denticulate; heads 1-5,

top-shaped A. lonehophylla

718

Leaves entire; heads mostly solitary,

half-round 14

14. Base of stem with a tuft of brown hairs;

leaves lanceolate A.fulgens

Base of stem without brown hairs; leaves

linear-lanceolate A. sororia

15. Involucres 9-11 mm high; stem leaves

remotely dentate A. rydbergii

Involucres 10-15 mm high; stem leaves

entire 16

16. Achenes densely pubescent; involucral

bracts villose-glandular A. alpina var. ungavensis

Achenes glabrous or nearly so; involucral
bracts glabrous, at least above the
middle A. louiseana

Arnica alpina (L.) Olin var. ungavensis Boiv. alpine arnica

Plants with stems 10-30 cm high. Stem leaves usually 2 or 3 pairs, linear-
lanceolate, acuminate, entire. Heads usually solitary; involucre villous and
glandular; ligules distinctly toothed at apex. Pappus white. Alpine and arctic
tundra; northeastern Boreal forest, southern Rocky Mountains.

The var. vestita Hulten. densely soft woolly pubescent, especially on the
involucral bracts. Alpine tundra; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arnica chamissonis Less. leafy arnica

A species 30-60 cm high, with a very leafy softly hairy stem. Leaves
oblong-lanceolate; lower leaves tapering to a winged stalk clasping stem at
base, 6-15 cm long; upper leaves stalkless and opposite, usually in several
pairs. Flowers lemon yellow, 2-5 cm across, in cluster at the head of the stem.
Widespread, but nowhere very common; in moist places; throughout Boreal
forest and Peace River district.

Arnica cordifolia Hook. (Fig. 207.4) heart-leaved arnica

A species 20-50 cm high, with cordate (heart-shaped) leaves. Basal leaves
long-stalked, 2-8 cm long; stem leaves smaller, usually without stalks. Flowers
lemon yellow, 3-7 cm across, on the top of the stem. Plentiful; in wooded
areas; in Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills, rarer in Boreal forest.

Arnica diver sifolia Greene lawless arnica

A perennial with freely branching, creeping rootstocks; stems solitary or
in small tufts, 15^40 cm high, glandular pubescent to subglabrous. Stem leaves
4-8 cm long, ovate or deltoid to elliptic; upper leaves sessile; lower ones wing-
petioled. Heads several; ligules 15-20 mm long; bracts glandular. Slopes and
creek banks; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arnica fulgens Pursh (Fig. 2075) shining arnica

A plant 20^40 cm high. Basal leaves stalked, oblanceolate, 5-8 cm long,
usually 3-ribbed, and entire-margined. Stem leaves linear-lanceolate, smaller,

719

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Fig. 207. ^4, Heart-leaved arnica, Arnica cordifolia Hook.; Z?, shining arnica,
Arnica fulgens Pursh.

720

opposite, in 2 or 3 pairs. Flower heads orange yellow, 2-5 cm across, usually
solitary on stem, but occasionally 2 or 3. Fairly abundant; in meadows and
slightly moister spots on prairie; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Plentiful
some years and scarce in others.

Arnica latifolia Bong. mountain arnica

Plants with long creeping rhizomes; stems solitary or few together, 10-60
cm high. Basal leaves long-petioled, often on separate sterile shoots; stem
leaves 3-10 cm long, ovate or elliptic, more or less dentate, the upper ones ses-
sile, the lower ones petiolate. Heads usually 1-3, top-shaped; ligules 10-15 mm
long; bracts 10-15 mm high, more or less glandular pubescent. Moist to wet
montane forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arnica lonchophylla Greene spear-leaved arnica

Plants with dark, scaly, branching rootstocks; stems usually solitary,
15-40 cm high, finely stipitate-glandular, and more or less pubescent. Leaves
5-15 cm long, lance-elliptic to lanceolate, petiolate, mostly finely stipitate-
glandular, denticulate to dentate. Heads 1 to several; ligules 1-2 cm long;
bracts 8-12 mm high, glandular pubescent. Lakeshores and riverbanks, partic-
ularly on calcareous soils; Boreal forest.

Arnica longifolia Eat. long-leaved arnica

Plants with a short rootstock or branching caudex; stems clustered, usu-
ally 20-40 cm high, with many short sterile shoots at the base. Leaves 5-12 cm
long, narrowly lanceolate or lance-elliptic, the lower ones connate or nearly so,
the others shortly petiolate to connate. Heads several to numerous; ligules 1-2
cm long; bracts 7-10 mm high, glandular puberulent. Along montane and
alpine creeks; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arnica louiseana Farr rock arnica

Perennial plants with long, creeping, densely scaly rootstocks; stems soli-
tary or several together, 10-25 cm high, softly villous, and usually more or less
glandular. Leaves 2-6 cm long, oblanceolate to elliptic, entire or distantly den-
ticulate, mostly subglabrous to sparsely villous, and more or less glandular.
Heads solitary; ligules 1-2 cm long; bracts about 1 cm high, glabrous above
the middle, somewhat pubescent toward the base. On rock cliffs and shale
slides at high altitudes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arnica mollis Hook. cordilleran arnica

Plants with branching rootstocks; stems 20-40 cm, puberulent to long
pubescent, and glandular. Stem leaves 3-6 cm long, ovate to elliptic, irregu-
larly dentate to entire, sessile or the lower ones short petiolate. Heads solitary
or few; ligules 15-25 mm long; bracts 10-15 mm high, pubescent below, glan-
dular toward the tips. Wet, boggy areas; southern Rocky Mountains. Plants
with very leafy stems and 5-12 pairs of stem leaves, as compared with 3-5
pairs in the typical variety, are distinguished as var. aspera (Greene) Boiv.

Arnica parry i Gray nodding arnica

Plants with creeping rhizomes; stems usually solitary, 20-40 cm high,
often woolly-pubescent toward the base, somewhat glandular above. Stem

721

leaves 5-15 cm long, lanceolate to lance-ovate, the lowermost petiolate. Heads
usually several, nodding in bud; discoid bracts 10-15 mm high, usually glan-
dular to glandular pubescent. Mountain meadows; southern Rocky Moun-
tains.

Arnica rydbergii Greene NARROW-LEAVED arnica

Plants with short, branched, scaly rootstocks; stems 10-30 cm high, glan-
dular pubescent to subglabrous. Basal leaves petiolate, oblanceolate or spatu-
late, to 7 cm long; stem leaves 3-10 cm long, lanceolate to spatulate, entire or
nearly so. Heads solitary or few; rays 1-2 cm long; bracts 10-15 mm high,
glandular, and sparsely pubescent to subglabrous. High slopes and shale
slides; southern Rocky Mountains.

Arnica sororia Greene twin arnica

Plants with slender, freely rooting rootstocks; stems 10-40 cm high, glan-
dular pubescent. Basal leaves lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, glandular
pubescent. Heads solitary, rarely 2 or 3; ligules 15-25 mm long; bracts 10-15
mm high, sparingly pubescent and glandular. Montane grasslands and forest
openings; southern Rocky Mountains.

Artemisia wormwood

Biennial or perennial shrubs or herbs, usually with a conspicuous odor.
Leaves alternate, varying from entire to much dissected, green and hairless to
dense white woolly. Flowers small, usually in spike-like panicles, discoid with
only tubular florets. Seeds bearing no pappus. The wind-borne pollen of some
species often causing hay fever.

1. Shrubs with woody bases and branches 2

Herbs or subshrubs with bases not woody

and branches usually herbaceous 3

2. Leaves entire, lanceolate to oblanceolate A. cana

Leaves 3-lobed at the tip, cuneate A. tridentata

3. Plants glabrous or nearly so 4

Plants hairy, silky, or woolly 6

4. Leaves mostly entire and undivided,

rarely 3-cleft A. dracunculus

Leaves pinnatifid and divided 5

5. Leaves cleft into very narrow linear

divisions A. campestris

Leaves cleft into lanceolate toothed

divisions A. biennis

6. Leaves hairy or silky hairy, but not

woolly 7

Leaves white woolly, at least on

underside 8

7. Leaves 2 or 3 times divided A.frigida

Leaves only once or twice divided A. absinthium

722

8. Leaves entire or at most coarsely lobed 9

Leaves much divided; lobes narrow,

mostly linear 1 1

9. Leaves white woolly on both sides A. ludoviciana

Leaves white woolly only on lower side 10

10. Leaves entire or sharply toothed A. tilesii ssp. unalaschensis

From coarse, woody roots; leaves 5-10

cm long and usually with rolled

margins A. longifolia

1 1. Ultimate leaf segments usually less than 1

mm wide, entire or subentire 12

Ultimate leaf segments usually more than

1 mm wide, usually toothed or lobed 13

12. Plants usually sterile; herbaceous; ulti-

mate leaf segments often 1- or

2-toothed A. pontica

Plants usually fertile; subshrubs; ultimate

leaf segments entire A. abrotanum

13. Pubescence of leaves loosely woolly or

absent; most or all of the leaves basal A. norvegica var. saxatilis

Pubescence densely woolly; most of the

leaves cauline 14

14. Leaves deeply dissected to near midrib

into linear divisions with rolled

margins A. michauxiana

Leaf segments doubly divided with broad

ultimate divisions A. vulgaris

Artemisia abrotanum L. lemon wood

A perennial plant, somewhat shrubby at the base, 50-200 cm high. Leaves
3-6 cm long, lemon-scented when bruised, thinly tomentose below, green and
subglabrous above. Inflorescence ample; involucres 2-3.5 mm high. Intro-
duced; occasionally cultivated and locally escaped.

Artemisia absinthium L. (Fig. 208) absinthe

A somewhat shrubby plant 50-100 cm high. Stems with many branches,
finely hairy. Leaves 5-10 cm long, several times divided into ovate to oblong
segments, finely grayish hairy. Inflorescence a large, many flowered, somewhat
spike-like panicle; heads stalked, drooping, about 5 mm across. Found in
waste places where it has escaped from gardens.

Artemisia biennis Willd. biennial wormwood

An annual or biennial plant 30-100 cm high, with hairless coarse stems,
usually reddish for about half their length. Early leaves twice or three times
dissected into toothed segments, usually forming a rosette on the ground. Stem
leaves and upper leaves 2-7 cm long, once or twice divided into narrow seg-
ments, and hairless. Flowers in short compact spikes in axils of upper leaves,
forming a dense leafy spike-like panicle. Common; in moist places, slough
margins, roadsides, and cultivated fields; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

723

Fig. 208. Absinthe, Artemisia absinthium L.

724

Artemisia campesths L. plains wormwood

A very variable glabrous to pubescent perennial or biennial, usually
10-80 cm high. Most of the leaves in a basal rosette, 3-10 cm long, 2 or 3 times
divided into narrow segments. Stem leaves, when present, sessile and smaller
than basal leaves. Inflorescence a leafy panicle with numerous heads; involu-
cres 2-4.5 mm high. Three varieties are distinguished:

1. Stems usually 10-30 cm high; foliage

glabrous or nearly so; most leaves

basal var. wormskjoldii (Bess.) Cronq.

Stems higher; foliage more pubescent;

stems leafier 2

2. Stems 30-80 cm high; leaves green,

sparsely pubescent, mostly cauline;

basal leaves withering var. scouleriana (Bess.) Cronq.

Stems 20^40 cm high; leaves grayish

pubescent var. douglasiana (Bess.) Boiv.

The var. wormskjoldii occurs on subarctic shores and slopes in northern
fringe of Boreal forest. Syn.: A. borealis Pall. The var. scouleriana, usually bien-
nial, found in sandy woods, shores, and openings in Boreal forest and Park-
lands. Syn.: A. canadensis Michx.; A. caudata Michx. The var. douglasiana is
the common, usually short-lived perennial of grasslands and disturbed areas in
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: A. camporum Rydb.; A. bourgeauiana Rydb.

Artemisia cana Pursh hoary sagebush

A shrub with somewhat gnarled and twisted shreddy-barked woody stems
30-150 cm high. Leaves 1-3 cm long, silvery hairy on both sides, linear to lin-
ear-lanceolate, usually entire, or rarely with toothed points. Yellow flowers
crowded into a leafy panicle. Very common; on lighter soils; Prairies, rare in
Parklands.

Artemisia dracunculus L. linear-leaved wormwood

An entirely hairless perennial 50-100 cm high. Leaves 1-6 cm long, nar-
rowly linear, usually entire, but basal leaves occasionally cleft or divided.
Inflorescence in a leafy compound panicle. Common; on dry prairie; through-
out Prairies.

Artemisia frigida Willd. (Fig. 209) pasture sage

A densely silky hairy silvery gray perennial with a somewhat woody base,
15-50 cm high. Leaves 1-3 cm long, 2 or 3 times divided into linear segments.
Plants having a distinct odor when handled. Numerous yellowish heads borne
in terminal somewhat leafy racemes. Common; on unforested land and in
overgrazed pastures; throughout the Prairies and Parklands. Abundant on
prairies, its unpalatability enabling it to increase with heavy grazing at the
expense of more palatable plants; therefore a useful indicator of overgrazing.

Artemisia longifolia Nutt. long-leaved SAGE

A perennial from a coarse woody much-branched root crown, with
densely white woolly stems 40-80 cm high. Leaves white on both sides, 5-10

725

Fig. 209. Pasture sage, Artemisia frigida Willd.

726

cm long, linear or linear-lanceolate, and often with rolled margins. Upper sides
of leaves sometimes losing the tomentum or woolliness with age. Inflorescence
a narrow leafy spike-like panicle. Found occasionally; in saline areas, bad-
lands, and shaly outcrops; throughout Prairies.

Artemisia ludovieiana Nutt. var. ludoviciana prairie sage

A white woolly often much-branched perennial 15-60 cm high, very vari-
able in form and size. Leaves 1-7 cm long, white woolly on both sides, but usu-
ally slightly less so on upper side. Lower leaves oblanceolate, usually entire,
but occasionally with a few lobes; upper leaves lance-linear and entire.
Inflorescence in dense axillary spikes, making a leafy panicle; flower heads
brownish. Very common; on prairie, especially where conditions are a little
moist; throughout the Prairie Provinces. The var. gnaphalodes (Nutt.) T. & G.,
slender sage, is a low perennial from creeping rootstocks, 15-40 cm high, but
often growing prostrate on the ground. Stems white woolly and slender.
Leaves white woolly or more often pale yellowish woolly on both sides, 2-5 cm
long, narrowly linear-lanceolate, usually entire, but the lower ones sometimes
toothed and usually conduplicate (folded lengthwise). Flower heads small, in
narrow terminal spike-like inflorescences. Common; along slough margins and
moister prairie; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

Artemisia michauxiana Besser michaux'S sage

A perennial from a much-branched root crown, 20-50 cm high. Leaves
1-5 cm long, green above, white woolly beneath, and cleft into narrow linear
sometimes toothed segments, with margins often rolled. Rather large flower
heads in a sparingly leaved terminal spike-like panicle. Found on hillsides and
along rivers; southern Rocky Mountains.

Artemisia norvegica Fries var. saxatilis (Besser) Jepson mountain sage

Plants with a branching caudex; stems 15-50 cm high, loosely villous to
subglabrous. Leaves 2-10 cm long, pinnately dissected, green and glabrous
above, green or more or less tomentose below. Inflorescence spike-like; heads
4-6 mm high. Alpine slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Artemisia pontica L. ROMAN wormwood

Perennial with a creeping rootstock, often somewhat shrubby, 40-100 cm
high. Leaves 1-3 cm long, fragrant, white tomentose on both sides, or glabrate
above, 2- or 3-pinnate, with the ultimate segments usually less than 1 mm
wide. Inflorescence rarely present; if so, rather narrow, elongate, with involu-
cres 2-3 mm high, more or less tomentose. Introduced and cultivated; occa-
sionally escaped.

Artemisia tilesii Ledeb. ssp. unalaschensis (Besser) Hulten herriots sage

An erect perennial from a coarse woody base, 30-90 cm high, with a sim-
ple fine-hairy stem. Leaves usually linear, 5-15 cm long, sometimes with a few
sharp linear teeth, densely white woolly beneath, and smooth and green above.
Numerous heads in a dense spike-like panicle. Quite unusual; but found in
badlands and river breaks; southern Rocky Mountains. Syn.; A. herriotii
Rydb.

727

Artemisia trident ata Nutt. sagebrush

An evergreen shrub 30-150 cm high, strong-scented, with a single short
trunk. Leaves 1-4 cm long, wedge-shaped; the apex usually with 3 blunt teeth,
but sometimes 4- to 9-toothed. Inflorescence equaling or exceeding the sterile
branches, panicle-like, narrow to fairly broad; heads 3-4 mm high. Grass-
lands; southern Rocky Mountains; very rare, possibly introduced in Prairie.

Artemisia vulgaris L. common wormwood

A coarse weedy perennial 30-100 cm high, with a much-branched stem.
Leaves 2-8 cm long, dark green above, and densely white woolly below, sev-
eral times divided; segments somewhat broad and oblanceolate. Numerous
heads in erect leafy panicles. An introduced plant; escaped from gardens.

A ster aster

Perennial or biennial herbs with alternate leaves and usually showy blue
or white radiate heads. Ray florets and disk florets perfect (bisexual). Ray
florets usually 10-50 with bracts in several series. Pappus of capillary bristles
or hairs. Asters usually flower in late summer and early fall.

1. Plants annual, with fibrous roots 2

Plants perennial, with rootstocks or root

crowns 3

2. Ray florets lacking or inconspicuous A. brachyactis

Ray florets purple; involucral bracts glan-
dular sticky A. canescens

3. Involucres and usually branches of the

inflorescence glandular 4

Involucres and branches not glandular 9

4. Leaves to 20 cm long and 10 cm wide,

coarsely toothed or closely serrate 5

Leaves smaller, entire or distantly serrate 6

5. Lower leaves petioled, cordate or subcor-

date at the base, serrate A. macrophyllus

Lower leaves sessile, somewhat clasping,

coarsely toothed to subentire A. conspicuus

6. Leaves 3-8 cm long, 3-8 mm wide; ray

florets 5-8 mm long 7

Leaves 5-15 cm long, 8-20 mm wide; ray

florets 10-20 mm long 8

7. Plants glabrous except for the glandular

pubescence; leaves rather thick,

grass-like A. pauciflorus

Plants glandular pubescent more or less
throughout; leaves not thick or
grass-like A. campestris

8. Ray florets numerous, usually 45-100,

10-20 mm long; leaves entire A. novae-angliae

728

Ray florets fewer, usually 20-40, 10-15

mm long; leaves serrate A. modestus

9. Heads solitary or 1-3 on a stem 10

Heads few to many on a stem 1 1

10. Stem leaves greatly reduced; stem and

leaves densely pubescent; plants with a

root crown A. alpinus

Stem leaves not greatly reduced; stem
and leaves sparsely pubescent; plants
strongly rhizomatous A. sibiricus

11. Basal and lower stem leaves petioled or

narrowed to a petiolar base 12

Basal and lower stem leaves sessile or

subsessile 16

12. Lower leaves cordate or subcordate to

rounded at the base, usually ovate 13

Lower leaves not cordate or rounded at
the base, usually lanceolate to
linear-lanceolate 14

13. Lower leaves narrowly ovate; stem pubes-

cent in lines above middle A. ciliolatus

Lower leaves lanceolate; stem glabrous

except in the inflorescence A. maccallae

14. Upper stem leaves clearly serrate, 10-25

mm wide; heads 25-30 mm across;
some foliaceous involucral bracts often
present A. subspicatus

Upper stem leaves entire or obscurely
toothed, 5-10 mm wide; heads 15-25
mm across; foliaceous involucral
bracts absent 15

15. Stem leaves linear, the upper ones not

reduced in size; branches of the

inflorescence strongly ascending A. adscendens

Stem leaves linear-lanceolate, the upper
ones reduced in size; branches of the
inflorescence spreading A. occidentalis

16. Plants glabrous, except sometimes in the

inflorescence; leaves clasping,

glaucous A. laevis

Plants more or less pubescent 17

17. Leaves silvery silky on both sides, entire A. sericeus

Leaves not silvery silky 18

18. Pappus double, with the inner series of

firm long bristles, the outer series of

bristles about 1 mm long A. umbellatus

Pappus single 19

729

19. Involucre usually with some foliaceous

outer bracts A. eatoni

Involucre without foliaceous bracts 20

20. Stem leaves auriculate clasping; plant

rough pubescent A. puniceus

Stem leaves sessile or somewhat clasping;

plant not rough pubescent 21

21. Leaves narrowly linear, seldom more than

6-7 mm wide 22

Leaves broadly linear to linear-lanceolate
or lanceolate-ovate, usually more than
10 mm wide 24

22. Plants very slender; stems arising from

slender rhizomes; leaves glabrous;
stem pubescent in lines below the leaf
bases A. junciformis

Plants coarse; leaves and stems more or

less densely pubescent 23

23. Heads solitary or few at the end of

branches, 20-25 mm across A. falcatus

Heads numerous, more or less secund

along the branches, 10-15 mm across A. ehcoides

24. Ray florets 10-15 in a head 25

Ray florets 20-40 in a head 26

25. Heads 20-40 mm across; leaves in the

inflorescence ovate-lanceolate A. enge/mannii

Heads 12-18 mm across; leaves in the

inflorescence narrowly linear A. lateriflorus

26. Leaves serrate, 10-35 mm wide; involucre

4-5.5 mm high; ray florets white. A. simplex

Leaves entire to subentire, seldom more
than 18 mm wide; involucre 5-8 mm
high; ray florets blue A. hesperius

Aster adscendens Lindl. western aster

A slender erect species 15-50 cm high, with the stem sometimes decum-
bent at base. Leaves 2-7 cm long, with the lower ones short-stalked and spatu-
late, the upper ones stalkless and more or less clasping and linear. Heads
about 25 mm across, not very numerous, in a panicle. Bracts oblanceolate,
blunt-pointed, in series of 3-5. Found occasionally; in valleys and favored
localities; Prairies and southern Rocky Mountains.

Aster alpinus L. alpine aster

Stems 5-20 cm high, pilose, and somewhat glandular throughout. Basal
leaves numerous, 2-5 cm long, oblong to lanceolate, rounded at the apex.
Heads solitary, 3-5 cm across; ligules violet to whitish; involucres pilose.
Mountain slopes and forests; southern Rocky Mountains.

730

Aster brachyactis Blake rayless aster

A slender purplish-stemmed somewhat branching annual 15-60 cm high.
Leaves linear, 2-7 cm long, without hairs except for some on margin. Flower
heads numerous, often almost hiding the foliage and appearing to be mainly
composed of white hairy pappus, 8-12 mm broad in a raceme; the few florets
purple and occasionally with a few rudimentary ligulate florets. Involucral
bracts very narrow, often purplish. Common; in saline soil and moist places;
throughout most of the Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: Brachyactis angusta
(Lindl.) Britton; A. angustus (Lindl.) T. & G.

Aster campestris Nutt. meadow aster

Plants with slender creeping rootstocks; stems 10-50 cm high, simple or
branched, leafy, densely stipitate glandular. Stem leaves linear to linear spatu-
late, 2-5 cm long, almost uniform in size, sessile and often slightly clasping,
entire, glabrous to somewhat hispid. Heads 1 to many, 15-20 mm wide, in a
narrow cyme or panicle; the ligules 5-8 mm long, violet to purple; involucral
bracts densely glandular. Montane grasslands; southern Rocky Mountains.

Aster canescens Pursh canescent aster

A low, branching biennial, from a taproot, 10-30 cm high; stems covered
with short fine hairs. Leaves 10-35 mm long, with the lower ones spatulate or
oblanceolate, the upper ones often linear, varying from entire to slightly
toothed. Teeth and apex of leaves bearing a short bristle-like tooth. Flowers
15-25 mm across, bluish purple, usually very numerous. Common; especially
along roadsides; Prairies. Syn.; Machaer anther a canescens (Pursh) A. Gray; M.
pulverulenta (Pursh) A. Gray.

Aster ciliolatus Lindl. (Fig. 210) lindley'S aster

A stout erect-stemmed species 30-75 cm high. Leaves thick, sometimes
slightly hairy on veins. Basal leaves ovate or cordate, 5-10 cm long, with long
stalks; the lower stem leaves with wing-margined stalks, the upper ones often
stalkless. Flower heads usually few, blue to violet, 15-30 mm across. Common;
in woodlands; throughout Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.; A. lindleyanus T.
&G.

Aster conspicuus Lindl. (Fig. 211) showy aster

An erect coarse species 40-100 cm high, with rough and hairy stems.
Leaves ovate to obovate, coarsely toothed, rough on upper surface and finely
hairy below, 10-15 cm long. Inflorescence a large corymb of violet to blue
flowers, each about 4 cm across; bracts and flower stems glandular. Very pal-
atable to livestock. Common; in woodlands; Parklands and Boreal forest,
except in the eastern part, and also found abundantly in Cypress Hills.

Aster eatoni (A. Gray) Howell EATON'S aster

A branching species 30-80 cm high. Leaves linear to lance-linear, 5-10 cm
long, stalkless, and entire, but not clasping. Outer bracts large and leaf-like.
Heads 20-25 mm across, with pinkish or white ray florets. Not common; has
been found in river valleys; southern Rocky Mountains. Syn.; A. mearnsii
Rydb.

731

Fig. 210. Lindley's aster, Aster ciliolatus Lindl.

732

Fig. 211. Showy aster, Aster conspicuus Lindl.

733

Aster engelmannii (Eat.) Gray ELEGANT aster

Plants with woody root crowns; stems tufted, 30-100 cm high, branched
in the inflorescence. Leaves 4-10 cm long, elliptic to oblong, rounded or nar-
rowed at the base, sessile, entire or nearly so, glabrous above except along the
midrib, sparsely pilose on the veins below. Heads few to many, mostly termi-
nal on short branches, 2^4 cm across; involucre 7-10 mm high, glabrous or
somewhat pubescent. Mountain meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Aster erieoides L. many-flowered aster

A branching perennial from a thick tufted rootstock, 20-60 cm high.
Stems finely hairy. Leaves linear to narrowly linear-lanceolate, 1-5 cm long,
entire-margined. Heads numerous, 8-12 mm across, white, usually on one side
of the recurved branches. Common; on open prairie, roadsides; throughout
Prairies and Parklands. Syn.; A. pansus (Blake) Cronquist; A. multiflorus Ait.;
A. adsurgens Greene.

Aster falcatus Lindl. white prairie aster

A much-branched perennial, from running rootstocks, 30-80 cm high.
Stem rough hairy. Leaves linear to linear-oblong, 1^4 cm long, stalkless, and
entire-margined. Inflorescence of a few or single heads at ends of branches;
flowers white, 20-25 mm across. Bristle-tipped bracts almost equal in length,
with the outer ones at least as high as the involucre. Fairly common; through-
out Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: A. eommutatus (T. & G.) A. Gray.

Aster hesperius A. Gray willow aster

A species 40-80 cm high, with a much-branching stem. Leaves narrow,
5-15 cm long, sometimes entire-margined and sometimes somewhat toothed.
Flower heads numerous, in a branching panicle, varying from white to violet
or pink. A very variable species, known under many names. Common; along
stream banks, ditches, and moist spots; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.:
A. osterhoutii Rydb.

Aster juncif or mis Rydb. rush aster

A slender-stemmed, erect, little-branched species 20-60 cm high. Leaves
2-8 cm long, narrow, and linear, usually with entire margins, stalkless, and
having clasping stems. Inflorescence an open panicle; flower heads white,
15-20 cm across. Fairly common; in swamps and bogs; throughout Parklands,
Boreal forest, and in the Cypress Hills.

Aster laevis L. (Fig. 212) smooth aster

A stout-stemmed hairless species 30-100 cm high. Leaves thick, 2-10 cm
long, often toothed, ovate or lanceolate, and hairless, with the basal leaves on
wing-margined stalks but the upper ones stalkless and often clasping. Numer-
ous flower heads 2-3 cm across, with blue ray florets; pappus somewhat
tawny-colored. Common; on moist prairie, around bluffs or clumps of shrub-
bery, and in open woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Aster lateriflorus (L.) Britt. wood aster

A perennial with short stout rhizomes or a branching caudex; stems sever-
al, 30-90 cm high, curly villous to subglabrous. Leaves scabrous to subglab-

734

Fig. 212. Smooth aster, Aster laevis L.

735

rous above, glabrous below, except on the midrib; the principal leaves 5-12 cm
long, to 3 cm wide, broadly linear or linear-lanceolate. Inflorescence mostly
branched, or rarely simple; heads 10-15 mm across, with rays white or pur-
ple-tinged; involucre 4-5.5 mm high. Open woodlands, openings, or beaches;
southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Aster maccallae Rydb. MACCALLA'S ASTER

Plants with creeping rootstocks; stems 30-60 cm high, often purplish;
glabrous below the inflorescence, pubescent in lines above. Lower leaves 8-15
cm long; petioles winged; blades lanceolate, usually serrate, glabrate or nearly
so. Inflorescence with few heads; ligules about 15 mm long, blue or purplish;
involucres 8-10 mm high, glabrous. Open areas, along mountain streams, and
in grassland; southern Rocky Mountains.

Aster macrophyllus L. white wood aster

A tufted perennial with a zigzag twisted brittle stem 40-100 cm high.
Leaves thin, slender-stalked, coarsely toothed, with the lower ones cordate-
based, 2-10 cm long. Flower heads usually white, 2-3 cm across, usually in a
flattish wide corymb. Found occasionally; in extreme southeastern Boreal for-
est.

Aster modestus Lindl. large northern aster

Plants with a long creeping rootstock; stems usually solitary, 30-80 cm
high, branching in the inflorescence, densely glandular above or throughout.
Leaves rather uniformly 6-15 cm long, lanceolate, entire to sharply serrate,
with the base more or less clasping. Heads 1 to many, 2-3 cm wide; ligules
about 1 cm long, purple or violet; involucre about 7 mm high, densely stipi-
tate-glandular. Wet areas and bogs; western Parklands and Boreal forest.

Aster novae -angliae L. new England aster

A tall erect stout-stemmed species 60-200 cm high. Leaves lanceolate to
oblong, entire, 3-12 cm long, stalkless, and clasping stem by a cordate or an
eared base. Flower heads numerous, 2-5 cm across, with reddish purple to vio-
let purple ray florets in compact clusters at ends of branches. Fairly common;
in moist woodlands and low ground; in eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Aster occidentalis (Nutt.) T. & G. western mountain aster

Plants with creeping rootstocks; stems mostly less than 50 cm high, glab-
rous below, pubescent in lines above. Lower leaves 4-12 cm long, oblanceo-
late, tapering to a petiolate ciliate base. Heads 1 to few, about 25 mm across;
ligules 6-10 mm long; involucre about 6 mm high. Mountain meadows; Rocky
Mountains.

Aster pauciflorus Nutt. FEW-FLOWERED aster

A hairless species, growing from creeping rootstocks, much-branched,
15-50 cm high. Leaves entire-margined, somewhat fleshy, 2-8 cm long, with
the upper ones linear and stalkless, the lower ones linear-lanceolate and
stalked. Flower heads few, 15-25 mm across, with blue or white ray florets.
Rare; found in saline soil; Prairies and Parklands.

736

Aster puniceus L. PURPLE-STEMMED ASTER

A stout purplish-stemmed branching species from a thick rootstock,
60-200 cm high. Leaves 7-15 cm long, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, often
hairy on midrib below, usually sharp-toothed. Flower heads numerous, 25-35
mm across, with light violet to pale purple ray florets. Fairly common; in
swamps and marshlands; throughout Boreal forest.

Aster sericeus Vent. western silvery aster

A slender-stemmed branching species 30-60 cm high. Leaves 10-35 mm
long, covered with dense silvery white silky hairs on both sides; the lower
leaves with short winged stalks and the upper ones stalkless, oblanceolate to
oblong. Numerous heads about 35 mm across, with reddish violet to violet
blue ray florets and tawny pappus. Rare; southeastern Parklands.

Aster sibiricus L. arctic ASTER

Plants with slender creeping rootstocks; stems 3-30 cm high, simple or
with few branches, usually purple, sparingly pubescent. Leaves 1-6 cm long,
obovate or elliptic, entire to serrate above the middle, with the lower ones
short petiolate, the upper ones sessile and narrowly clasping. Heads solitary to
few in a leafy cymose panicle, with the lateral heads on axillary peduncles 2-3
cm across; ligules 7—12 mm long, purple to violet or sometimes whitish; invo-
lucre 5-10 mm high. Open slopes, creeks, and riverbanks; Rocky Mountains,
Peace River.

Aster simplex Willd. small blue aster

Plants with stout, long creeping rootstocks; stems stout, 60-150 cm high,
glabrous below, pubescent in lines above. Leaves 8-15 cm long, lanceolate to
linear, glabrous on both sides, serrate, rarely entire, sessile, narrowly clasping.
Heads more or less numerous in a leafy inflorescence; ligules 5-10 mm long;
involucres 3-6 mm high, glabrous, with ciliolate margins. Moist areas and
shores; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Aster subspicatus Nees leafy-bracted aster

An erect species 30-100 cm high. Lower leaves 10-15 cm long, oblanceo-
late, entire-margined, and with wing-margined stalks; upper leaves shorter
with clasping bases. Flowers violet, 15-25 mm across. A mountain species,
which may be found in Cypress Hills. Syn.: A. frondeus (A. Gray) Rydb.
Smaller plants, usually less than 25 cm high, with leaves narrowly oblanceolate
and bracts purple-tipped are var. apricus (Gray) Boiv. Syn.: A. foliaeeus Lindl.
var. apricus Gray.

Aster umbellatus Mill. flat-topped white aster

A tall erect species, from a woody rootstock, 60-200 cm high. Leaves 6-15
cm long, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, tapering to apex and at base to a short
stalk. Very numerous flower heads 12-20 mm across, with white ray florets in a
large flat-topped terminal cluster. Pappus has an outer row of short stiff bris-
tles, the inner bristles being long and hair-like. Common; in moist woodlands;
throughout Manitoba. Syn.: Doellingeria umbellatus (Mill.) Nees. The var.
pubens Gray differs from the species by the hairy undersides of leaves. Found

737

occasionally in woodlands; eastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.:
Doellingeria pubens (A. Gray) Rydb.

Bahia picradeniopsis

Bahia oppositifolia (Nutt.) DC. PICRADENIOPSIS

A much-branched perennial, from creeping rootstocks, 10-25 cm high,
with a somewhat woody base. Stem very finely hairy and very leafy. Leaves
1-3 cm long, gray green, very finely hairy, and often several times divided into
narrow linear segments. Yellow flower heads, about 12 mm across, at ends of
branches. Many tubular florets, but only a few short ray florets. Quite unusual,
but has been found on a few occasions in Prairies as a rather persistent weed
in cultivated land. It occurs on saline flats and dry plains in the USA. Syn.:
Picraden iopsis oppositifolia (Nutt.) Rydb.

Balsamorhiza balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. balsamroot

A low perennial from a thick edible spindle-shaped root (often more than
5 cm thick) that exudes a balsam or sticky substance with a turpentine-like
odor. Long-stalked leaves mostly basal, 10-25 cm long, varying in shape from
cordate to hastate or sagittate (arrow-shaped). White woolly on both sides,
densely below, sparsely above. Flowers bright yellow, usually borne singly on
stems about 30 cm long arising from root crown. Bracts lanceolate and densely
white woolly; seeds without pappus. Fairly plentiful; on hillsides and prairie;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Bidens beggarticks

Annual herbs, with leaves usually opposite. Heads discoid or radiate, yel-
low or orange. Achenes (seeds) bearing 2 or 4 retrorsely (downward-pointing)
barbed awns, by which the seed attaches to coats of animals or clothing and is
disseminated.

1. Plants aquatic; the submerged leaves

filiform-dissected B. beckii

Plants mud or land plants, not aquatic 2

2. Ray florets conspicuous; leaves stalkless

and clasping B. cernua

Ray florets absent or inconspicuous;
leaves usually with short stalks, not
clasping 3

3. Leaves simple, deeply incised or 3-lobed B. tripartita

Leaves 1- to 3-pinnatifid, with the termi-
nal leaflet usually petioled B. frondosa

Bidens beckii Torr. water-marigold

A perennial, with the submerged leaves finely filiform-dissected and the
emergent leaves simple, lanceolate, sessile, and serrate. Heads terminal, soli-

738

tary, about 1 cm wide; ligules 10-15 mm long; outer involucral bracts several;
pappus of 3-6 awns, longer than the achene. In shallow waters; eastern Park-
lands and Boreal forest. Syn.: Megalodonta beckii (Torr.) Greene.

Bidens cernua L. smooth beggarticks

An erect hairless annual 30-80 cm high. Leaves opposite, 5-15 cm long,
toothed, linear-lanceolate, stalkless, clasping the stem, somewhat paler on
underside. Flower heads usually nodding, 20-35 mm across; ray florets con-
spicuous. Long outer bracts usually as long as or longer than ray florets and
reflexed. Common; in water and very wet soil; throughout almost the entire
Prairie Provinces. Syn.: B. glaucescens Greene.

Bidens frondosa L. common beggarticks

An erect often branching species 30-100 cm high, usually with a purplish
stem. Leaves slender-stalked, 5-10 cm long, usually divided into 3 or 5 lanceo-
late segments, slightly hairy below, and toothed. Flowers orange, 12-20 mm
across, with 4—8 large outer involucral bracts. Fairly common; in wet places
and along stream banks; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest. The var.
puberula Wieg. is coarser and has 10-16 outer bracts.

Bidens tripartita L. tall beggarticks

Annual plants with stems 30-200 cm high, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves
simple, usually deeply 3-lobed, serrate, 3-15 cm long. Heads erect; disk about
10-25 mm wide; pappus of 2-4 awns. Introduced; very rare; southwestern
Prairies.

Boltonia boltonia

Boltonia aster oides (L.) L'Her. boltonia

A rather stout-stemmed perennial 60-200 cm high. Leaves linear to lan-
ceolate, 5-8 mm long, without stalks. Flower heads numerous, radiate, 20-35
mm across; ray florets varying from white to pink. Achenes bearing a pappus
of short scales, often with 2-4 slender bristles, differing from asters, which
have a hairy pappus. Rare; has been found in moist soil; eastern Parklands
and Boreal forest.

Brickellia brickellia

Brickellia grandiflora (Hook.) Nutt. large-flowered brickellia

Perennial plants with long spindle-shaped rootstocks; stems 30-70 cm
high, minutely hirsute throughout. Leaves 3-12 cm long, deltoid to cordate,
toothed. Heads several to many, discoid; flowers creamy or greenish white;
disks 8-12 mm across and high. Wet places and rocky areas; southern Rocky
Mountains.

Carduus plumeless thistle

Carduus nutans L. nodding thistle

A branching biennial 60-100 cm high. Leaves deeply divided, lanceolate,
7-15 cm long, very prickly. Flower heads borne singly on long stems, nodding

739

or drooping, 35-65 mm across, purple, rarely white. Involucral bracts in many
series, each with a prominent midrib prolonged into a spine. Pappus hairs
about 25 mm long, white, roughed but not feathery, thus distinguishing this
genus from Cirsium, which has plumose or feathery pappus hairs. An intro-
duced weed found, though rarely, at various widely separated locations.

Centaurea cornflower

Plants somewhat resembling thistles, with a globular involucre, but pap-
pus hairs either very short or absent.

1. Bracts of involucre definitely spine-tip-

ped; flowers cream or yellow 2

Bracts of involucre not definitely spine-
tipped; flowers pink or purple 3

2. Stems winged by extensions of leaf bases

(decurrent); spines of involucre about

12 mm long C. solstitialis

Stems not winged; spines of involucre not

12 mm long C. diffusa

3. Most stem leaves deeply cleft into long

narrow segments; bracts of involucre

fringed at end C. maculosa

Most stem leaves entire or dentate; bracts

of involucre not fringed C. repens

Centaurea diffusa Lam. diffuse knapweed

A much-branched introduced annual weed 15-60 cm high, sometimes
with a fine web-like covering on stems. Leaves once or twice pinnately divided
into very narrow segments, some of the uppermost ones entire. Numerous
flowering heads in terminal panicles, usually pale yellowish or cream, about 1
cm high. Bracts of involucre spiny-margined, with a terminal spine about 3
mm long. This weed, though not reported in the area, should be looked for
because it is a noxious weed in south central British Columbia.

Centaurea maculosa Lam. spotted knapweed

An introduced biennial species 30-100 cm high; not as much branched as
the preceding species. Leaves pinnately divided into narrow lobes, except
those of the inflorescence, which are smaller and entire. Flower heads on long
stems; flowers purplish, occasionally white. Bracts of involucre tipped with a
short dark fringe, not stiff and spiny. A common weed of roadsides in southern
British Columbia; it is expected to invade prairie regions.

Centaurea repens L. Russian knapweed

An erect perennial 30-100 cm high, growing from coarse, woody, running
roots. Stems grooved and ridged; young stems covered with whitish woolly
hairs. Leaves 12-75 mm long, pale green, sometimes woolly when young, lin-
ear to lanceolate. Lower leaves deeply lobed, upper ones entire-margined.
Flower heads numerous at ends of branches, with a hard globular involucre
8-12 mm high and wide, with broad pale green to almost white bracts, with

740

membranous tips. Florets all tubular, pale pink or sometimes purplish. Seeds
white. An extremely persistent introduced weed; has been found in shelter-
belts and fields; various localities throughout Prairies. Syn.; C. picris Pall.

Centaurea solstitialis L. yellow star-thistle

An annual plant, with branching stems bearing cottony hairs and growing
30-60 cm high. Basal leaves deeply lobed, up to 12 cm long; upper leaves
entire, lanceolate to linear, 10-25 mm long. Involucre has yellowish bracts,
many of them tipped by a yellow spine 12—20 mm long. Corollas yellow and all
florets tubular. A rare, introduced weed; has been found in gardens; through-
out Prairie Provinces.

Chrysanthemum ox-eye daisy

1. Heads with tubular florets only C. balsamita

Heads with ray florets 2

2. Leaves long, wedge-shaped, tapering into

the petiole C. arcticum

Leaves petiolate below, with the middle

and upper stem leaves sessile C. leucanthemum

Chrysanthemum arcticum L. var. polaris (Hulten) Boiv. arctic daisy

Plants with creeping rootstocks; stems 10-20 cm high, glabrous or nearly
so. Leaves fleshy and mostly basal, 4-8 cm long. Heads 2-3 cm across; bracts
with conspicuous black tips. Arctic coasts and gravel banks; northeastern
Boreal forest.

Chrysanthemum balsamita L. COSTMARY

A fragrant perennial with stems 50-100 cm high, strigose above, glabrous
below. Leaves 10-25 cm long, silvery strigose when young, becoming glabra te.
Heads in a corymbiform inflorescence; disk 4-7 mm wide; rays mostly lack-
ing, but if present 5-7 mm long, white; bracts with a conspicuous hyaline tip.
The rayless form is tanacetoides (Boiss.) Boiv. Occasionally spreading from
cultivation.

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L. OX-EYE daisy

An erect perennial with few branches, 30-60 cm high. Lower leaves some-
what stalked, obovate to spatulate, toothed or incised, 2-8 cm long; upper
leaves not stalked, clasping, oblong, and toothed near base. Heads usually
borne singly at summit of stem, 2-5 cm across, radiate, with yellow disk florets
and white ray florets. Seeds lacking pappus. Plants found in the Prairie Prov-
inces are var. pinnatifidum Lecoq & Lamotte. An introduced plant, escaped
from gardens and found in meadows and moist roadsides adjacent to forested
areas; Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.: Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.

Chrysopsis golden-aster

Perennial much-branched plants with a tufted root crown, usually low-
growing and decumbent. Stems very leafy, with stalkless, alternate, and usu-
ally entire-margined leaves. Flowers radiate, medium in size, with yellow ray

741

florets. Pappus of the hairy achenes double, the inner ones consisting of rough
hairs and the outer ones of small scales or minute bristles.

Chrysopsis villosa (Pursh) Nutt. hairy golden-aster

A much-branched species 15-60 cm high, from a woody, branching
taproot. Stems covered with coarse stiff hairs. Leaves numerous, grayish green,
oblong or oblanceolate, alternate, 2-5 cm long, covered with short stiff
appressed hairs; the lower leaves occasionally with a short stalk; the upper
ones usually stalkless. Flower heads not numerous, radiate, with bright yellow
ray florets, 25 mm or more across. This species has been divided into several
species or varieties by various authorities, a linear-leaved variety being some-
times found in southern Alberta. Common; on dry sandy prairies and hill-
sides; throughout Prairies and less common in Parklands. Including C. hispida
(Hook.) DC.

Chrysothamnus rabbi tbrush

Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pall.) Britt. rabbitbrush

A low shrubby much-branched plant with a very coarse thick woody root
often protruding some distance above the surface of the soil, and appearing
very large for the size of the plant. Growing 20-60 cm high with white woolly
upright branches bearing very narrowly linear pale grayish green leaves 1-5
cm long, usually erect. Inflorescence dense, in terminal panicles; flower heads
discoid, with no ray florets; flowers pale yellow, about 10-15 mm high, with
bracts in 2 or 3 series. Copious pappi consisting of dull white hairs. A very
local plant; abundant on badlands, eroded hillsides, and occasionally on
saline clay flats; Prairies. Syn.: C.frigidus Greene.

Cirsium thistle

Stout erect biennial or perennial herbs with alternate lobed or dentate
very prickly spiny leaves. Involucres ovoid or globose with imbricated bracts,
which are usually spine-tipped. Flower heads discoid, with all florets tubular;
achenes bearing a pappus of plumose (feathery) hairs.

1. Bracts of involucre covered with cob-

webby hairs, and all bracts spine-tip-
ped; upper leaf surface with short stiff

bristles C. vulgare

Bracts of involucre only slightly, if at all,
cobwebby, and if so the inner bracts
twisted and not spine-tipped 2

2. Perennial plants from deep creeping root-

stocks; involucres rarely over 12 mm
wide; male and female flowers on sepa-
rate plants C. arvense

Plants without creeping rootstocks; invo-
lucres usually more than 12 mm wide;
male and female florets on the same
plant or flower head 3

742

Inner bracts of involucre with loose, twist-
ed, and spineless tips C. drummondii

Inner bracts of involucre without loose,

twisted, and spineless tips 4

Plants stemless or with stems; flowering

heads exceeded by the foliage 5

Plants always with stems; flowering heads

overtopping the foliage 6

Bracts straight, with appressed tips; foli-
age long villous C. foliosum

Bracts squarrose, with spreading spiny

tips; foliage thinly tomentose C. hookerianum

Leaves green on both sides when mature;

bracts usually without spiny tips C. muticum

Leaves white woolly beneath; bracts with

spiny tips 7

Leaves, upper ones at least, entire or only

slightly lobed C.flodmanii

Leaves pinnately divided or deeply cleft 8

Leaves deep green and bristly on upper

sides C. altissimum var. discolor

Leaves pale green or gray, somewhat

woolly above 9

Perennial from deep roots; involucres

rarely over 25 mm high; occasionally

some lower leaves entire-margined C.flodmanii

Biennial; involucres usually over 25 mm

high; no entire-margined leaves C. undulatum

Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng. var. discolor (Muhl.) Fern. field thistle

A tall perennial 90-150 cm high, with a grooved stem. Leaves deeply cleft
into linear-lanceolate lobes, stalkless, and large, the lower ones sometimes 30
cm long, prickly, with rolled margins, deep green above, and white woolly
beneath. Flower heads 35-50 mm across, with florets pale purple or pink,
occasionally white. Rare; has been found in rich soil; southeastern Boreal for-
est.

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Fig. 213) Canada thistle

A persistent perennial from deep running rootstocks, 30-100 cm high,
usually in large patches. Leaves stalkless, often somewhat clasping, curled and
wavy-surfaced, 5-15 cm long, roughly lanceolate, but deeply incised with
toothed prickly segments; basal leaves sometimes stalked. Numerous flower
heads in large loose corymbs at tops of stems and bearing purple or occasion-
ally white florets. Plants bearing florets of only one sex; some all-male florets
with heads often 25 mm across and others about 12 mm across; female florets
bearing large quantities of seed. Achene bearing a pappus of white plumose
hairs. A common introduced weed, found in great quantities; in waste places,

743

Fig. 213. Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.

744

fields, and roadsides; across the Prairie Provinces. Caterpillars of the painted
lady (or thistle butterfly) and other closely related butterflies feed on thistles
and will occasionally almost eradicate it by continual defoliation. The var.
integrifolium Wimm. & Grab., entire-leaved Canada thistle, differs from the
species by having flat almost entire leaves, with spiny margins, the lower leaves
being slightly lobed. Found occasionally; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Cirsium drummondii T. & G. SHORT-STEM MED thistle

A low-growing species 10-30 cm high, with a hairy, slightly cobwebby
stem. Leaves oblanceolate, green on both sides, with triangular lobes and weak
spines, occasionally somewhat cobwebby when young, but not white woolly.
Heads purple or rose purple, 35-50 mm high, with twisted inner bracts and
spiny outer ones. Found occasionally; on somewhat open prairie in wooded
areas; Rocky Mountains, Parklands, and Boreal forest.

Cirsium flodmanii (Rydb.) Arthur flodman'S thistle

A slender-stemmed perennial 40-100 cm high, from a deep root. Stem
usually branched and with loose cottony hairs. Leaves deeply cleft into lanceo-
late spiny lobes, white cottony or woolly beneath, and somewhat cottony
above, 5-15 cm long. Flower heads rose to rose purple, 3-4 cm across. Not
common; found on moist prairie and valleys; Parklands and Prairies. An
albino form with cream-colored flowers can be found occasionally. This spe-
cies can be distinguished from C. undulatum, which it resembles, by its peren-
nial habit and by the lower and newer basal leaves often being entire-mar-
gined, and its numerous new shoots around the base of the older plant.

Cirsium foliosum (Hook.) DC. dwarf thistle

Plants biennial or short-lived perennials with a thick taproot, stemless, or
stems to 1 m high, very leafy; the uppermost leaves much overtopping the
inflorescence. Rosette leaves to 50 cm long, 5 cm wide, entire or shallowly
lobed, with margins spinulose-ciliate. Heads solitary or in clusters at the top of
the stem, 3-5 cm high; florets whitish to pink or rose. Mountain meadows;
Rocky Mountains.

Cirsium hookerianum Nutt. hooker's thistle

A short-lived perennial with deep taproot; almost stemless or to 1.5 m
high; the uppermost leaves overtopping the inflorescence. Foliage thinly
tomentose; basal leaves to 30 cm long, to 15 cm wide, pinnately lobed or
divided; lobes with stiff marginal spines and spinulose-ciliate. Inflorescence
racemose or subspicate, or densely clustered; heads 3-4 cm high, with flowers
whitish or pale yellowish. Grasslands and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Cirsium muticum Michx. swamp thistle

A biennial 60-150 cm high, with a branched leafy stem. Leaves 10-30 cm
long, deeply cleft into oblong or lanceolate segments with slender spines, white
woolly beneath when young, but becoming hairless when more mature. Basal
leaves stalked, the upper ones smaller and stalkless. Flower heads few, about
35 mm across, purple; bracts of involucre not spiny, but somewhat sticky and
hairy or cobwebby. Found in wet marshy lands; eastern Parklands and Boreal
forest.

745

Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. (Fig. 214) wavy-leaved thistle

A white woolly biennial species 30-100 cm high, with a stout, branched,
leafy stem. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, with triangular lobes, very prickly,
with the lower leaves stalked and the upper ones stalkless, often continuing for
some distance down the stem, usually densely white woolly on both sides,
although with age the upper surface often becoming bare. Flower heads soli-
tary at ends of the branches, purple or pink, and 3-8 cm across. Very com-
mon; on dry prairies and roadsides; throughout Prairies and Parklands. A
variety with much larger flowers and the involucre over 4 cm high has been
named var. megacephalum (Gray) Fernald. Found occasionally; Parklands.

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore bull thistle

A stout-stemmed biennial, more or less woolly, 50-150 cm high,
branched, and leafy up to the heads. Leaves 7-15 cm long, dark green, hairy
on both sides, deeply cleft, and very prickly. Leaves usually continuing down
the stem, forming prickly lobed wings. Numerous flower heads at ends of
branches, purple, 3-5 cm broad and high. Involucral bracts cobwebby, all
spine-tipped. An introduced species, found occasionally; on waste land and
field borders; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Syn.; C. lanceolatum Scop.

Coreopsis tickseed

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. common tickseed

A much-branched annual plant with a slender hairless stem 30-70 cm
high. Leaves once or twice divided into linear segments, with the very upper-
most ones entire, the lower ones sometimes stalked. Numerous flower heads
on slender stalks, about 25 mm across, with brownish disk florets and 6-10
broad yellow ray florets having brownish bases. Seeds without a pappus and
somewhat resembling small insects, from which the common name of the plant
was derived. Very plentiful locally; in moist places, slough margins, low clay
flats, irrigation ditches; throughout Prairies. The plant may be very abundant
for one season in a particular location and then apparently disappear for sev-
eral seasons. Often used as a garden flower. Most of the western tickseeds are
C. atkinsoniana Dougl., distinguishable by a narrow wing around the seed.

Echinacea purple coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia DC. purple coneflower

An erect perennial plant 30-60 cm high, with a stiff hairy stem. Lower
leaves lanceolate, 2-20 cm long, pointed at apex, and narrowed at base to a
slender stalk; upper leaves stalkless or short-stalked, and all leaves either stiffly
short hairy or at least very rough to touch. Flowers borne singly at the head of
the stems; the conic disk bearing awned, stiff, purplish chaff that almost hides
disk florets; ray florets purple, 20-25 mm long, often somewhat reflexed.
Found fairly often; on dry benchland; southeastern Prairies and Parklands.

Echinops globe- thistle

Stems white tomentose, densely so above E. exaltatus

Stem glandular tomentose, with the hairs long
and colored E. sphaewcephalus

746

Fig. 214. Wavy-leaved thistle, Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng.

747

Echinops exaltatus Schrad. globe-thistle

A perennial herb with stem 60-150 cm high, simple or with few branches
above. Leaves to 40 cm long, 20 cm wide, tomentose and pale below.
Inflorescence 3-4 cm in diam; heads 15-20 mm long, lavender blue. Cultivat-
ed, and rarely escaped.

Echinops sphaerocephalus L. globe-thistle

A coarse, branching perennial to 2.5 m high, with the stem spreading
hairy. Leaves to 35 cm long, 20 cm wide, white tomentose below. Inflorescence
3-6 cm in diam; heads 15-20 mm long. Cultivated, and occasionally escaped.

Erigeron fleabane

Herbs with basal or alternate leaves. Flower heads usually radiate with
many ray florets, usually more than 50. Involucral bracts usually in 1 or 2
series and imbricated (overlapping). Disk florets yellow and ray florets white to
pink or purple, although in one rare species they are yellowish. A very large
and widespread genus.

1. Heads discoid or with short inconspicu-

ous ray florets 2

Heads with well-developed ray florets 8

2. Leaves deeply dissected into at least 2 or

3 lobes E. compositus

Leaves entire 3

3. Heads solitary; plants usually less than 10

cm high 4

Heads 2 or more; plants usually taller 5

4. Involucre 6-8 mm high, densely blue

lanate E. uniflorusvar. unalaschkensis

Involucre 4-6 mm high, pubescence of

hyaline hairs E. scotteri

5. Involucre glabrous, 2.5-5 mm high E. canadensis

Involucre pubescent to glandular pubes-
cent, higher 6

6. Involucre finely glandular, not or sparsely

pubescent E. acris var. asteroides

Involucre pubescent, not glandular 7

7. Leaves linear-oblong to oblong, shorter

than peduncles of lower flower heads E. elatus

Leaves narrowly long linear, exceeding

the lower heads in the inflorescence E. lonchophyllus

8. Plants usually less than 20 cm high; heads

solitary 9

Plants usually more than 20 cm high;

heads 2 to many, or both 19

9. Stem leaves 0-3, mainly basal 10

Stem leaves numerous 19

748

10. Leaves deeply dissected into at least 2 or

3 lobes E. compositus

Leaves entire or merely 3-toothed at apex 1 1

1 1. Ray florets bright to deep yellow E. aureus

Ray florets white to pink or bluish 12

12. Involucres usually more than 10 mm high,

densely lanate 13

Involucres usually less than 8 mm high,

not lanate, pubescence short or pilose 14

13. Ray florets white; some or all leaves 3-

toothed at apex E. lanatus

Ray florets reddish purple to whitish;

leaves entire E. grandiflorus

14. Leaves long linear; ray florets broad 15

Leaves narrowly obovate to oblanceolate

or spatulate 16

15. Leaves usually 1-3 cm long; stems usually

leafless E. radicatus

Leaves usually 3-7 cm long; stems with

1-3 leaves E. ochroleucus var. scribneri

16. Leaves in part with 3- to 5-toothed apex E. pallens

Leaves all entire 17

17. Plants long stoloniferous; leaves strigose E. flagellahs

Plants not stoloniferous; leaves pilose

with spreading hairs 18

18. Ray florets inconspicuous, about 3 mm

long, very narrow; plants usually less

than 5 cm high E. scotteri

Ray florets about 10 mm long; plants usu-
ally about 10 cm high E. arthurii

19. Ray florets white 20

Ray florets colored 25

20. Stem leaves at middle of stem longer than

those below or above E. hyssopifolius

Stem leaves gradually reduced upward 21

21. Ray florets with a minute pappus E. annuus

Ray florets with a normal pappus 22

22. Leaves 1-3 mm wide, pilose; stem leaves

all about 2 mm wide E. pumilus

Leaves more than 3 mm wide; stem leaves

reduced in width and length 23

23. Stem leaves usually more than 10; plants

with thick taproot E. caespitosus

Stem leaves usually 5-7; plants with cau-

dex, no taproot 24

749

24. Leaves scabrous or pilose on both sides E. asper

Leaves glabrous below, lightly pubescent

above E. glabellus

25. Stem leaves at middle of stem longer than

those above and below E. hyssopifolius

Stem leaves gradually reduced upward 26

26. Leaves all or mostly clasping and

auriculate E. philadelphicus

Leaves not clasping or auriculate 27

27. Ligules filiform, less than 1 mm wide 28

Ligules wider than 1 mm 29

28. Stem leaves usually 5-7; involucre

pubescent E. glabellus

Stem leaves numerous; involucre

glandular E. speciosus

29. Stem leaves usually 3-5, sparsely

pubescent E. grandiflorus

Stem leaves numerous, with the margins

ciliate, only the midrib pubescent E. peregrinus

ssp. callianthemus var. scaposus

Erigeron acris L. var. asteroides (Andrz.) DC. northern daisy fleabane

Biennial or short-lived perennial plants, with a simple or branched cau-
dex; stems 30-80 cm high, hirsute to subglabrous, glandular in the
inflorescence. Basal leaves 5-15 cm long, lanceolate; stem leaves narrower,
sessile. Inflorescence more or less corymbiform, with several to numerous
heads; ligules inconspicuous; involucre glandular to glandular hirsute. Open
areas and moist woods; Boreal forest.

Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. whitetop

Annual or sometimes biennial plants; stems 30-80 cm high, sparsely to
copiously long pubescent below the inflorescence. Leaves 4-10 cm long, ellip-
tic to broadly ovate, coarsely toothed. Inflorescence leafy, with more or less
numerous heads; ligules 5—10 mm long, white or bluish; involucre finely glan-
dular. Open woods and waste places; Boreal forest.

Erigeron arthurii Boiv. cliff daisy

A cespitose perennial plant, with stems about 10 cm high. Rosette leaves
2-10 cm long, spatulate to oblanceloate; stem leaves 1^4, smaller than basal
leaves, more or less densely glandular pubescent. Heads solitary; ligules about
1 cm long, white or pinkish; involucre 6-7 mm high, with tips purple, finely
glandular. Alpine gravel slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron asper Nutt. ROUGH fleabane

A woody-rooted perennial 20-30 cm high; stems erect, covered by short
stiff hairs. Basal leaves linear-oblanceolate, 2-10 cm long, with short stiff hairs.
Upper leaves linear to linear-lanceolate. Heads 1^4, 20-25 mm across, with

750

100-150 very narrow white ray florets. Common on dry prairies and hillsides
in Prairies and Parklands. By some authorities considered merely a form of
E. glabellus.

Erigeron aureus Greene yellow daisy

Perennial plants with fibrous roots and branched caudex; stems 2-15 cm
high; leaves 2-5 cm long, elliptic to obovate, finely pubescent, with hairs
appressed or somewhat loose; stem leaves few and reduced. Heads solitary;
ligules 6-10 mm long, yellow; involucre 5-8 mm high, sometimes purplish,
sparsely to densely villous; hairs often with purple cross walls. Alpine slopes
and meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron caespitosus Nutt. (Fig. 215) tufted fleabane

A deep-rooted tufted perennial 10-20 cm high. Leaves finely hairy, with
the lower ones spatulate, stalked, 2-8 cm long, the upper ones smaller, oblong,
and stalkless. Flower heads borne singly or 3 or 4 to a stem, 2-3 cm across,
with many narrow white ray florets. Involucre has 3 or 4 series of unequal
bracts, thickened on back. Plentiful; on dry hillsides and prairie; throughout
Prairies and Parklands.

Erigeron canadensis L. Canada fleabane

A slender bristly hairy-stemmed annual 10-100 cm high, usually with
many branches toward the top. All leaves usually somewhat hairy, the lower
ones spatulate, short-stalked, 2-10 cm long, and slightly toothed, the upper
ones linear, entire, stalkless, and smaller. Flower heads very numerous, in a
large open panicle, small, not over 5 mm across; florets, though numerous and
white, usually hidden in the pappus. A common native weed; on dry soils,
slough margins, and fields; throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.; Leptilon
canadense (L.) Britt.

Erigeron compositus Pursh compound fleabane

A low, tufted perennial from a woody root crown, 2-15 cm high, but usu-
ally very low. Leaves mostly basal, crowded, and usually twice divided into 3
linear or spatulate divisions. Flower heads 10-15 mm across, with white or
rarely violet ray florets, borne singly on short stems. Found occasionally; on
eroded hillsides, badlands, and dry or gravelly ridges; Prairies and southern
Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron elatus (Hook.) Greene tall fleabane

Plants perennial, with slender stems 5-20 cm high, sparingly hirsute.
Rosette leaves 2-7 cm long, oblanceolate; stem leaves 3-8, linear-oblong or
oblanceolate. Heads 1-8, on flexuous or arching hirsute peduncles; ligules
about 3 mm long; involucre 7-8 mm high, hirsute. On light soils; Prairies and
Parklands.

Erigeron flagellars Gray creeping fleabane

Perennial plants, with stems 10-20 cm high, stoloniferous, strigose. Basal
leaves 2-A cm long, spatulate to oblanceolate, strigose; stem leaves 1-3, small,
linear. Heads on peduncles 4-10 cm long; ligules about 5 mm long, white to
purplish; involucre about 4 mm high, hirsute. Mountain meadows; southern
Rocky Mountains.

751

HKKHARTWM OP THE RE3EJ

SWIFT C'JRHKST, JAoK.

i:Srig«ton oaespitosus fctt.

N: Frenchman Creek, nortft of Climax

COU.:>J' Loo*"
DKT ■

80: 12607
. bm 1969

— .

Fig. 215. Tufted fleabane, Ehgeron caespitosus Nutt.

752

Ehgeron glabellus Nutt. smooth fleabane

A perennial, from a somewhat tufted rootstock, 15-40 cm high. Stems
either hairless or sparingly hairy, and usually somewhat decumbent or hori-
zontal at base. Basal leaves 5-10 cm long, oblanceolate and hairless; the upper
leaves much smaller and linear-lanceolate. Leaves have only one prominent
nerve. Flower heads 1-3, 1-2 cm across, with numerous narrow purple ray
florets. Fairly common; in moist woods; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Ehgeron grandiflorus Hook. large-flowered daisy

Perennials with stems to 10 cm high, white villous. Basal leaves 2-4 cm
long; stem leaves 1-2 cm long, oblanceolate, long pilose. Heads solitary, 3-4
cm across; ligules 8-10 mm long, reddish purple to white; involucre 1 cm high,
densely white lanate. Alpine prairies; southern Rocky Mountains.

Ehgeron hyssopifolius Michx. wild daisy

Perennial with extensive fibrous roots; stems solitary to several, 15-35 cm
high, subglabrous to occasionally densely spreading villous. Leaves thin, lax;
the lowermost leaves linear, reduced, and scale-like, the higher ones to 3 cm
long, often with axillary leafy shoots. Heads solitary, rarely 2-5, borne on long
peduncles; ligules 4-8 mm long, white to rose purple; involucre 4-6 mm high.
Open woods and grassy openings; Boreal forest, rare in Parklands.

Ehgeron lanatus Hook. woolly daisy

Low perennials with black scaly rootstocks and branching caudex; stems
3-10 cm high, densely villous. Leaves 1-2 cm long, with the apex rounded;
some leaves 3-toothed, densely woolly. Heads solitary; ligules about 1 cm
long, white or purplish; involucres 10-12 mm high, densely woolly. Alpine
meadows and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Ehgeron lonchophyllus Hook. hirsute fleabane

A somewhat hairy-stemmed biennial with one to several bunched stems
15-60 cm high. Lower stem leaves stalked and narrow oblanceolate, 5-12 cm
long; upper stem leaves linear and shorter. All leaves usually smooth and hair-
less, but often with lower margins hairy. Few heads, about 15 mm across, with
short white ray florets about 3 mm long borne erect on head. Not common;
found occasionally in wet places; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Ehgeron ochroleucus Nutt. var. scribneri (Canby) Cronq. yellow alpine daisy

Perennial plants with a cespitose caudex; stems about 10 cm high, grayish
strigose. Leaves 3-7 cm long, narrowly linear, strigose, and ciliate. Heads usu-
ally solitary; ligules about 1 cm long, light yellow to white or lavender; involu-
cres about 5 mm high, with tips purple, squarrose, somewhat lanate. Alpine
meadows; southern Rocky Mountains.

Ehgeron pallens Cronq. pale daisy

Low perennial plants, with a cespitose caudex; stems about 10 cm high,
long villous, and somewhat glandular throughout. Leaves spatulate, 2-4 cm
long, mostly 3-toothed at apex. Heads solitary; ligules about 1 cm long, white;
involucre 4-8 mm high, yellowish lanate. Alpine shale slides; southern Rocky
Mountains.

753

Erigeron peregrinus (Pursh) Greene ssp. callianthemus (Greene) Cronq.

var. scaposus (T. & G.) Cronq. wandering daisy

Perennial plants with short rhizomes or caudex; stems 20-40 cm high,
glabrous. Leaves linear-oblanceolate to spatulate, tapering to the petiole; stem
leaves much reduced; stem often subscapose. Heads solitary; ligules 10-15
mm long; involucres 7-10 mm high, densely glandular. Openings and open
woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron philadelphicus L. Philadelphia fleabane

A slender-stemmed upright perennial 30-60 cm high, with a stem either
smooth or downy. Lower and basal leaves spatulate, blunt-rounded, toothed,
2-8 cm long, tapering to a short stalk, with upper leaves lanceolate, stalkless,
partly clasping, and shorter. Flower heads in a terminal corymb 12-25 mm
across, with many narrow pinkish or white ray florets. Fairly common; in
moist places, open woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Erigeron pumilus Nutt. hairy daisy

Usually a short-lived perennial with a taproot; stems 10-20 cm high, sim-
ple; spreading-pubescent leaves 3-7 cm long, linear-oblanceolate, copiously
villous; cauline leaves somewhat smaller. Heads mostly solitary or few on axil-
lary peduncles; ligules 6-15 mm long, white or occasionally rose purple; invo-
lucre 4-7 mm high, densely villous. Dry grassland, especially on light soils;
Prairies and Parklands.

Erigeron radicatus Hook. dwarf fleabane

A perennial with erect stem 3-10 cm high, somewhat stiff hairy. Basal
leaves 10-35 mm long, linear to oblanceolate, with stem leaves few and linear.
Flower heads few or solitary, 1-2 cm across, with white ray florets. Rare;
slopes and crests of eroded hills; Prairies and southern Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron scotteri Boiv. dwarf daisy

Perennial with a short taproot; stems 2-10 cm high, solitary or few togeth-
er. Rosette leaves petiolate, entire, ciliate, more or less pubescent. Heads soli-
tary; ligules about 3 mm long, pinkish; involucre 5-6 mm high, densely glan-
dular. Alpine slopes; Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron speciosus (Lindl.) DC. showy fleabane

An erect-growing species, with smooth or slightly hairy leafy stems 30-40
cm high. Basal leaves 5-10 cm long, linear-oblanceolate, tapering at base to a
winged stalk, each with 3 ribs and a fringe of marginal hairs; stem leaves lin-
ear-lanceolate, clasping at broad base, with a marginal fringe of hairs. Flower
heads large, 25-35 mm across, with numerous, narrow, blue or violet ray
florets. Southern Rocky Mountains.

Erigeron uniflorus L. var. unalaschkensis (DC.) Boiv. purple daisy

Low perennial plants with short rootstocks; stems 3-10 cm high, villous
with blackish hairs. Leaves mostly basal, \^X cm long, spatulate, hirsute.
Heads solitary; ligules 2-3 mm long, purplish or white, involucre black purple,
densely pubescent with long hairs with blackish purple cross walls. Arctic and
alpine tundra; northeastern Boreal forest and southern Rocky Mountains.

754

Eupatorium thoroughwort

Tall erect perennials with opposite or whorled leaves. Inflorescence a
large terminal corymb-like cluster of discoid flower heads (without ray florets),
either white or purplish, with several series of overlapping involucral bracts,
unequal in length, outer ones quite small.

Leaves stalked and usually in whorls of 3-6
around the stem: flowers purple or
purplish-tinged E. macula turn

Leaves connate-perfoliate (leaves opposite
with their bases united around the stem);
flowers white E. perfoliatum

Eupatorium maculatum L. spotted joe-pye weed

An erect-stemmed somewhat branching plant 50-200 cm high; stem
somewhat purplish or purple-spotted, with soft short hairs near the top. Leaves
ovate to ovate-lanceolate, sharp-pointed at the apex, coarsely toothed, some-
what hairy beneath, 10-15 cm long, short-stalked, in whorls of 3-6 at inter-
nodes of stems. Inflorescence consisting of many flower heads forming
rounded to flat-topped clusters up to 15-20 cm across, very conspicuous.
Flower heads pinkish or purplish and consisting of pinkish lilac tubular
florets; each head about 1 cm high and about 6 mm across. Pappus of white
hairs. Pinkish involucral bracts unequal in size. Frequent in moist ground and
in low moist woodland openings; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.
The var. bruneri (Gray) Breitung, burner's trumpetweed, very similar to the
species, but with the underside of somewhat narrower leaves densely covered
with a fine, soft, velvety hairiness. Stem hairy in its entire length. Found in
similar locations, and of same distribution as the species, possibly advancing
slightly farther west. Syn.; E. bruneri Gray.

Eupatorium perfoliatum L. boneset

An erect stout hairy-stemmed perennial 50-150 cm high. Lanceolate
leaves 10-20 cm long, opposite, each pair joined at base and encircling stem.
Leaves wrinkled, hairy on undersides. Inflorescence a large terminal cluster of
white flowers. Flower heads about 6 mm high, with all tubular florets and
bracts of unequal length. Fairly common; in wet places; southeastern Park-
lands and Boreal forest.

Gaillardia gaillardia

Gaillardia aristata Pursh (Fig. 216) great-flowered gaillardia

An erect-stemmed perennial 20-60 cm high, with a somewhat hairy stem.
Lower leaves oblong to spatulate, sometimes lobed or pinnatifid, grayish hairy,
5-12 cm long, tapering to a stalk; upper leaves stalkless, smaller, and usually
entire or slightly lobed. Flower heads terminal, 3-7 cm across, radiate, with a
rounded purple disk. Ray florets 10-18, wedge-shaped, with 3 short triangular
lobes at apex, yellow, but often with a purplish tinge at base. After flowers fall,
receptacle somewhat globose and bearing achenes or seeds, which have a pap-
pus of lanceolate papery bristled scales. Common; on dry prairie; a roadside
plant throughout entire unforested portion of the Prairies and Parklands.

755

Fig. 216. Great-flowered gaillardia, Gaillardia aristata Pursh.

756

Galinsoga galinsoga

Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake galinsoga

An erect or spreading annual 30-60 cm high, with many branches; stems
often rooting at nodes when decumbent. Leaves opposite, stalked, ovate with
rounded teeth, 15-50 mm long. Numerous terminal or axillary flower heads,
3-6 mm across, with 4 or 5 very small ray florets. Introduced from South and
Central America, a weed that is invading the southeastern part of the Prairies
and Parklands as a garden weed. Another species, G. parviflora Cav., yellow-
weed, subglabrous to strigose, has been found once in the southeastern Park-
lands.

Gnaphalium cudweed

Annual or biennial woolly and sometimes glandular herbs, with narrow
entire alternate leaves. Flower heads discoid, with no ray florets, borne in
panicles of crowded clusters on the stem. Bracts of involucres usually dry and
membranous, and in several overlapping series. Achenes bearing a pappus of
white hairs.

1. Tall plants without leafy bracts below

flower heads; bracts of involucre well
overlapping, white, dry, and
membranous 2

Low plants with leafy bracts under flower
heads; bracts of involucre slightly over-
lapping, yellowish or white 3

2. Stem and leaves glandular; leaves contin-

uing down the stem and forming a

wing (decurrent) G. viscosum

Stem and leaves not glandular; leaves not

decurrent G microcephalum

3. Leaves broad, oblanceolate to spatulate;

plant loosely woolly tufted G palustre

Most of leaves narrow, linear, or oblan-
ceolate; plant covered with short
appressed hairs G uliginosum

Gnaphalium microcephalum Nutt. common cudweed

A perennial white tomentose plant, with an erect stem 30-60 cm high.
Leaves 3-8 cm long, stalkless, linear-lanceolate, densely white woolly beneath.
Flower heads about 6 mm high, in numerous clusters at head of stem. Involu-
cral bracts membranous and dry, white tinged with brown. In open places in
moist wood; southern Rocky Mountains.

Gnaphalium palustre Nutt. western marsh cudweed

A low-growing much-branched loosely woolly annual plant 5-20 cm high.
Leaves 1-2 cm long, spatulate to oblong, stalkless, and loosely white woolly.
Heads small, about 3 mm high, with woolly white or yellowish involucres, in
leafy-bracted small clusters. Found occasionally; in sloughs and wet places;
Prairies and Parklands.

757

Gnaphalium uliginosum L. low CUDWEED

Somewhat similar to G. palustre, but with narrow linear leaves; the woolli-
ness or hairiness appressed and not loose and spreading. Rare in the Prairies
and Parklands, but found in wet places in Boreal forest.

Gnaphalium viscosum HBK. clammy cudweed

A biennial, from a taproot, 30-70 cm high, with a glandular hairy stem.
Leaves linear to lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, bright green but glandular hairy
above and white woolly beneath, stalkless and decurrent, continuing as a nar-
row wing for a distance down the stem. Flower heads discoid, about 6 mm
high, white, with dry membranous white or straw-colored involucral bracts.
Heads borne in several globose clusters. Rare; has been found in southern
Rocky Mountains. Syn.; G. macounii Greene.

Grindelia gum weed

Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal gumweed

Biennial or perennial branching smooth-stemmed plants 20-60 cm high.
Leaves oblanceolate, hairless, stalkless, finely and closely toothed, 1^ cm
long, alternate. Plants may be found occasionally with long narrowly spatulate
basal leaves up to 7 cm long. Flower heads 2-3 cm across, with an involucre of
many series of very sticky gummy bracts, in large numbers at heads of stems.
Ray florets bright yellow. Achenes or seeds bearing 2 or 3 awns. Common; on
dry prairie, roadsides, and especially on somewhat saline flats and slough mar-
gins; throughout entire unwooded part of the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: G.
perennis A. Nels.

Gutierrezia broomweed

Erect many-stemmed perennials, with many branches from a deep woody
taproot, to 50 cm long. Leaves narrow; flowers small, but very numerous.
Native plants, unpalatable to livestock, increasing with overgrazing.

Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt. & Rusby common broomweed

A low erect many-stemmed perennial, from a branching crowned woody
taproot, 10-30 cm high. The numerous leaves stalkless and entire, narrowly
linear, 1-4 cm long. The very numerous small flowers about 3 mm high, in
close clusters at the ends of the branches. Unpalatable to livestock and there-
fore tending to increase in abundance when native pastures are heavily grazed.
Extremely drought-tolerant, with deep roots and narrow leaves. Common; on
dry prairie lands; throughout Prairies and Parklands. Syn.: G. diversifolia
Greene.

Haplopappus ironplant

1. Flowers having only tubular florets H. nuttallii

Flowers with both tubular and ray florets 2

2. Leaves pinnately dissected H. spinulosus

Leaves not pinnately dissected 3

758

3. Leaves entire-margined; plants low,

tufted with woody base; pappus white 4

Leaves usually somewhat toothed; plants
with stem dying down to base annual-
ly; pappus reddish brown or yellow H. lanceolatus

4. Stem leaves few, reduced; plants not

glandular H. armerioides

Stem leaves several, not reduced; plants

glandular throughout H. lyallii

Haplopappus armerioides (Nutt.) A. Gray narrow-leaved stenotus

A tufted hairless perennial from a large branching woody root crown,
10-15 cm high. Leaves mostly basal, linear or very narrowly spatulate, 2-7 cm
long, pale greenish. Flowering stems almost leafless or with 2 or 3 narrow
reduced leaves, 4-8 cm high; flower head about 25 mm across, yellow, with
8-10 ray florets. Not common, but found occasionally on dry eroded hills and
badlands; Prairies. Syn.: Stenotus armerioides Nutt.

Haplopappus lanceolatus (Hook.) T. & G. lance-leaved pyrrocoma

A herbaceous leafy-stemmed plant 10-40 cm high, with stems practically
hairless. Basal leaves lanceolate, 2-7 cm long, long-stalked, with a few spine-
pointed teeth; stem leaves shorter and stalkless. Flowers in a raceme or panicle
of 3-15 heads, 20-25 mm across, yellow. Involucral bracts in 2 or 3 series of
unequal length, dry, white at base, but with a greenish tip, sharp-pointed. Not
uncommon; in meadows and moist saline areas; throughout Prairies. Syn.:
Pyrrocoma lanceolata (Hook.) Greene.

Haplopappus lyallii Gray sticky stenotus

A perennial plant with a large underground branching root crown, with
few to several erect leafy stems 5-15 cm high. Basal leaves tufted, oblanceolate
to obovate, 1-5 cm long, entire; cauline leaves several. Heads solitary; ligules
short; involucre 8-12 mm high, like the stem and leaves densely stipitate glan-
dular. Rocky ridges and slopes; southern Rocky Mountains.

Haplopappus nuttallii T. & G. toothed iron plant

A low tufted perennial from a deep woody root, 10-30 cm high. Leaves
either oblong or lanceolate to spatulate, 1-3 cm long, grayish green, with short
spiny teeth. Flowers borne either singly or in groups of 2 or 3 at ends of
branches, about 12 mm across, and without ray florets. Bracts of involucres
yellowish with a faint green tip. Fairly common; on dry eroded hillsides and
plains; Prairies. Syn.: Sideranthus grindelioides (Nutt.) Britt.

Haplopappus spinulosus (Pursh) DC. (Fig. 217) spiny iron plant

A much-branched perennial from a thick woody root, 15^40 cm high.
Leaves bluish green, often finely hairy, 1^1 cm long, and very deeply dissected
into narrow segments, which have bristle-pointed teeth. Heads yellow, 6-15
mm across, often very numerous, and with narrow ray florets. Pappus soft,
faintly tawny white. Plentiful on dry plains and hillsides; throughout Prairies
and Parklands. Syn.: Sideranthus spinulosus (Pursh) Sweet.

759

Fig. 217. Spiny ironplant, Haplopappus spinulosus (Pursh) DC.

760

Helenium sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale L. var. montanum (Nutt.) Fern. mountain sneezeweed

A perennial 20-70 cm high, with a stout erect stem. Leaves 4-10 cm long,
lanceolate, sometimes slightly toothed, stalkless, and continuing down the
sides of the stem. Numerous flower heads at ends of branches, 2-3 cm across,
with a high rounded yellow disk, and yellow ray florets up to 12 mm long.
Bracts of involucre short, reflexed; ray florets usually somewhat reflexed.
Achenes, which remain on almost globose receptacle after maturity, bearing a
pappus of several sharp-pointed long scales. Common in low meadows, beside
water courses, and in low places; Prairies, less common in Parklands. Thought
to be somewhat poisonous to livestock and producing a taint in milk. Syn.: H.
montanum Nutt.

Helianthus sunflower

Tall, coarse, erect annual or perennial herbs with opposite or alternate
undivided leaves. Flowers large, with yellow ray florets. Receptacle or disk flat
or rounded, broad, and chaffy. Disk florets yellow, brown, or purple. Achenes
with a pappus of small scales or awns soon falling off. A difficult genus to clas-
sify.

1. Annual plants 2

Perennial plants 3

2. Lower leaves usually cordate-based and

toothed; bracts of involucre conspicu-
ously hairy on margins; scales between
disk florets not very hairy H. annum

Leaves not cordate-based, entire; bracts
of involucre not conspicuously hairy
on margins; scales between disk florets
each with tuft of hairs H. couplandii

3. Disk of flower heads dark brown or

purple H. laetiflorus var. subrhomboideus

Disk of flower heads yellow or light

brown 4

4. Leaf blades ovate; rootstocks bearing

tubers H. tuberosus

Leaf blades lanceolate or linear-lanceo-
late; rootstocks not tuber-bearing 5

5. Leaves rough on both sides and usually

somewhat folded lengthwise H. maximilianii

Leaves rough above but somewhat hairy

beneath, not folded lengthwise H. nuttallii

Helianthus annuus L. var. giganteus Hort. sunflower

The sunflower with large flower head 15-30 cm across, cultivated for its
seed, and occasionally escaped. More common is H. annuus f. lenticularis
(Dougl.) Boiv., showy sunflower. A tall stout-stemmed erect annual 50-200 cm
high. Stem rough, sometimes with short bristly hairs. Leaves coarsely toothed,

761

ovate, and often cordate-based, usually alternate, 10-20 cm long. Heads 7-15
cm across, with a dark brown or purple disk, usually about 5 cm across. Com-
mon; on clay and heavier soils and plentiful along roadsides; Prairies. Syn.: H.
annuus L. ssp. lenticularis (Dougl.) Cockerell.

Helianthus couplandii Boiv. prairie sunflower

An annual species 30-100 cm high, with a somewhat hairy stem. Leaves
2-7 cm long, with fairly long stalks, entire-margined, ovate to ovate-lanceolate,
rough on both sides, usually with somewhat wedge-shaped bases, never cor-
date-based. Flower heads 3-8 cm across, usually with a rather small brown
raised disk. Scales between disk florets each bearing a small tuft of hairs,
which aid in distinguishing this annual species from H. annuus. Some authori-
ties refer to this species as H. aridus Rydb. This species is found only on sandy
soils. Plentiful; along roadsides in sandy areas and on sand dunes. Often
where sandy soils merge into heavier ones, the demarcation line can be seen by
the change from this species to the showy sunflower. Syn.: H. petiolaris AA.

Helianthus laetiflorus Pers. var. subrhomboideus (Rydb.) Fern.

BEAUTIFUL SUNFLOWER

An erect perennial from a rootstock, 30-100 cm high, with a sparingly
hairy stem often tinged with red. Leaves opposite, 3-veined, 5-10 cm long,
somewhat rhombic (obliquely 4-sided); the upper leaves rhombic-ovate or
rhombic-lanceolate, the lower ones somewhat spatulate. Flower heads 2-7 cm
across, with ray florets 15-35 mm long, disk purplish. Found occasionally; on
moist grassland; Prairies and Parklands.

Helianthus maximilianii Schrad. (Fig. 218) narrow-leaved sunflower

A plant spreading by underground stems. A short-stemmed perennial
50-200 cm high. Stem rough, usually with coarse stiff hairs on upper part.
Leaves stalkless or very short-stalked, 7-15 cm long, narrowly lanceolate, usu-
ally folded lengthwise along midrib, rough on both sides; the lower leaves
opposite, the upper ones alternate. Yellow-disked flower heads 5-8 cm broad,
on short stalks. Common; along roadsides, prairies, and valleys; throughout
eastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Helianthus nuttallii T. & G. tuberous-rooted sunflower

A perennial with creeping rootstocks, often with spindle-shaped fleshy
roots, 1-3 m high. Leaves lanceolate, stalkless or very short-stalked, 5-15 cm
long, somewhat narrow, and very rough on both sides. Flower heads on long
stalks, 35-65 mm across, with a yellowish disk. Common; in moist and saline
soils; throughout almost entire Prairie Provinces, especially in the southern
portion. The var. subtuberosus (Britt.) Boiv. is distinguishable by having leaves
lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 6-15 cm long; the lower leaves opposite but the
upper ones sometimes alternate. Flowers with yellowish brown disk, 3-9 cm
across. A plant of moist meadows, slough margins, and wet roadsides; some-
times found in Prairies.

762

Fig. 218. Narrow-leaved sunflower, Helianthus maximilianii Schrad.

763

Helianthus tuberosus L. jerl salem artichoke

A perennial with fleshy edible tubers on roots, 1-3 m high. Stems hairy
and with many branches. Ovate or oblong leaves 10-20 cm long, rough above
and finely hairy below, tapering at the base to a stalk. Numerous heads 5-8 cm
across, with a yellow disk and 12-20 yellow ray florets. Often cultivated for
edible tubers. Fairly common; in moist soil, river flats, and other alluvial soil;
southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Heliopsis ox-eye

Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet var. scabra (Dunal) Fern.

ROUGH FALSE SUNFLOWER

A perennial from a cluster of fibrous roots, 40-100 cm high. Leaves ovate
to ovate-lanceolate, opposite, 3-ribbed, 5-12 cm long, rough on both sides,
abruptly narrowed at base to a short stalk, with large sharp teeth on margins.
The few flower heads usually borne singly on long stalks, 5-6 cm across, with
yellow ray florets 15-25 mm long. Found occasionally; on dry soil, banks, and
sandhills; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Hymenopappus hymenopappus

Hymenopappus filifolius Hook. tufted hymenopappus

A perennial from a deep woody root, 15-30 cm high. Numerous stems
from root crown, usually tufted, white woolly when young, becoming smooth
and purple with age. Leaves 2-7 cm long, white woolly when young, turning
smooth and pale green when older. Lower leaves stalked, each divided several
times into very narrow almost thread-like segments. Flower heads usually few,
borne terminally, 12-20 mm across, discoid, yellow. Densely woolly bracts in 1
or 2 series. A very drought-tolerant plant found on badlands, eroded slopes,
and gravelly hills; Prairies and southern Rocky Mountains. Mostly considered
to be var.polyeephalus (Osterh.) B. L. Turn.

Hymenoxys rubberweed

Heads solitary on a long scape or stem; leaves
all basal and entire H. acaulis

Heads several to many; leaves alternate and
divided into linear segments H. richardsonii

Hymenoxys acaulis (Pursh) Parker stem less rubberweed

A low grayish perennial from a coarse taproot, 10-15 cm high. Linear-ob-
lanceolate leaves, all basal and clustered, 1-5 cm long, silky hairy, entire-mar-
gined. Yellow flowers 2-3 cm across, with 10-15 rather broad ray florets, borne
singly on leafless stems 10-15 cm long. Not common; found on eroded hill-
sides; western Prairies. Syn.: Tetraneuris acaulis (Pursh) Greene.

Hymenoxys richardsonii (Hook.) Cockerell (Fig. 219) Colorado rubberweed

A perennial, 10-20 cm high, from a coarse woody taproot, often with a
divided woolly crown. Stems almost hairless. Leaves alternate, mostly basal,
5-10 cm long, divided into very narrow linear lobes, their divisions 2-3 cm

764

Fig. 219. Colorado rubberweed, Hymenoxys richardsonii (Hook.) Cockerell.

765

long. Flowers usually in a flat-topped cluster at ends of branches, yellow,
about 2 cm across. Unpalatable to livestock, therefore tending to increase with
heavy grazing. Common; on open prairie; throughout Prairies. Syn.: Actinea
richardsonii (Hook.) Kuntze.

Liatris blazingstar

Perennial plants from a globular corm or tuber-like root, with narrow
undivided leaves. Flowers purple, in racemes or spikes, discoid, very showy;
all florets tubular; bracts in several overlapping series; pappus of white, pur-
plish, or tawny hairs.

Flower heads with 4-6 florets; pappus plu-
mose or feathery L. punctata

Flower heads with more than 15 florets; pap-
pus barbed but not plumose L. ligulistylis

Liatris ligulistylis (A. Nels.) K. Schum. meadow blazingstar

An erect plant 30-60 cm high, from a corm or tuber. Leaves 3-10 cm
long, linear-oblanceolate, bright green with a rather conspicuous whitish
midrib. Heads 2-3 cm across, reddish purple, on short stalks in a long raceme.
Bracts of involucre in many series, green with purple tips; the rounded tops
irregularly jagged, as if torn. Fairly common; in moist places, slough margins,
forest openings, and sandhills; throughout Parklands, rare in Prairies.

Liatris punctata Hook. (Fig. 220) dotted blazingstar

A perennial from a stout, often corm-like rootstock, 10-30 cm high, often
decumbent. Stiff linear leaves 5-15 cm long, densely covered with minute dots
or depressions, smooth, but with a marginal fringe of short white hairs. Heads
in a dense crowded spike, usually about 15 mm wide, with 4-6 pinkish purple
tubular florets, usually showing many white plumose pappus hairs. A common
species; on dry hillsides and grasslands; Prairies and Parklands.

Madia tarweed

Madia glomerata Hook. tarweed

A very sticky, strong, and peculiarly scented annual 20-50 cm high, with
glandular hairy stem and leaves. Leaves alternate, linear, entire, 2-7 cm long.
Heads about 6 mm high and 3 mm wide, in close congested terminal and axil-
lary clusters, with up to 5 small yellow ray florets, often none, usually hidden
by the sticky glandular hairy involucral bracts. Found occasionally; in moist
open spots in woodlands or slough margins; Prairies, especially in areas adja-
cent to Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills.

Matricaria chamomile

1. Ray florets absent; leaf segments linear;
plants with a pleasant pineapple-like
odor M. matricarioides

Ray florets present; leaf segments

thread-like 2

766

f

w

At®

W

&R

:*S

^./g^—- >

Fig. 220. Dotted blazingstar, Liatris punctata Hook.

767

2. Plant with distinct odor; disk conical M. chamomilla

Plant odorless; disk merely rounded M. maritima

Matricaria chamomilla L. wild chamomile

A branching annual plant 15-60 cm high, with finely divided leaves.
Flower heads about 2 cm across, with white ray florets and a conical disk of
yellow disk florets. Whole plant has a distinctive odor, faintly resembling
pineapple, but well known to older people, who were dosed with chamomile
tea in their childhood. An introduced weed, which has been reported from sev-
eral locations in the Prairie Provinces.

Matricaria maritima L. (Fig. 221) scentless chamomile

An annual with a much-branched hairless stem 20-70 cm high. Numerous
leaves stalkless and several times divided into narrow thread-like segments.
Flower heads numerous, at the ends of the branches, 10-25 mm across, radi-
ate, with yellow disk and white ray florets. An introduced plant found occa-
sionally; in waste places and roadsides; across the Prairie Provinces, and
becoming more common in Parklands. Syn.: M. inodora L.

Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter pineappleweed

A hairless annual plant 5-40 cm high, with leaves several times divided
into linear segments. Leaves usually compact and copious, much more so than
in M. maritima. Numerous flower heads, discoid, with tubular florets only, at
the ends of the branches, about 6 mm across, conical, with yellow florets and
greenish yellow involucral bracts with membranous margins. Plants, when
squeezed, have a strong pleasant odor of pineapple. An introduced plant,
which has become very persistent and plentiful locally; in waste places, and
especially around farm or ranch yards and driveways; rapidly spreading
throughout the Prairie Provinces. Syn.: Chamomilla suaveolens (Pursh) Rydb.

Petasites colt's-foot

Perennial, usually woodland plants, with thick creeping rootstocks and
scaly-bracted flowering stems, which usually appear before the leaves. Leaves
long-stalked and all basal, usually white woolly on underside. Flower heads in
terminal clusters on stem, radiate, often unisexual, with male and female
florets on separate plants. Achenes bearing a pappus of soft white hairs.

1. Leaves cordate to triangular, toothed but

not deeply cleft P. sagittatus

Leaves round, kidney-shaped, or triangu-
lar and deeply cleft 2

2. Leaves almost round in outline, deeply

cleft almost to base P. palmatus

Leaves somewhat triangular, cleft only

half or one-third of the way to midrib P. vitifolius

768

Fig. 221. Scentless chamomile, Matricaria maritima L.

769

Petasites palmatus (Ait.) A. Gray (Fig. 222/1) palmate-leaved c olts-foot

A species with leaves almost circular, 7-30 cm across, deeply cleft almost
to the base into several divisions, green and smooth above, somewhat white
woolly below when young, but losing the woolliness with age. Flowering stem
appearing before the leaves, stout and scaly-bracted, 15-50 cm high, with
heads in a corymbose cluster on long stalks. Flower heads white, 8-12 mm
across, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Common; in moist
woodlands; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Petasites sagittatus (Pursh) A. Gray (Fig. 2225) arrow-leaved colts-foot

This species has triangular-ovate to cordate leaves, with rounded mar-
ginal teeth, but not cleft or divided. Leaves 10-30 cm long, dull green above,
densely white woolly below, on long stalks from root crown. Flowers in a
dense terminal cluster at head of stem 20-50 cm high, which is scaly and some-
what bracted, appearing before the leaves. Fairly plentiful; in wet places,
slough margins; Parklands and Boreal forest.

Petasites vitifolius Greene (Fig. 222Q vine-leaved coltsfoot

A species with leaves somewhat triangular, usually with hastate basal
lobes, and cleft as much as halfway to midrib, 7-15 cm long, green on both
sides or sometimes white woolly below. Flowers nearly white, in a corymbose
cluster at head of a scaly-bracted stem 20-30 cm high. Found occasionally; in
wet places in woods; Boreal forest.

Psilocarphus woolly-heads

Psilocarphus elatior Gray tall woolly-heads

An annual species with gray woolly stems 5-15 cm high, erect, sometimes
branched; depauperate plants sometimes no more than 1 cm high. Leaves 1-3
cm long, 2-5 mm wide, linear or linear-oblong. Heads solitary or clustered at
the tip of stems and axillary branches 4-8 mm thick; involucre densely woolly
or tomentose. Rare; damp areas, dried-up sloughs; Prairies.

Ratibida coneflower

Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standi. (Fig. 223)

LONG-HEADED CONEFLOWER

A perennial from a taproot, 30-70 cm high, usually branched from near
base. Stems somewhat stiff hairy, with longitudinal grooves and angles. Leaves
5-10 cm long, very deeply pinnately divided into narrow segments. Flower
heads borne at ends of long stalks, conspicuous by the cylindrical disk or
receptacle, gray to purple, about 6 mm wide, 10-35 mm high. Ray florets yel-
low, 15-25 mm long, usually reflexed. Common; on dry prairie and roadsides;
throughout Prairies, less common in Parklands. Syn.; Lepaehys columnifera
(Nutt.) Rydb. The f. pulcherrima (DC.) Fern., brown coneflower, similar to the
species, but with ray florets partly or entirely brownish purple. This form has
been found occasionally, but is very rare.

770

Fig. 222. A, Palmate-leaved colt's-foot, Petasites palmatus (Ait.) A. Gray; B,
arrow-leaved colt's-foot, Petasites sagittatus (Pursh) A. Gray; C, vine-leaved
colt's-foot, Petasites vitifolius Greene.

771

Fig. 223. Long-headed coneflower, Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. &
Standi.

772

Rudbeckia rudbeckia

Leaves neither lobed nor divided; disk or
flower heads dark brown R. hirta

Leaves, at least the lower ones, deeply lobed
and divided; disk of flower heads greenish
yellow R. laciniata

Rudbeckia hirta L. black-eyed susan

A rather coarse hairy biennial 30-60 cm high, with erect sometimes tufted
stems. Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5-15 cm long, 3-ribbed and hairy,
with the lower ones stalked, but the upper ones stalkless and smaller. Flowers
borne singly on long stalks, 5-8 cm across, with a dark brown hemispheric disk
and 10-20 orange yellow ray florets. Fairly common; on prairies and wood-
lands; Parklands and Boreal forest. Some botanists consider the western form
with oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves as a separate species, Rudbeckia
serotina Nutt., and reserve the name R. hirta L. for the eastern plants with
ovate leaves.

Rudbeckia laciniata L. tall coneflower

A branching perennial 1-2 m high, with a smooth stem. Leaves, except
the uppermost, deeply divided into 3-7 segments and stalked. Leaves varying
in size up to about 20-25 cm long, with the upper ones progressively smaller.
Stems usually bearing several long-stalked heads 5-10 cm across, with a green-
ish yellow disk, and 6-10 bright yellow ray florets. Frequent in open wood-
lands and forest edges; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Saussurea sawwort

Plants usually less than 20 cm high; involucral
bracts equal, acuminate at tip S. mida var. densa

Plants to 40 cm high; involucral bracts un-
equal, with the tip dilated S. glomerata

Saussurea glomerata Poir. tall sawwort

Plants with rootstocks; stems 20-40 cm high, pubescent. Leaves 5-10 cm
long, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, densely brown glandular punctate below.
Heads 10-15 mm across, with the outer bracts much shorter than the inner
ones, which have a pink petaloid segment 1-2 mm wide. Rare; introduced;
Peace River.

Saussurea nuda Led. var. densa (Hook.) Hulten dwarf sawwort

Plants with short thick leafy stems 5-20 cm high, more or less densely
woolly or tomentose. Leaves 5-10 cm long; the lower ones with winged
petioles; the upper ones sessile, lanceolate, loosely pubescent when young,
somewhat dentate. Heads crowded; inflorescence 4-7 cm across; involucres
about 1 cm high and wide; inner and outer bracts equal. Alpine meadows and
slopes; Rocky Mountains.

773

Senecio groundsel

Annual or perennial plants with alternate leaves. Flowers yellow, usually
radiate, although one introduced species is discoid. Bracts is one series or a
few basal bracts forming an outside row. Pappus consisting of many soft white
hairs.

1. Flower heads solitary 2

Flower heads few to many 3

2. Heads 15-20 mm across; leaves entire to

denticulate S. megacephalus

Heads 10-15 mm across; leaves toothed

to pinnatifid S. resedifolius

3. Annual plants with taproots 4

Perennial plants, usually with rootstocks 6

4. Stems and leaves densely glandular

pubescent S. viscosus

Stems and leaves not glandular 5

5. Plants branching; flower heads discoid S. vulgaris

Plants with few branches, tall; flower

heads radiate S. congestus

6. Leaves all or mostly subentire to dentate 7

Leaves all or mostly coarsely lobed to

pinnately divided 13

7. Flower heads solitary or with a small

head at base S. megacephalus

Flower heads 2 to many 8

8. Stem leaves and basal leaves equal in size

and shape S. triangularis

Stem leaves different from basal leaves 9

9. Middle and upper stem leaves much

reduced in size 10

Middle and upper stem leaves as large as

or slightly smaller than lower leaves 1 1

10. Inflorescence mostly terminal; axillary

pedicels short S. integerrimus

Inflorescence mostly axillary; pedicels

long S.foetidus

11. Leaves all cauline; basal leaves entirely

lacking S.fremontii

Basal leaves present 12

12. Leaves and stems somewhat tomentose,

at least till flowering S. tridenticulatus

Leaves and stems glabrous; leaves rather

succulent S. streptanthifolius

13. Basal and stem leaves all deeply pinnately

lobed or divided; plants often 1 m high S. eremophilus

114

Basal leaves, if present, dentate or shal-

lowly lobed 14

14. Basal leaves entire, white woolly S. canus

Basal leaves mostly toothed or pinnatifid 15

15. Leaf blades thin, smooth, and hairless S. pauper cuius

Leaf blades thick to fleshy and hairy to

woolly 16

16. Basal leaves wedge-shaped at base; 3- to

5-toothed toward apex S. streptanthifolius

Basal leaves cordate to rounded or trun-
cate at base 17

17. Heads discoid, or with very short incon-

spicuous ray florets 18

Heads with well-developed ray florets 19

18. Heads few, mostly 2-6; basal leaves 1-3

cm long S. pauciflorus

Heads mostly 6-40; basal leaves 2-6 cm

long S. indecorus

19. Plants low, less than 30 cm high; leaves

thick and somewhat fleshy S. tridenticulatus

Plants taller, usually over 30 cm; leaves

thin and not fleshy S. aureus

Senecio aureus L. golden ragwort

A plant 30-80 cm high, with long-stalked cordate-based almost circular
leaves 3-10 cm long. Stem leaves pinnatifid, and reduced in size. Flowers deep
yellow, 6-8 mm high, in a terminal cluster. Found in meadows and moist
places; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest, Cypress Hills, and southern
Rocky Mountains.

Senecio canus Hook. (Fig. 224) silvery groundsel

White woolly perennial from horizontal rootstocks, 10-30 cm high. Basal
leaves entire-margined, oval to spatulate, 3-7 cm long, stalked, and somewhat
white woolly; stem leaves much smaller, stalkless, oblong, and often somewhat
pinnatifid or lobed. Heads in a terminal cluster 10-25 mm across. Not com-
mon; on dry hills; across the Prairies and Parklands.

Senecio congestus (R. Br.) DC. marsh ragwort

A coarse hollow-stemmed annual 15-60 cm high, with fleshy stems some-
what cobwebby when young but hairless when mature. Lower leaves lanceo-
late to spatulate, 5-15 cm long, with wavy margins, and winged stalks; upper
leaves smaller, stalkless, somewhat lobed or dentate, linear-lanceolate, and
clasping the stem. Flower heads in a very crowded, dense, terminal cluster,
pale yellow, 1-2 cm across. Fairly common; around sloughs, stream banks,
and lakes, often forming a solid belt around a small lake; throughout the Prai-
rie Provinces. Syn.: S. palustris (L.) Hook.

775

Fig. 224. Silvery groundsel, Senecio canus Hook.

776

Senecio eremophilus Richards. (Fig. 225) cut-leaved ragwort

A leafy-stemmed species with a stout often purplish stem 30-100 cm high.
Leaves lobed or pinnatifid, 5-15 cm long; the lower leaves stalked; the upper
ones without stalks, slightly smaller than the lower ones. Stems leafy up to
inflorescence. Numerous yellow flower heads 10-25 mm across, with black-tip-
ped bracts, in compact terminal clusters. Found occasionally; on moist soil;
Parklands, more common in Boreal forest.

Senecio foetidus Howell marsh butterweed

A fibrous-rooted perennial with solitary or sometimes clustered stems
30-100 cm high, glabrous throughout. Basal leaves 7-20 cm long, to 7 cm
wide, rather sharply dentate; stem leaves progressively reduced, sessile.
Inflorescence dense, with the heads several to many, more or less corymbosely
arranged; ligules about 8 mm long; involucre 6-9 mm high, with the bracts
black-tipped. Moist woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Senecio fremontii T. & G. mountain butterweed

A glabrous perennial with taproot and branching caudex, freely branch-
ing; stems decumbent, 10-20 cm high. Leaves thick, 1-4 cm long, obovate to
spatulate, rather sharply dentate. Heads terminating short branches; ligules
6-10 mm long; involucre 7-12 mm high. Slopes and open areas in mountain
woods; southern Rocky Mountains.

Senecio indecorus Greene rayless ragwort

A fibrous-rooted perennial with a simple or occasionally branched caudex
and glabrous stems 30-80 cm high. Leaves rather thin, lightly floccose when
young; basal leaves elliptic or ovate, tapering to truncate at base, serrate or
somewhat incised, petiolate; stem leaves incised to pinnatifid, with toothed
lobes. Heads several to many; involucre 7-10 mm high; bracts often purple-
tipped. Moist meadows; Boreal forest and occasionally in Parklands.

Senecio integerrimus Nutt. entire-leaved groundsel

A stout-stemmed perennial from coarse, fleshy, fibrous roots, 20-60 cm
high. When young, the stem is somewhat hairy, but later the plant is entirely
smooth and hairless. Leaves entire, thick and fleshy, 5-20 cm long; basal
leaves oblong to lanceolate with long stalks; upper leaves stalkless, lanceolate
to linear, and reduced in size. Flower heads often 12-20 mm across, in dense
terminal clusters.

The species is represented by three varieties:

1. Involucral bracts green to tip var. integerrimus

Involucral bracts with a black tip 2

2. Black tip about 1 mm long var. exaltatus (Nutt.) Cronq.

Black tip about 3 mm long, triangular var. lugens (Richards.) Boiv.

The var. integerrimus is found throughout Prairies and Parklands, var.
exaltatus in Cypress Hills and southern Rocky Mountains, and var. lugens in
Rocky Mountains, northwestern Parklands, and Peace River.

777

m->

HERBARIUM OF TH1

SAWT CURRENT,

3PGCIEr>:Sen8«io ereaophllus Richards.

LOCATION: Rusty lAke

COLL: J. Loonan

OCT:

COLL. NO: 13354

DATS: U August 1969

Ki.KVA'flON: 500 a

HABI?AT:Lakeshore i»
reed vegetation

^_J

Fig. 225. Cut-leaved ragwort, Senecio eremophilus Richards.

778

Senecio megacephalus Nutt. largef lowered ragwort

Plants with a thick rootstock, and simple stout stems 10-20 cm high, more
or less floccose pubescent. Leaves linear-oblanceolate to lanceolate, entire or
denticulate. Heads solitary or seldom 2 or 3, 20-25 mm high; ligules orange,
15-20 mm long; involucre with the outer bracts often surpassing the inner
ones. Alpine slopes or ridges; southern Rocky Mountains.

Senecio pauciflorus Pursh few-feowered ragwort

A fibrous-rooted perennial with a simple caudex; stems 10-30 cm high,
glabrous, or somewhat floccose-tomentose when young. Basal leaves 2-4 cm
long, elliptic-ovate to subrotund, abruptly contracted or truncate at base, long-
petioled; stem leaves reduced, with the upper ones sessile, toothed to pinna-
tifid. Heads usually 2-6, discoid or rarely with a few short rays; involucre usu-
ally 6-8 mm high; bracts more or less purplish. Arctic and alpine meadows;
Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

Senecio pauperculus Michx. balsam groundsel

A slender-stemmed perennial with a woolly-based stem 20-40 cm high.
Basal leaves stalked, oblong or oval, with wavy margins, 2-8 cm long; stem
leaves smaller, not stalked, and lobed or toothed. Leaf blades hairless and thin.
Few flower heads, in a loose cluster on thin stalks at the head of the stem,
10-15 mm across.

Three varieties of this species can be found:

1. Involucre 4-5 mm high; basal leaves

about 1 cm wide var. pauperculus

Involucre 5-9 mm high; basal leaves 1-2

cm wide 2

2. Involucre 5-7 mm high; basal leaves

10-15 mm wide var.firmifolius Greenman

Involucre 6-9 mm high; basal leaves

15-20 mm wide var. thomsoniensis (Greenman) Boiv.

The var. pauperculus is found in wet, often somewhat saline meadows
throughout Prairies and Parklands; the other varieties are usually found in wet
meadows, especially on sandy soils, in Parklands and Boreal forest.

Senecio resedifolius Less. arctic butterweed

Plants with a rather thick rhizome and branched caudex; stems 5-30 cm
high, essentially glabrous. Leaves thick, 1-2.5 cm long, ovate or reniform to
suborbicular, toothed or entire; stem leaves reduced, with the upper ones ses-
sile. Heads solitary or rarely 2; ligules to 15 mm long or sometimes missing;
involucre 6-8 mm high, purplish. Boggy mountain meadows and slopes;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Senecio streptanthifolius Greene northern ragwort

A fibrous-rooted perennial with a short rootstock; stems 10-50 cm high,
glabrous or lightly pubescent. Lower leaves 2-7 cm long, oval, long-stalked,

779

and usually toothed or lobed; upper leaves stalkless, reduced, linear-lanceo-
late, and deeply toothed; most of the leaves somewhat fleshy. Orange yellow
flower heads 1-2 cm across, in a rather loose terminal cluster on long stalks.
Found occasionally; on moist soils; in valleys in Parklands and lightly wooded
parts of northwestern Boreal forest.

Senecio triangularis Hook. brook ragwort

A leafy-stemmed often tufted perennial, from fleshy fibrous roots, 30-60
cm high. Stem hairless and leafy to the inflorescence. Leaves almost all
stalked, 2-8 cm long, with conspicuous teeth, triangular to lanceolate. Flower
heads 1-2 cm across, in a terminal cluster. Along streams and in wet places;
southern Rocky Mountains.

Senecio tridenticulatus Rydb. compact groundsel

A low slender plant from a short rootstock, 15-30 cm high, slightly white
hairy at the base of the stem and at the axils of the leaves. Lower leaves 2-7 cm
long, short-stalked, oblanceolate, and often somewhat toothed; upper leaves
linear, stalkless, much smaller, and lobed. Flower heads few in number, 1-2
cm across, with rather pale yellow ray florets, in a fairly compact terminal
cluster. Found occasionally; on moist prairie; southeastern Parklands.

Senecio viscosus L. stinking groundsel

An annual weed with taproot; stems 10-60 cm high, usually branched.
Herbage densely glandular pubescent, strong-scented. Leaves pinnatifid, 3-12
cm long, 1-5 cm wide. Heads several to numerous, long pedicellate; ligules
inconspicuous; involucre 6-8 mm. Introduced, rare; southeastern Parklands.

Senecio vulgaris L. common groundsel

A low hollow-stemmed much-branched annual, 1 5^40 cm high. Leaves
lobed, 5-15 cm long; lower leaves stalked and upper ones clasping at base.
Flower heads discoid (without any ray florets), about 6 mm across, often with
some black-tipped bracts, in clusters at ends of branches. An introduced weed,
found often in gardens and around settlements; across the Prairie Provinces,
but nowhere very common.

Solidago goldenrod

Perennial herbs from rootstocks, with alternate entire leaves.
Inflorescence of terminal panicles, in racemes or corymbose clusters, with
many radiate yellow flower heads. Two species are white or cream. Pappus of
rough bristly hairs in one or two series. Most goldenrods bloom in mid- or late
summer and are good honey-producing plants.

1. Inflorescence corymbose, with the

branches slanting upward, forming a

rounded or flat-topped inflorescence 2

Inflorescence a panicle or spike 6

2. Ray florets white or pale yellow, large,

5-8 mm long S. ptarmieoides

780

Ray florets yellow, usually less than 5 mm

long 3

3. Leaves firm, very rough, gray pubescent;

stems rigid and gray puberulent S. rigida var. humilis

Leaves not rough or gray pubescent 4

4. Stem leaves, at least the lower ones,

petioled, the upper ones much reduced S. multiradiata

Stem leaves sessile or subsessile, all about

the same size 5

5. Leaves finely glandular pubescent, flat;

inflorescence with 10-50 heads 5". graminifolia

Leaves not glandular, commonly folded
lengthwise; inflorescence mostly with
more than 50 heads S. riddellii

6. Inflorescence racemose, with branches

ascending along the stem; inflorescence
more or less cylindrical or narrowly
oval 7

Inflorescence a panicle with more or less
spreading or arching branches; heads
often secund on the branches 1 1

7. Flowers white or cream S. bicolor

Flowers yellow 8

8. Leaves and stems densely hairy; lower

leaves ovate, with the petiole as long as

the blade S. bicolor var. concolor

Leaves and stems not densely hairy;
lower leaves not ovate, or if so, not
long-petioled 9

9. Leaves obovate, subsessile, 2.5-3 times as

long as wide, grayish green S. mollis

Leaves lanceolate, at least the lower ones
petioled, more than 4 times as long as
wide 10

10. Branches of the inflorescence shorter than

or as long as the subtending stem
leaves; inflorescence cylindrical, more
or less interrupted S. spathulata var. spathulata

Branches of the inflorescence much
longer than the subtending stem
leaves; inflorescence more or less oval,
not interrupted S. uliginosa

11. Basal leaves much longer than stem

leaves, often forming a rosette 12

Basal leaves not much longer than stem

leaves, seldom forming a rosette 14

12. Stem and leaves minutely gray pubescent S. nemoralis

Stem and leaves not gray pubescent 13

781

13. Lower and middle stem leaves distinctly

3-nerved, to 10 cm long, 15 mm wide,

entire or obscurely dentate S. missouriensis

Lower and middle stem leaves not dis-
tinctly nerved, usually 20 cm or more
long, 20-75 mm wide, clearly serrate S.juncea

14. Leaves obovate, subsessile, 2.5-3 times as

long as wide, grayish green S. mollis

Leaves lanceolate to oval, more than 4

times as long as wide, green 13

15. Stem below the inflorescence glabrous or

very sparsely pubescent S. gigantea var. serotina

Stem below the inflorescence densely

pubescent S. canadensis

Solidago bicolor L. pale golden rod

A stout plant with white hairy stems 20-60 cm high. Lower leaves long-
stalked, obovate to oblong, 5-10 cm long; upper leaves stalkless, smaller and
narrow; all leaves hairy on both sides. Inflorescence narrow, 5-15 cm high,
with short branches bearing flower heads, which have white or pale cream ray
florets. Found occasionally; on dry soil; southeastern Boreal forest and Park-
lands. The var. concolor T. & G. differs only in having yellow ray florets.
Found in dry to moist woods; throughout Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.:
S. hispida Muhl. var. lanata (Hook.) Fern.

Solidago canadensis L. var. canadensis (Fig. 226) graceful golden rod

A slender-stemmed leafy plant from a horizontal rootstock, 30-80 cm
high. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 3-veined, 5-10 cm long, with fine teeth,
slightly hairy along the veins on the underside, green. Inflorescence a broad,
pyramid-like panicle; flower heads small, borne on one side of spreading
branches. Found commonly; in woodlands and forests; Parklands and Boreal
forest, also in Cypress Hills. The var. gilvocanescens Rydb., canescent golden-
rod, is a slender-stemmed yellowish gray species from a horizontal rootstock,
25-60 cm high, with a finely downy-haired stem. Leaves 2-5 cm long, 3-veined,
narrowly lanceolate, entire or somewhat toothed, with the lower ones falling
off early. Inflorescence pyramid-shaped with somewhat recurved branches.
Fairly common; on disturbed moist areas; Prairies. Syn.: S. pruinosa Greene.

Solidago gigantea Ait. var. serotina (Ait.) Cronq. late golden rod

A stout erect species from stout rootstocks, 60-150 cm high, with a
smooth leafy stem. Leaves thin, lanceolate, 2-12 cm long, without stalks, 3
nerves, usually sharply toothed, smooth on both sides. Inflorescence large,
pyramidal; heads crowded on spreading recurved branches. Common; around
bluffs, woodlands, and also in coulees and low areas; throughout Prairie Prov-
inces. Syn.: S. serotina Ait.

Solidago graminifolia (L.) Salisb. var. graminifolia flat-topped goldenrod

A much-branched plant from a long rootstock, 30-60 cm high. Leaves
numerous and somewhat crowded, 2-10 cm long, linear-lanceolate, 15-20

782

i

9 »$*•

Fig. 226. Graceful goldenrod, Solidago canadensis L. var. canadensis.

783

times as long as wide, and pointed at both ends. Small yellow flowers, in very
short-stemmed terminal clusters, forming a somewhat flat-topped
inflorescence. Fairly common; along stream banks and moist places; eastern
Parklands and Boreal forest. The var. major (Michx.) Fern, has wider leaves
and the length-to-width ratio is usually 8-10:1; plants smaller; inflorescence
with fewer heads. The variety is more common in the western part of the distri-
bution area.

Solidago juncea Ait. sharp-toothed goldenrod

A stout smooth-stemmed species from a horizontal rootstock, 40-80 cm
high. Lower leaves single-ribbed, broadly oblanceolate, stalked, hairless, 15-30
cm long; upper leaves stalkless, smaller, and narrower. Inflorescence a some-
what flat-topped panicle with recurved spreading branches; flower heads
borne on one side of branches. Rarely found; a species of woodlands and
banks; southeastern Boreal forest.

Solidago missouriensis Nutt. low goldenrod

A rather low smooth-stemmed species from horizonal rootstocks, 15-50
cm high. Stems hairless, often tufted, usually somewhat reddish. Leaves 3-rib-
bed, linear-lanceolate, 2-10 cm long, often reddish and hairless except for
sparse short marginal hairs. Inflorescence a compact terminal panicle with
erect branches. Earlier flowering than other goldenrods. Common on dry prai-
ries and hillsides; throughout Prairies and southern fringe of Parkland. The
var. fasciculata Holzinger, low goldenrod, differs from the species by having
branches of inflorescence recurved and spreading instead of erect. Probably
the eastern form of the species. Common; on dry prairie; in south central parts
of the distribution area. Syn.: S. glaberrima Martens.

Solidago mollis Bartl. velvety goldenrod

A stout, low, erect plant from a horizontal rootstock, 20-50 cm high.
Whole plant covered with very fine, short, velvety hairs. Leaves pale green,
almost entire-margined, obovate to oval (or the upper leaves elliptic),
3-nerved, 2-7 cm long; lower leaves short-stalked; upper leaves stalkless
and crowded on stem. Inflorescence a pyramid-shaped dense panicle. Com-
mon; on dry prairie land and roadsides; probably the most common species
in Prairies.

Solidago multiradiata Ait. alpine goldenrod

A rather small species with a short rootstock or branching caudex; stems
5^40 cm high, pilose above and in the inflorescence. Heads rather large; invo-
lucre 4-8 mm high, few, seldom more than 10-20. Boreal and montane or
alpine meadows; Boreal forest and Rocky Mountains.

Solidago nemoralis Ait. showy goldenrod

A species growing in clumps of several stems from a thick rootstock,
30-50 cm high. Stems often somewhat decumbent, reddish, covered with fine
downy hairs. Basal leaves narrowly oblanceolate, entire, 5-10 cm long; upper
leaves oblong or linear; all leaves somewhat ashy gray, with very minute hairs.
Inflorescence narrow, usually bent over or somewhat nodding at top. Plentiful;
on sandy soil and in sandhills; throughout Prairies and Parklands.

784

Solidago ptarmicoides (Nees) Boiv. upland white goldenrod

A somewhat tufted plant from creeping rootstocks, 20-60 cm high. Leaves
linear-lanceolate, 2-15 cm long, sometimes slightly toothed, firm, and shiny.
Flower heads numerous, 10-25 mm across, white, in a somewhat flat-topped
terminal cluster. Rare, but found occasionally; in dry, saline, or gravelly soil;
eastern Parklands and Boreal forest. Syn.: Unamia alba (Nutt.) Rydb.; Aster
ptarmicoides (Nees) T. & G. Plants with somewhat smaller heads and pale yel-
low ligules are considered to be a hybrid between S. ptarmicoides and S. rigida
var. humilis, and have been named X S. lutescens (Lindl.) Boiv. Syn.: Aster
ptarmicoides (Nees) T. & G. var. lutescens (Lindl.) A. Gray.

Solidago riddel Hi Frank R I ddell'S goldenrod

A tall species with a more or less developed caudex and sometimes short
rootstocks; stems 40-100 cm high, glabrous below the inflorescence. Leaves
5-15 cm long, glabrous, with margins scabrous, entire, tending to be 3-nerved;
stem leaves numerous, somewhat clasping or sheathing at the base.
Inflorescence corymbiform; branches puberulent; heads numerous, rarely less
than 50, often several hundred; involucre 5-6 mm high. Rare; swamps and wet
meadows; southeastern Parklands and Boreal forest.

Solidago rigida L. var. humilis Porter (Fig. 227) stiff goldenrod

An erect stout-stemmed species, with a densely fine-hairy rough stem,
from a thick woody rootstock, 10^40 cm high. Basal leaves long-stalked, oval,
4-10 cm long, thick, and densely fine-hairy on both sides; stem leaves oval,
stalkless, and smaller. Inflorescence a dense corymbose cluster, somewhat flat-
topped, with an involucre 6-8 mm high. Common; on prairies and openings in
woodlands; throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Solidago spathulata DC. var. spathulata (Fig. 228) mountain goldenrod

Rather low plants 20-50 cm high. Stems decumbent at base, often red-
dish-tinged. Lower leaves spatulate, 2—10 cm long, usually blunt-tipped, often
with rounded teeth; stem leaves smaller and entire; basal leaves usually some-
what crowded at root crown. Inflorescence a narrow erect panicle; heads fairly
large, usually about 8 mm high. Common; in grasslands; throughout Prairies,
Parklands, and southern Boreal forest; often mistaken for S. missouriensis,
with smaller flowers and triple-veined leaves. Syn.: S. decumbens Greene; S.
oreophila Rydb.

Solidago uliginosa Nutt. marsh goldenrod

A large species with a long much-branched rootstock or caudex; stems
60-150 cm high, glabrous below the inflorescence. Basal and lower stem leaves
6-35 cm long, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, subentire to dentate, tapering to
a long winged petiole; upper stem leaves gradually reduced. Inflorescence
puberulent, elongate; branches straight or recurved-secund; involucre 3-5 mm
high. Bogs and marshes; southeastern Boreal forest.

785

/

„,stf$0P^

Fig. 227. Stiff goldenrod, Solidago rigida L. var. humilis Porter.

786

Fig. 228. Mountain goldenrod, Solidago spathulata DC. var. spat hu lata.

787

Tanacetum tansy

Leaf segments very fine, about 1 mm wide T. huronense

Leaf segments much coarser, 3-10 mm wide T. vulgare

Tanacetum huronense Nutt. INDIAN tansy

A perennial with long rootstocks; stems 10-60 cm high, more or less vil-
lous throughout. Leaves 5-20 cm long, 2-8 cm wide, 2- or 3-pinnatifid. Heads
1-15, with the disk 10-18 mm across; ligules inconspicuous, or rarely to 4 mm
long. Rare; sandy lakeshores; Boreal forest.

Tanacetum vulgare L. (Fig. 229) TANSY

A stout erect-stemmed perennial 30-100 cm high. Leaves 5-25 cm long,
pinnately divided into narrow toothed segments, very aromatic when bruised.
Flower heads discoid (without ray florets), 6-8 mm across, in a somewhat flat-
topped cluster. An introduced garden plant, which has become established
and often forms extensive colonies in roadsides, waste areas, and ditches; in
many locations throughout the Prairie Provinces.

Thelesperma tickseed

Thelesperma marginatum Rydb. tickseed

A perennial with rootstock or woody caudex; stems 10-20 cm high, leafy
at the base. Leaves once or twice pinnately divided, with the divisions linear,
1-2 mm wide. Peduncles mostly 7-10 cm long; heads solitary or few, about 1
cm wide; involucral bracts fused; lobes with a distinct white margin. Rare;
eroded slopes; Prairies.

Townsendia townsendia

Tufted plants with clustered basal alternate entire leaves and large aster-
like radiate heads. The pappus consisting of bristly hairs.

Heads on a stalk from the root crown T. parryi

Heads stalkless, growing directly on the root
crown T. exscapa

Townsendia exscapa (Rich.) Porter low townsendia

An almost stemless plant from a deep woody branching root. Leaves nar-
rowly spatulate to linear, 2-5 cm long. Flower heads stalkless, borne amongst
rosettes of leaves, 20-35 mm across, and with bluish or white ray florets.
Found occasionally; on eroded prairies and dry stony hillsides; throughout
Prairies and southern fringe of Parklands. Syn.: T sericea Hook. A similar
species, T hookeri Beaman, is smaller, with narrower leaves, and involucral
bracts very densely ciliate throughout and tipped with a tuft of hairs. How-
ever, the pubescence and size of plants in any location can vary greatly, and
there seems little reason to assume the presence of two species of low townsen-
dia.

788

Fig. 229. Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare L.

789

Townsendia parry i D. C. Eaton (Fig. 230) PARRY'S townsendia

A biennial plant, usually cushion-like, with crowded basal leaves. Leaves
spatulate and thick, 2-5 cm long; stem leaves few, very small. Flower head on
a short stem 2-15 cm high, about 5-7 cm across, with many narrow violet or
purplish blue ray florets and a wide disk about 25-30 mm across. Found occa-
sionally; on open benchland; southern Rocky Mountains.

Vernonia ironweed

Vernonia fasciculata Michx. var. corymbosa (Schwein.) Schub.

WESTERN IRONWEED

A coarse erect perennial, usually with a red smooth stem 40-100 cm high.
Leaves stalkless, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 7-15 cm long, smooth, and
sharply toothed. Inflorescence a loose terminal cluster. Flower heads discoid
(with no ray florets), about 6 mm across, dark purple. Rare; has been found
beside sloughs and in river valleys; along southeastern Parklands and Boreal
forest.

Tabular classification

The heading "varieties" includes subspecies, forms, and small or included
species in addition to varieties. Plants represented only by a subspecies or
variety are included under species.

Families

Genera

Species

Varieties

Pteridophyta

7

21

58

2

Spermatophyta

Gymnospermae

3

8

22

3

Angiospermae

Monocotyledoneae

16

125

429

66

Dicotyledoneae

92

436

1465

149

Totals

118

590

1974

220

790

Fig. 230. Parry's townsendia, Townsendia parryi D. C. Eaton.

791

Glossary

acaulescent Stemless, or having a very short stem.

achene A 1 -celled, 1 -seeded, dry hard fruit that does not open when ripe

(Fig. 9, p. 19).
acrid Pungent, bitter.
acuminate Gradually tapering to a point.
acute Somewhat abruptly tapering to a point.
adnate Of a plant part, united with or attached to another part, usually of a

different kind.
alternate Distributed, as leaves, at different positions on the stem, not oppo-
site each other (Fig. 5, p. 16).
anient A scaly spike of flowers of one sex only; also called catkin.
androgynous Of spikes in Carex, having both staminate and pistillate flowers,

the latter at the base.
angiosperm A plant bearing seed in a closed ovary.
annual A plant germinating, flowering, and ripening seed in 1 year.
annular Arranged in rings.

anther The pollen container of a stamen or male organ (Fig. 7, p. 1 7).
anthesis In full flower, usually referring to the flowering period.
apetalous Without petals.
apex The summit or point (Fig. 5, p. 16).
appressed Lying flat and close to some part of a plant, usually referring to

hairs.
approximate Close together, but not overlapping.
aquatic Living in water.
articulation Natural separation, joint.
ascending Growing upward or turned up.
astringent Binding, contracting.
attenuate Becoming very narrow.
auricle An ear-shaped appendage, or the ear at the base of a leaf (Fig. 5,

p. 16).
auriculate Having auricles.

awl-shaped Broad at base, tapering to a sharp point.
awn A bristle, often found on grass flowers.
axil The upper angle formed where a leaf stalk or a branch joins a stem

(Fig. 5, p. 16).
axillary In an axil.
axis The central line of an organ.

barb A short, stiff point, or short bristle, often bent backward.

basifixed Attached at or near the base, at one end only.

beak A tip or point, somewhat resembling the beak of a bird.

bearded Hairy, often used of a stamen or of the throat of a flower.

berry A pulpy fruit with several seeds, as that of currant and grape

(Fig. 5, p. 16).
biennial Of 2 years' duration.
bifid Two-cleft.
bilabiate Two-lipped.

793

bisexual Having both stamens and pistils.

blade The expanded part of a leaf (Fig. 5, p. 16).

bloom A whitish, powdery covering.

bract A small leaf or scale, often borne below a flower or flower cluster.

bracteose Having numerous or conspicuous bracts.

bractlet A secondary bract, as one borne on the pedicel of a flower.

bud The rudimentary state of a stem or branch; an unexpanded flower.

bulb A thick underground organ composed of successive fleshy layers.

bulblet A small bulb, borne on the stem or inflorescence.

callus A small, hard protuberance.

calyx The outer floral ring, or sepals, usually green, but sometimes brightly
colored (Fig. 7, p. 17).

campanulate Bell-shaped.

canescent Densely fine pubescent, giving a gray appearance.

capitate Gathered into a head, as a cluster at the end of a stem.

capsule A dry fruit, as that of the gentian, consisting of more than one cham-
ber, and opening at maturity.

carpel An ovule-bearing chamber at the base of the pistil or female organ of
a flower.

caryopsis A grain, as in the grasses.

catkin As used in this book, a scaly spike of flowers of one sex.

caudex The woody base of a plant from which the stems arise.

caulescent Having a well-defined stem above the ground.

cauline Belonging or attached to the stem.

cell A chamber of the ovary or anther; an individual unit of plant structure.

cespitose Growing in tufts; matted or turf-forming; also spelled caespitose.

chaff A small, thin, dry, and membranous scale or bract.

chartaceous Having the texture of paper, papery.

chlorophyll The green coloring matter within the cells of a plant.

choripetalous Having petals separated from each other.

ciliate Having marginal hairs (Fig. 5, p. 16).

circumscissile Splitting all the way around, as the lid of a fruit, such as that of
purslane.

clasping Partly or entirely surrounding the stem; used of leaf bases (Fig. 5,
p. 16).

cleft Deeply lobed.

cleistogamous Of flowers, small, inconspicuous, permanently closed, and

hence self-fertilizing.
compound Of a leaf, composed of 2 or more leaflets; of a branch, composed

of 2 or more parts, forming a common whole.
compressed Flattened, especially laterally.
cone A dense, usually elongated collection of flowers or fruits borne beneath

scales; or a collection of spore-bearing leaves on an axis, the whole mass

forming a fruit-like body.
coniferous Cone-bearing.

connate Of leaves, united at the base (Fig. 5, p. 16); joined together.
convex Curved outward, as the surface of a sphere.
convolute Rolled together, coiled.

794

cordate Of a leaf, heart-shaped, with the point away from the base (Fig. 3,

p. 15).
corm A thick enlarged base of a stem, as found in crocus and gladiolus.
corolla The petals or inner floral ring (Fig. 7, p. 17).
corymb A cluster of flowers in which the flower stalks arise from different

points on the stem; the cluster has a flat or rounded top (Fig. 6, p. 17).
cosmopolite Occurring in all or most parts of the world.
cotyledon The first leaf from the seed, sometimes called the seed leaf.
crenate Having the margin cut into rounded scallops.
crown The place where stem and root meet.
culm The stem of a grass or sedge.
cuneate Of a leaf, broadly rounded at the apex and tapering rather abruptly

toward the point of attachment (Fig. 3, p. 15).
cylindric In the form of a cylinder.
cyme A cluster of flowers in which the central flowers open first (Fig. 6,

p. 17).
cymose Of the form or nature of a cyme.

deciduous Having leaves that fall off in autumn; not evergreen.

decompound More than once compound or divided.

decumbent Of a stem, the base lying on the ground, but the tip growing

upright.
decurrent Of a leaf, the blade extending down the stem (Fig. 5, p. 16).
deflexed Turned abruptly downward.
deltoid Of a leaf, triangular (Fig. 3, p. 15).
dentate Toothed, with teeth pointed and directed outward.
diadelphous Of stamens, united in 2, often unequal, bundles.
dichotomous Regularly and repeatedly branching in twos.
dicotyledon A plant bearing 2 cotyledons, or seed leaves.
digitate Of a leaf, with divisions somewhat like fingers (Fig. 4, p. 15).
dilate Spreading out in all directions.

dioecious Having male and female flowers on separate plants.
discoid Having only disk flowers, without ray flowers.
disk or disc A more or less fleshy or elevated development of the receptacle

about the pistil; the receptacle in the head of Compositae (Fig. 153, p. 524);

a flattened extremity, as on tendrils of Virginia creeper.
dissected Divided into many segments.
divaricate Spreading very far apart; extremely divergent.
divergent Spreading away from each other.
divided Of a leaf, cleft to the midrib or base (Fig. 4, p. 15).
dorsal The backside of an organ, facing away from the axis.
drupe A pulpy or fleshy fruit containing a single seed enclosed in a hard shell

or stone, as that of the plum.
drupelet One part of a fruit composed of aggregate drupes, as in the

raspberry.

edentate Lacking teeth.
ellipsoid Solid but with an elliptical outline.

elliptical Of a leaf, oval or oblong with the ends rounded and widest in the
middle (Fig. 3, p. 15).

795

elongate Stretched out, lengthened.

entire Of a leaf or leaflet, having the margin not toothed or cleft.

equitant Of leaves, enfolding each other or borne astride, as in the lily and

the iris.
erose Appearing as though gnawed at the margin.
excurrent Projecting beyond the margin or tip, as an awn.
exserted Projecting outward, as stamens from a corolla.

falcate Curved and flat; sickle-shaped.
farinose Covered with a whitish, mealy powder.
fascicle A dense cluster; used of roots, leaves, or flowers.
fertile Referring to stamens that bear pollen, and fruits that contain seeds.
filament The stalk of a stamen below the anther (Fig. 7, p. 17).
filiform Thread-like, long and very slender.
flaccid Limp, floppy.

flexuous Curved or bending in alternate directions, zigzag.
floret A single flower, usually used of a composite head or cluster.
-foliate Of a leaf, composed of 2 or more parts.

follicle A fruit with a single chamber that opens along one side, as in milk-
weed (Fig. 9, p. 19).
frond The expanded leaf-like portion of a fern.
fruit The seed-bearing product of a plant.
funnelform Of a flower, shaped like a funnel, cone-shaped.

galea A hooded or helmet-shaped portion of a perianth, especially the upper
part of some 2-lipped corollas, such as in elephant's-head.

geniculate Bent, like a knee.

glabrate Without pubescence.

glabrescent Becoming glabrous with age or at maturity.

glabrous Smooth, without hairs.

gland An organ that secretes sticky or resinous matter.

glandular Bearing glands.

glaucous Covered with a bloom; bluish white or bluish gray.

globose Spherical or nearly so.

globular Globe-like, spherical.

glomerule A small compact cluster of flowers, as in Compositae.

glume A scaly bract on the floral parts of grasses and sedges.

glutinous Sticky.

grain A fruit resembling an achene but having the seed coat and thin peri-
carp fused into one body, particularly the fruit of grasses.

granular Covered with very small grains.

gynaecandrous Of spikes in Carex, having both staminate and pistillate
flowers, the latter at the apex.

hastate Resembling an arrowhead; of a leaf, with basal lobes protruding

sideways.
head A dense cluster of flowers or fruits on a very short axis or receptacle.
herb A plant without a woody stem above the ground.
hip The berry-like enlarged calyx tube containing many achenes, found in

roses.

796

hirsute Having coarse spreading hairs.
hispid Bearing stiff hairs or bristles.
hispidulous Minutely hispid.
hoary Grayish white.
hyaline Transparent or translucent, glassy.

hypanthium The place on a flower head where the sepals and petals are
attached.

imbricate Overlapping like shingles.

incised Having a margin that is cut or slashed irregularly; between toothed
and lobed.

indehiscent Not opening by valves; remaining closed.

indurate Hardened.

indusium In ferns, a membranous cover of a spore cluster or sorus; plural,
indusia.

inferior Of an ovary, situated below the calyx and corolla (Fig. 7, p. 17).

inflorescence Arrangement of flowers in a cluster (Fig. 6, p. 17).

internode The part of an axis between 2 nodes.

interrupted Not continuous.

introduced Imported from another region for ornamental or cultivation pur-
poses.

involucre The whorl of bracts below a flower cluster, or around a flower of
Compositae (Fig. 199, p. 684).

involute Rolled inward.

irregular Of a flower, petals and sepals differing in shape or size (Fig. 8,
p. 18).

keel The 2 lower united petals of a leguminous flower (Fig. 7, p. 17); a sharp
ridge.

lacerate Irregularly cleft or cut, as if torn.

lanate Covered with soft, intertwined hairs; woolly.

lanceolate Of a leaf, much longer than wide, broadest near the base and

tapering toward the tip (Fig. 3, p. 15).
lax Loose, the opposite of stiff or congested.
leaflet A division of a compound leaf (Fig. 4, p. 15).
legume A dry pod-like fruit, splitting down one or both sides at maturity

(Fig. 9, p. 19).
lemma The lower of the 2 bracts enclosing a grass flower (Fig. 16, p. 53).
lenticular Lens-shaped, biconvex.
ligulate Having a ligule.
ligule A strap-shaped organ, as in ray florets of Compositae (Fig. 199, p. 684);

also, a collar of a grass blade (Fig. 16, p. 53).
linear Of a leaf, long and narrow with parallel margins (Fig. 3, p. 15).
lip The main lobe of a 2-lobed corolla or calyx; the odd and peculiar petal of

Orchidaceae.
lobe A rounded projection of a leaf (Fig. 4, p. 15), or a leaf-like part of a

plant.
locule The cavity of an ovary or anther.
loment A legume or pod, constricted between the seeds, the joints separating

at maturity (Fig. 9, p. 19).

797

lyrate Of a leaf, having a large terminal lobe and smaller lobes toward the
base.

malpighian Of hairs, attached in the middle.

membranous Rather soft, thin, and somewhat translucent.

mericarp One of the two parts of the fruit of certain families, especially

Umbelliferae.
-merous Having 2 or more parts; -parted.
midrib The central vein of a leaf or other organ.
monocotyledon A plant bearing only 1 cotyledon or seed leaf.
monoecious Having male and female flowers on the same plant.
mucro A stiff, sharp point; plural, mucrones.
mucronate Terminated by a mucro.

nectar A sweet liquid secreted by the nectaries of plants.

nerve A simple or unbranched vein or slender rib.

neutral Of a flower, without stamens or pistils.

node The place on a stem where leaves grow or normally arise; the solid part

of a culm.
nut A single-seeded fruit with a woody, hard outer coat (Fig. 9, p. 19).

obcordate Of a leaf, heart-shaped with the attachment at the pointed end.
oblanceolate Of a leaf, much longer than wide, broadest near the tip, and

tapering toward the place of attachment (Fig. 3, p. 15).
oblong Longer than broad, having the sides nearly parallel for most of their

length (Fig. 3, p. 15).
obovate Of a leaf, egg-shaped having the wide part near the tip (Fig. 3, p. 1 5).
obovoid Of a plant part, such as a fruit, that is wider near the tip.
obpyramidal Inversely pyramidal.
obtuse Blunt or rounded at the end.
ocrea A loose sheath, composed of 1 or 2 membranous stipules at the base of

a leafstalk.
opposite Borne 2 at a node, on opposing sides of an axis (Fig. 5, p. 16).
orbicular Somewhat circular in outline (Fig. 3, p. 15).
oval Of a leaf, egg-shaped (Fig. 3, p. 1 5).
ovary The part of a pistil or female organ of a flower containing the cells that

become seeds after fertilization.
ovate Of a leaf, egg-shaped with the broad part toward the base (Fig. 3,

p. 15).
ovoid Egg-shaped, having the wide part near the point of attachment.

ovule The seed-containing unit of the ovary.

palea The inner of 2 bracts enclosing a grass flower (Fig, 16, p. 53).

palmate Of a leaf, having the shape of a hand with the fingers spread (Fig. 4,
p. 15).

paludose Of, or growing in, marshes.

panicle A branched cluster of flowers, each stalked, the lower branches long-
est and opening first (Fig. 6, p. 17).

paniculate Resembling a panicle.

papilla A minute, nipple-shaped projection.

798

papillate Bearing papillae; also called papillose.

pappus The bristly or scale-like appendage on fruits of Compositae (Fig. 199,
p. 684).

paraphysis A slender sterile filament among the spores of some ferns; plural,

paraphyses.
parasitic Growing on, and deriving nourishment from, another living plant.
pectinate Comb-like.

pedicel The stalk of a single flower in a cluster.
pedicellate Having or attached by a pedicel.
peduncle Stem of a solitary flower or of a flower cluster.
pedunculate Having a peduncle.
peltate Shield-shaped; of a leaf, attached to its stalk inside the margin (Fig. 3,

p. 15).

pendulous Hanging down.

pepo A berry-like fruit of Cucurbitaceae, with a hard rind and pulpy interior

filled with seeds.
perennial A plant that persists for more than 2 years.
perfect Of a flower, complete, having both stamens and pistil.
perfoliate A stalkless leaf with basal portions encircling the stem.
perianth Petals and sepals referred to together.
perigy nium The papery sheath that envelopes the fruit in Carex; plural, peri-

gynia.
persistent Remaining attached.
petal A separate part of a corolla or inner floral ring, usually brightly colored

(Fig. 7, p. 17).

petiole A stalk of a leaf.

petiolate Stalked, having a stalk.

phyllodium A leaf-like petiole with no leaf; plural, phyllodia.

pilose Sparsely pubescent with long straight hairs.

pinna A leaflet or primary division of a pinnate leaf or frond; plural, pinnae.

pinnate Of a compound leaf, or frond, with leaflets (pinnae) arranged on

each side of a common axis.
pinnatifid Cleft or parted in a pinnate way.
pinnatisect Cleft pinnately to or almost to the midrib.
pinnule A secondary pinna.

pistil The female part of a flower, composed of style and stigma.
pistillate Having pistils, or female organs; generally used when no male parts

are present.
pith The spongy center of the stems of most angiosperms.
plicate Folded lengthwise, as in a fan.
plumose Having fine hairs, resembling a feather.
pod A dry fruit, opening when mature.

pollinium A mass of waxy pollen, as in Orchidaceae; plural, pollinia.
polygamous Having both perfect and unisexual flowers on the same plant.
pome A fleshy fruit, as the apple.

procumbent Trailing along the ground without rooting at the nodes.
protuberance A swelling or bulge.
puberulent Minutely pubescent, downy.
pubescent Covered with hairs.

799

punctate Dotted, with glandular depressions or colored dots.
puncticulate Dotted with very small dots.

pyxis A capsule, the upper part of which falls off as a lid, as in the fruit of
purslane (Fig. 9, p. 19).

raceme A flower cluster with each flower borne on a short stalk from a com-
mon stem (Fig. 6, p. 17).

racemose Composed of or resembling racemes.

rachilla Axis of a spikelet (Fig. 17, p. 54).

rachis The axis of a spike or compound leaf (Fig. 17, p. 54).

radiate Having ray florets (Fig. 199, p. 684).

ray In some Compositae, a modified marginal floret with a strap-like exten-
sion of the corolla.

receptacle The part of a flower stalk bearing the floral organs; the part of a
capitate flower cluster bearing the florets (Fig. 199, p. 684).

recurved Curved backward.

reflexed Bent sharply backward, or downward.

regular Of a flower in which all respective parts are the same size and shape
(Fig. 8, p. 18).

reniform Of a leaf, somewhat kidney-shaped.
reticulate Having the appearance of a net.
retrorse Bent or curved over, backward or downward.
retuse Having a shallow notch at an otherwise rounded apex.
revolute Rolled backward or downward.
rhizome An underground, root-like stem; rootstock.
rhombic Having the outline of an equal-sided oblique diamond shape.
rootstock A rhizome.

rosette A dense cluster of leaves on a very short stem or axis (Fig. 5, p. 16).
rotate Of a flower, wheel-shaped (Fig. 8, p. 18).
rudimentary Imperfectly developed and nonfunctional.
rugose Wrinkled, corrugated.

runcinate Coarsely toothed or cut, the pointed teeth turned toward the base
of the leaf.

sac A pouch, especially the cavity of an anther.

sagittate Resembling the head of an arrow; of a leaf, having the basal lobes

pointing toward the place of attachment.
salverform Of a flower, having a tube with wheel-shaped expansion on top, as

in flax and collomia (Fig. 8, p. 18).
samara A winged fruit that does not split open at maturity (Fig. 9, p. 19).
saprophyte A plant that lives on dead organic matter.
scaberulous Somewhat roughened.
scabrous Rough to the touch.

scale A dry and appressed modified or reduced leaf or bract.
scape A flowering stem growing from the root crown and not bearing proper

leaves, as in the tulip.
scapose Bearing flowers on a scape.

scarious Thin and dry, not green, as in margins of sheaths or bracts.
scorpioid Of an inflorescence, uncoiling as the flowers develop.
secund One-sided; of flowers that appear to be borne on one side.

800

seed The ripened ovule, consisting of the embryo and its proper coats.

sepal One of the separate parts of a calyx, usually green and leaf-like.

sericeous Silky hairy.

serrate Having sharp teeth pointing forward.

serrulate Minutely and finely serrate.

sessile Without a stalk (Fig. 5, p. 16).

sheath A long tubular structure surrounding some part of a plant.

shrub A woody plant that remains low and produces shoots or trunks from

the base or caudex.
silicle A short silique.
silique A capsule with 2 valves separating from a thin longitudinal partition

(Fig. 9, p. 19).
simple Of a leaf, having a single blade not divided into leaflets.
sinuate Wavy-margined.

sorus A cluster of spore cases, as in the ferns; plural, sori.
spadix A dense or fleshy spike of flowers, as in Calla.
spathe A large leaf-like bract enclosing a flower cluster.

spatulate Spoon-shaped; of a leaf, having a broad rounded tip, gradually

narrowing to the point of attachment (Fig. 3, p. 15).
spike A flower cluster, the individual flowers of which are stalkless, borne on

a common stalk (Fig. 6, p. 17).
spikelet A secondary spike, especially in grasses and sedges.
spinose Bearing many spines.
spinulose Bearing small spines.
sporangium A spore case; plural, sporangia.
spore A reproductive body, usually of a single detached cell without embryo,

as in ferns.
sporocarp A receptacle containing spores.

spur A hollow projection, usually at the base of a flower, as in the snapdra-
gon.
squarrose Sharply recurved at the tips, spreading at right angles.
stalk The stem of an organ, such as the petiole, peduncle, filament, or stipe.
stamen The male organ of a flower (Fig. 7, p. 17).
staminodium A false stamen.
staminate Having stamens; the term usually used when no female organs are

present.
standard The large upper petal (or banner) of a leguminous flower (Fig. 7,

p. 17).
stellate Star-shaped.
steppe Native grassland, prairie.
stigma The summit of the style; the part that receives the pollen (Fig. 7,

p. 17).

stipe Any short stalk, especially that of the pistil; the petiole of a fern leaf.

stipitate Borne on a stipe or short stalk.

stipule An appendage at the base of a leaf (Fig. 5, p. 16).

stolon Basal branch that roots at nodes, often underground.

striate Marked with fine longitudinal lines or ridges.

strigose Pubescent with appressed straight hairs.

strobilus A cone-like aggregation of sporophylls; plural, strobili.

801

style The part of the pistil between the stigma and ovary (Fig. 7, p. 17).

submersed Being or growing under water.

subulate Awl-shaped, tapering along its entire length.

succulent Juicy, fleshy; soft and thickened in texture.

superior Of an ovary, above the calyx or hypanthium (Fig. 7, p. 17).

sympetalous Having the petals wholly or partly united.

tendril A slender outgrowth by which some plants attach themselves to

objects (Fig. 5, p. 16).
terete Circular in cross section.
terminal At the end of a stem or branch.
ternate In threes.

tomentose Densely hairy with matted wool.
translucent Partly transparent.
trifid Cleft part way into 3.
trifoliate Having 3 leaves (Fig. 4, p. 15).

trifoliolate Having a leaf or leaves of 3 leaflets, as most clovers.
tuber A thick underground branch bearing buds.
tubercle A small tuber; a rounded protruding body.
tubular Hollow and of an elongated or pipe-like form.
tussock A dense tuft or bunch, mostly used of grasses and sedges.

umbel A flower cluster in which all flower stalks arise from a common point

(Fig. 6, p. 17).
umbellet A secondary umbel.

unarmed Without spines, prickles, or other sharp appendages.
unisexual Having only male or female organs.
utricle A small bladdery one-seeded fruit, as in amaranth.

valve The units or pieces of a capsule or pod; the enlarged inner sepals in

Rumex.
venation The arrangement or disposition of veins.
ventral The inside of an organ, facing the axis.
villous Bearing long straight hairs.

verticil A whorl of similar organs, as flowers or leaves, implanted at a node.
verticillate Arranged in verticils.
viscid Sticky.

whorl A group of 3 or more leaves arising from the same node (Fig. 5, p. 16).
wing A thin, dry, or membranous expansion or flat extension or appendage

of an organ (see silicle, Fig. 9, p. 19); also the lateral petals of a leguminous

flower (Fig. 7, p. 17).
winter annual A plant that germinates in the fall and produces seed and dies

in the following spring or summer.
woolly Covered with entangled soft hairs.

xerophyte A plant of very dry habitat.

802

The spelling of common names

1. One word

(a) When the modified word is plant or a type of plant, as in \eadplant,
skunkbush, peatree, peavine, jewelweed, lungwort; except when the
modifier is more than one word, as in Kentucky coffee tree, or a
hyphened word, as in silk-tassel bush, or a proper noun, as in Virginia
creeper.

(b) When the modified word is a part of a plant, as in juneberry,
twayblade, buffalo/?wr, conefower, leatherleaf bladder/?6>d, balsamroot,
bugseed, iwisteds talk, bluestem, buckthorn, wormwood.

(c) When the modified word is a part of animal anatomy, as in
arrowhead, bluclips, cattail, beardtongue; except when the modifier is
in the possessive case, as in bird's-eye, crane's-bill.

(d) When the words are figurative or suggestive, as in beggarticks,
fairy bells, meadowsweet, paintbrush; except when the modifier is in the
possessive case, as in baby's-breath, or when it is a proper noun or the
adjectival form of a proper noun, as in Venus-slipper, Indian-pipe, or
when letters demand separation for ease in reading or pronunciation,
as in morning-glory.

2. Two words

(a) When the modified word is taxonomically correct, as in red clover
(genus Trifolium), alkali grass (family Gramineae), fringed milkwort
(genus Poly gala), common plantain (genus Plantago).

(b) When the modifier is the word common, false, mock, wild, as in
common camas, false flax, mock pennyroyal, wild chives.

(c) When the modifier is a proper noun, as in Douglas hawthorn,
Mackenzie's hedysarum.

(d) Exceptions in 1(a).

3. Hyphened

(a) When the modified word is not taxonomically correct, as in
sweet-clover (genus Melilotus, not genus Trifolium), whitlow-grass
(genus Draba, not family Gramineae), sea-milkwort (genus Glaux, not
genus Poly gala), water-/? lantain (genus Alisma, not genus Plantago),
except in a few instances of spelling of long standing, as burdock,
buckwheat.

(b) When the modifier is a compound, as in round-leaved hawthorn, and
whether or not the modified word is taxonomically correct, as in
salt-meadow grass (family Gramineae), blue-eyed grass (genus
Sisyrinchium, not family Gramineae).

(c) In certain three- or four-word groups, as balm-of-Gilead, butter-and-
eggs, grass-of-Parnassus, lily -of-the -valley, touch-me-not.

(d) Exceptions in 1(c), 1(d).

803

Additions and Corrections to the 1979 Edition

p. 106 Bromus tectorum: add to last sentence ". . . and cultivated fields"

p. 123 second and third lines, change "floret" to "spikelet"

p. 256 second line on lead 3 in Liliaceae should read

Leaves variously shaped, not more than 5-6 times as long as wide 12

p. 271 add to lead 1 1 in Orchidaceae as an extra choice

Leaves 2-5, ovate-lanceolate; flowers greenish Mulaxis

p. 304 Parietaria: first line, change "opposite" to "alternate"

p. 313 Polygonum: fourth line in paragraph, change "seeds" to "fruits"

p. 314 Polygonum: lead 2, change "fruit" to "outer calyx"

p. 3 1 5 Lead 6 should read

6. Achene 1.5-2.0 mm wide; flowers pale pink to white P. lapaihifolium

Achene 2.0-3.0 mm wide; flowers greenish P. scabrum

p. 324 Chenopodiaceae: in last line of lead paragraph, change "one" to "two" (to read "but two species are poisonous")

p. 407 lead 2 should read:

2. Petals longer than 10 mm E. asperum

Petals shorter than 1 0 mm 3

p. 587 bottom full line: change "eastern" to "western"

p. 612 Lappula: lead 2 should read

2. Flowers 1 .5-3 mm across L. deftexa var. americana

Flowers 5-8 mm across 3

p. 702 Taraxacum: lead 1 in second half should read

Outer involucral bracts reflexed 2

p. 734 Aster junciformis Rydb.: in fourth line of paragraph, change "cm" to "mm" (to read "15-20 mm")

p. 738 Bidens: lead 2 should read

2. Ray florets usually conspicuous; leaves stalkless and clasping B. cernua

NOTE: The European-Russian classification of perennial Triticeae (mainly Agropyron and Elymus species) has
come into more general acceptance in North America recently. Because in the European- Russian classification many of
the Agropyron genus are in the Elymus genus, and because the new names are increasingly used in scientific and semi-
popular articles, cross-references are given in the following table.

Traditional North American name

European-Russian name

Agropyron albicans (Scribn. & Sm.)

Agropyron baker i E. Nels.
Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.
Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.
Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn.
Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauvois
Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauvois
Agropyron latiglume (Scribn. & Sm.) Rydb.

Agropyron repens (L.) Beauvois

Agropyron riparium Scribn. & Sm.

Agropyron scribneri Vasey

Agropyron smithii Rydb.

Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. & Sm.

Agropyron subsecundum (Link) Hitchc.

Agropyron trachycaulum (Link) Make

Agropyron trichophorum (Link) Richt.

Agropyron triticeum Gaertn.

Elymus angustus Trin.

Elymus arenarius L.

Elymus canadensis L.

Elymus cinereus Scribn. & Merrill

Elymus glaucus Buckl.

Elymus hirtiflorus Hitchc.

Elymus innovatus Beal

Elymus interruptus Buckl.

Elymus junceus Fisch.

Elymus virginicus L.

Elymus lanceolatus subsp. albicans (Scribn. & Sm.)

D.R. Dewey
Elymus bakeri (E. Nels.) Love
Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.
Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.
Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & Sm.) Gould
Elytrigia pontica (Podp.) Holub
Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevskii
Elymus alaskanus (Scribn. & Merrill) Love

subsp. scandicus (Nevskii) Melderis
Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevskii
Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & Sm.) Gould
Elymus scribneri (Vasey) M.E. Jones
Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Love
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Love
Elymus subsecundus (Link) A & D Love
Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinn.
Elytrigia intermedia subsp. barbulato (Schur) Love
Eremopyrum triticeum (Gaertn.) Nevskii
Leymus angustus (Trin.) Pilg.
Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst.
Elymus canadensis L.
Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & MerriU) Love
Elymus glaucus Buckl.
considered a sterile hybrid
Leymus innovatus (Beal) Pilg.
Elymus interruptus Buckl.

Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevskii in Komarov
Elymus virginicus L.

804

Index to common names

(Page numbers of illustrations are in boldface.)

absinthe 723, 724
adder's-mouth 278

bog 278

green 278
adder's-tongue 32
agalinis 639

purple 640

rough 639

slender 640
agrimony 437
alder 300

black 519

green 300

speckled 300
alexanders 563

golden 563

heart-leaved 563
alfalfa 485, 486
alkali grass 119, 120
allocarya 618

Scouler's 618
alumroot 421, 422, 423

alpine 422

small-leaved 422

sticky 422
alyssum 393

hoary- 396

small 390, 393
amaranth 342

prostrate 342, 343
amaryllis 268
anemone 364

Canada 365

crocus 366, 367

cut-leaved 365

Drummond's 365

long-fruited 365

narcissus 365

small wood 366

tall 366

wood 365

yellow 366
angelica 550

kneeling 550

Lyall's 550
anis 551

apple, balsam- 677
arbor-vitae 61
arethusa 271

arnica 718

alpine 719

Cordilleran 721

heart-leaved 719,720

lawless 719

leafy 719

long-leaved 721

mountain 721

narrow-leaved 722

nodding 721

rock 721

shining 719, 720

spear-leaved 721

twin 722
arrow-grass 68

marsh 68

seaside 68, 69
arrowhead 18, 70

arum-leaved 70, 72

broad-leaved 70
arrowwood, downy 675
artichoke, Jerusalem 764
arum 246

water- 246
ash 19,587

black 587

green 587, 588

mountain 461

western mountain 460
ash-spiraea 460
asparagus 258
aspen, large-toothed 281
aspen poplar 281
asphodel 266

bog 266

sticky 266
aster 728

alpine 730

Arctic 737

canescent 731

Eaton's 731

elegant 734

few-flowered 736

flat-topped white 737

golden- 741

hairy golden- 742

large northern 736

leafy-bracted 737

Lindley's731,732

805

Maccalla's 736

many-flowered 734

meadow 731

New England 736

purple-stemmed 737

rayless 731

rush 734

showy 731, 733

small blue 737

smooth 734, 735

western 730

western mountain 736

western silvery 737

white prairie 734

white wood 736

willow 734

wood 734
atriplex 326

garden 327, 328

Nuttall's 327

red-leaved garden 327

silvery 327
avens 443

large-leaved 443

mountain- 442

purple 443

three-flowered 444, 445

white mountain- 442

yellow 443

yellow mountain- 442
awl-wort 416

water 416
awn, red three- 99
axyris 329
azalea, alpine 576

baby-blue-eyes 606

small 606
baby's-breath 353

annual 353

sticky 353
balm 626

honey 626
balsam-apple 677
balsam fir 57
balsamroot 738
baneberry 363

red 363

white 363
barberry 382, 384
barley 137

little 137

wild 137, 138
bartsia 640

bassia 329

five-hook 329
basswood 520
bay, Lapland rose- 577

rose- 577

white rose- 577
bayberry 299
beach-pea 480
beak-rush 241

slender 241

white 241
bean, buck- 592

golden- 19,497,500
bearberry 18,572,573

alpine 573
beardtongue 652, 655

blue 653

creeping 653

crested 653

large-flowered 654

lilac-flowered 654, 655

shrubby 653

slender 654, 655

smooth blue 654, 655

white 653

yellow 653
bear-grass 267
bedstraw 667

ladies' 670

marsh 668

northern 668, 669

small 668

sweet-scented 668
beech 303
beech-fern 42
beggar's-lice 476
beggarticks 738

common 739

smooth 739

tall 739
bellflower 677

marsh 678
bells, velvet 640
bellwort 267

small 267
bent grass 92

northern 92
bergamot, western wild 628

wild 626, 627
bilberry 579

dwarf 579
bindweed 317

field 597, 598

hedge 599

inland 599

806

birch 299, 300

canoe 301

river 301

scrub 300

swamp 300

white 301
bird-rape 397
bird's-eye 658
birthwort 308
biscuit-root 557
bishop's-cap 424
bistort 314

alpine 320

western 317
bitter-root, dwarf 346
bittersweet 18, 517, 635, 636
bitterweed 699
black-eyed Susan 773
black medick 485
black torch 656
bladderpod 19,412,414

northern 412

sand 390, 412, 413

spatulate 412

twin 414
bladderwort 659, 660

flat-leaved 660

greater 660, 662

horned 660

lesser 660
blazingstar 766

dotted 766, 767

meadow 766
blite, erect sea- 339

sea- 339

strawberry 331

western sea- 339
bloodroot 385
bluebell 677

Alaska 678

alpine 678

clustered 678

creeping 678
bluebells, desert 606
blueberry 578
bluebur 612
bluebuttons 681
blue-eyed Mary 644
blue grass 158

alkali 163

alpine 160

annual 160

arctic 161

big 160

bog 163

Canada 161

Canby 161,162

early 161

fowl 164

glaucous 163

Kentucky 164

pacific 163

plains 161

rough-stalked 165

Sandberg's 165

skyline 161

timberline 165

Wheeler's 164

wood 164
bluelips 644
bluestem 96

big 96, 97

little 96, 98

sand 96
bluets 670

long-leaved 670
bog-myrtle 299
bog orchid 276

Alaska 277

green-flowered 272, 277

Hooker's 276

round-leaved 277

slender 277

small northern 277

white 276
bog-rosemary 572
bog-sedge 241

simple 241
bog violet, northern 528, 529
bog willow 296
boisduvalia 536

smooth 536
boltonia 739
boneset 755
borage 609, 610
box elder 517
boxwood 517

mountain 517
brake, cliff 44

purple cliff 44

rock 37, 38
bramble, dwarf 460
breadroot 495

Indian 497, 498
brickellia 739

large-flowered 739
brome 104

Canada 106

field 106

fringed 105

807

northern awnless 106

smooth 105
bronzebells 266
broom-rape 661

clustered 661

Louisiana 663

small 663
broom, sweet- 19, 476
broomweed 758

common 758
buck-bean 592
buckbrush 674
buckhorn 664
buckthorn 518

alder-leaved 518
buckwheat 308, 310

false 320

Tartary310,312

wild 314, 317
buffaloberry 534, 535

Canada 534
buffalobur 635
bugloss 615

purple 61 1

small 615

viper's 61 1
bugseed 335

villose 335, 336
bulrush 242

Clinton's 243

dwarf 244

great 245

green 243

Nevada 244

prairie 244

red 244

river 244

small-fruited 244

three-square 243

Torrey's 245

tufted 243

viscid great 243
bunchberry 565, 566
bur-clover 485
burdock 717

common 717

cotton 717

lesser 717
bur oak 303
bur-ragweed 685
bur-reed 63

broad-fruited 65

many stalked 65

narrow-leaved 63

northern 65

small 65

stemless 65
bush-cranberry 675

high 675

low 675, 676
bush-honeysuckle 671
butter-and-eggs 645
buttercup 374

boreal 379

bristly 380

celery-leaved 381

creeping 380

dwarf 379

early 377

graceful 379

hairy 381

heart-leaved 377, 378

Lapland 379

Macoun's 379

northern 380

Pallas 380

prairie 380

pygmee 380

seaside 377

shiny-leaved 379

smooth-leaved 376

snow 380

swamp 381

tall 376

western 380
butterflyweed 539
butterweed, Arctic 779

marsh 777

mountain 777
butterwort 659, 660

small 660

western 660

cactus 531

ball 531

purple 18,531
calamus 246
calla, water 246
camas 260, 268

common 260

death 268, 269

smooth 268
campion 353

bladder 357

Macoun's 358

moss 357

Siberian 358
cancerroot 661

808

caper 386

caragana, common 475
caraway 551
carrionflower 265
carrot 553

wild 553
catchfly 355

Menzies 358

night-flowering 358

sleepy 357

smooth 357
catnip 628
cat's-ear 695
cattail 61

common 63 , 64

narrow-leaved 61
cedar, western red 6 1

white 61
chaffweed 581
chaliceflower 365
chamaerhodos 438
chamomile 766

scentless 768, 769

wild 768
checkerberry 575
cherry, black-fruited choke 455, 456

choke 19

ground- 633

large white ground- 634

low sand 455

pin 455

prairie ground- 634

red-fruited choke 455

small yellow ground- 634

yellow ground- 634
chess, downy 106, 107

Japanese 105
chickweed 18, 351

alpine 352

common 361

field 352

long-stalked 352

mouse-eared 352
chicory 691
chives, wild 258
choke cherry 19

black-fruited 455, 456

red-fruited 455
cicely, blunt-fruited sweet 559

smooth sweet 559, 560

sweet 19,559

western sweet 559
cinquefoil 444

alpine 454

branched 451

brook 452

bushy 452

Drummond's 449

early 448

five-fingered 452

graceful 449

low 452

marsh 451

mountain 449

plains 448

prairie 452, 453

rough 45 1

rough-fruited 452

shrubby 449, 450

silvery 448

smooth-leaved 448

snow 451

sticky 449

three-toothed 454

white 448

woolly 451
clammyweed 389
cleavers 668
clematis 369
cleome, pink 386
cliff brake 44

purple 44 .
cliff daisy 750
cloudberry 458
clover 497

alsike501

bur- 485

hairy prairie- 495

owl's- 648

prairie- 493

purple prairie- 495, 496

red 501

Spanish 482

sweet- 487

white 501

white prairie- 495

white sweet- 487, 488

yellow 501

yellow field 501

yellow sweet- 487
club-moss 51

little 55

stiff 52

trailing 52, 53
cockle, corn 348

cow 355, 356

Drummond's 354

mountain 354

809

nodding 354

purple 348, 349

white 354
cocklebur 19,686,688
cohosh, blue 384
collomia 18,600

narrow-leaved 600, 601
colt's-foot 768

arrow-leaved 771

palmate-leaved 771

vine-leaved 771
columbine 366

blue 368

crimson 368

small-flowered 368

wild 368

yellow 368
comandra 305

northern 305

pale 308

Richards 308
comfrey618, 619

rough 6 1 8

wild 611
composite 683, 684
coneflower, brown 770

long-headed 770, 772

purple 746

tall 773
convolvulus 597
coralroot 271

early 273

large 273

striped 273
cornflower 740
corydalis 386

golden 386

pink 386, 387
costmary 741
cotoneaster 438, 440
cotton-grass 239

alpine 244

beautiful 240

close-sheathed 239

one-spike 240

russet 240

sheathed 240

slender 240

tall 239

thin-leaved 240
cottonwood 281

narrow-leaved 280
couch grass 87
cow-parsnip 19, 555, 556

cow-wheat 645, 646
crabgrass 1 19
smooth 1 19
cranberry 578
bush- 675
dry-ground 580
high bush- 675
low bush- 675, 676
swamp 578
crane's bill, small-flowered 505
cress, American winter 396
Austrian 414
bitter 398, 400

alpine 400

meadow 400

small 400
garden 411
hoary 400

globe-podded 401

heart-podded 401

lens-podded 401
mountain 400
mouse-ear 417
rock 394

Drummond's 395

hirsute 395

lyre-leaved 395

purple 395

reflexed 396
slender 415
spring 400
winter 396
yellow 414

creeping 415

marsh 415

spreading 415

cross-thistle 553
crowberry 514

black 514
crowfoot 362
crown-vetch 475

field 475
cryptanthe 610

Fendler's611

small 611
cucumber, wild 677
cudweed 757

clammy 758

common 757

low 758

western marsh 757
Culver's-root 659
currant 427

golden 428

810

mountain 429

northern black 428

red 428

sticky 429

swamp red 429

wild black 428
cymopterus 553

plains 553, 554
cypress 60

summer- 338

daisy

Arctic 741

cliff 750

dwarf 754

hairy 754

large-flowered 753

ox-eye 741

pale 753

purple 754

wandering 754

wild 753

woolly 753

yellow 751

yellow alpine 753
dame's-rocket 409
dandelion 702

dwarf 695

false 690, 691

large-flowered false 691

orange false 690

prairie false 699

red-seeded 702
darnel 141

Persian 141, 142
dead-nettle 624

white 624
devil's-club 545
dewberry 460
diapensia 580

northern 580
dill 550
dillseed 550
ditch-grass 67

western 67
dock 320

curled 321

field 323

golden 323

great water 323

long-leaved 323

narrow-leaved 324

narrow-leaved field 324

sand 324, 325

sour 321

toothed 323

western 323
dodder 599

common 600
dogbane 592

intermediate 592

spreading 592, 594
dogwood 563

alternate-leaved 565

panicled 567

red-osier 565

spotted 567
doorweed 313, 315,316

northern 317
Douglas-fir 60
douglasia 583
downingia 680
dragonhead 623

American 623

false 621, 628
dragon's-mouth 271
dropseed 174

annual 176

prairie 176

sand 174, 176
duckweed 245

ivy-leaved 245

larger 245

lesser 245
dwarf-primula, mountain 583

earth-smoke 386
elder 674

box 517

marsh- 686
elderberry, red 674
elephant's-head 650, 651
ellisia 605
elm 19, 303

American 303
enchanter's-nightshade 536

large 536

small 536
endive 691
endolepis 335
eriogonum, branched 310
eryngo 553
evening-primrose 534, 540

gumbo 541, 542

shrubby 543

upland 540

western yellow 541

white 543

yellow 541

811

eveningstar 531, 532
everlasting 709

alpine 713

brown-bracted mountain 716

corymbose 713

cushion 713

eastern 716

Howell's 714, 715

low 713

pearly 709

plantain-leaved 716

racemose 716

rosy 716

Russell's 716

showy 716

silvery 714

small-leaved 716

tall 713

woolly 714
eyebnght 644, 648

late-flowering 648

northern 644

fairybells 260, 261

Oregon 260
false hellebore 267

green 267
false spikenard 265
fel wort 591

marsh 592
fern 32, 35

beech- 42

bladder 38

bracken 44

brake 44

chamomile-leaved grape 33

crested shield 41

fragile 38, 40

fragrant shield 42

grape 32, 33

holly 44

interrupted 35

lady 37

lip 37

maidenhair 36

male 41

marsh 42

moon 33

mountain bladder 38

ostrich 42, 43

parsley 37, 39

royal 35

sensitive 42

shield 38

spinulose shield 41

thick-leaved grape 33

Virginia grape 33, 34
fescue 127

Idaho 129,130

meadow 129

northern rough 128

plains rough 129

red 131

rough 128

sheep 131

six-weeks 131

tall 129
fiddle heads 42
fiddle-neck 610
field-pea, Austrian 472, 473
figwort 638, 654

hare 654
fir 57

balsam 57

Douglas- 60

ground- 52
fireweed 19,537,538

broad-leaved 539
flag 269

blue 269

sweet 246

water 269
flax 19, 507

false 390, 398

flat-seeded false 398

grooved yellow 508

large-flowered 508, 509

Lewis wild 507

meadow wild 508

small-seeded false 398

toad- 644

broad-leaved 645
field 645
Maroccan 645
yellow 645
fleabane 748

Canada 751

compound 751

creeping 751

dwarf 754

dwarf daisy 754

hirsute 753

northern daisy 750

Philadelphia 754

rough 750

showy 754

smooth 753

tall 751

tufted 751, 752

812

flixweed 402

northern 402
forget-me-not 616, 618

field 616

marsh 616

small 616
four-o'clock 344
foxtail 168

alpine 94

green 171, 172

meadow 96

short-awned 94

water 94, 96

yellow 168
fritillary 262
frog's-bit 73
frostweed 525
fumitory 385, 386

climbing 385

gaillardia 755

great-flowered 755, 756
gale, sweet 299
galinsoga 757
garden-rocket 406
gaura, scarlet 539
gentian 18,589

alpine 591

closed 590

closed marsh 591

downy 591

fringed 591

moss 590

mountain 590

northern 590

northern fringed 591

oblong-leaved 590

spurred- 592
geranium 19, 504

Bicknell's 504

Carolina wild 505

sticky purple 505, 506

wild white 505
germander 631

hairy 63 1
giant-hyssop 621, 622
gilia 600

clustered 602

scarlet 602
ginger, wild 308
ginseng 544
glasswort 339
globeflower 382

American 382
globe-thistle 746, 748

goat's-beard 702, 703

yellow 703
golden-aster 741

hairy 742
golden-bean 19,497,500
goldenrod 780

alpine 784

canescent 782

flat-topped 782

graceful 782, 783

late 782

low 784

marsh 785

mountain 785, 787

pale 782

Riddell's 785

sharp-toothed 784

showy 784

stiff 785, 786

upland white 785

velvety 784
goldthread 371
gooseberry 19

northern 429, 430

swamp 428
goosefoot 324, 329

Fremont's 333, 334

many-seeded 333

maple-leaved 333

narrow-leaved 333

red 333

saline 333

spear-leaved 338
gourd 677
goutweed 549
grama 100

blue 100, 103

side-oats 100
grape 519

riverbank 519
grass 73

alkali 119,120

arrow- 68
marsh 68
seaside 68, 69

barnyard 121, 122

bear- 267

beard 165

bent 92
northern 92

blue 158
alkali 163
alpine 160
annual 160
arctic 161

813

big 160

bog 163

Canada 161

Canby 161,162

early 161

fowl 164

glaucous 163

Kentucky 164

pacific 163

plains 161

rough-stalked 165

Sandberg's 165

skyline 161

timberline 165

Wheeler's 164

wood 164
blue-eyed 270

common 270
brook 1 12
buffalo 108

false 146
canary 154

reed 154, 155
cord 171

alkali 171,173

prairie 174
cotton- 239

alpine 244

beautiful 240

close-sheathed 239

one-spike 240

russet 240

sheathed 240

slender 240

tall 239

thin-leaved 240
couch 87
creeping love 127
cut 140

rice 140
ditch- 67

western 67
hair 117

annual 117

mountain 117

rough 92, 93

slender 1 19

tufted 117,118
holy 135
Indian 171
June 137, 139
manna 132, 133

fowl 135

graceful 133
northern 133

small-flowered 133

tall 133, 134
melic 141
millet 143
mutton 163
needle 175

Columbia 177

green 179, 180

Richardson 177
nut- 234

awned 235

Houghton's 235

sand 235

straw-colored 235
oat 115, 135

California 1 15

Hooker's 135

one-spike 115, 117

Parry 115

poverty 1 15

purple 168, 169

timber 115, 116

onion 141

Alaska 143

purple 143
orchard 112,114
panic 151

long-stalked 152
pepper- 410

branched 411

broad-leaved 411

common 41 1

perfoliate 411

roadside 411
porcupine 177

western 177
quack 87, 88
rabbitfoot 165
reed 108

common 158

giant 158

marsh 109

narrow 110

northern 109

pine 110

plains 110,111

purple 110

rice 146

Canadian 148

Indian 148, 149

little 148

little-seed 150

northern 150

white-grained mountain 148

814

rye 140

Italian 140

perennial 140
salt 119
salt-meadow 166

Nuttall's 166, 167

slender 166
sand 112,113
scratch 144
scurvy- 401
sea lime 124
slough 100, 102
spear 177, 178
star- 268

yellow 268
sweet 135, 136
switch 152, 153
tumble 166
wedge 174

prairie 174

slender 174
whitlow- 403

alpine 404

creeping 406

few-seeded 406

golden 404

hairy 405

thick-leaved 404

yellow 390, 405
witch 151
wood 112

slender 112
wool- 243
grass-of-Parnassus 425
fringed 425
glaucous 425
northern 425, 426
small 425
grass-pink 271

purple 271
greasewood 339, 340
gromwell 615
corn 613
false 618
western false 618
woolly 615
ground-cherry 633
large white 634
prairie 634
small yellow 634
yellow 634
ground-fir 52
ground-ivy 623
ground-pine 52, 54
ground-plum 19, 469

groundsel 774

balsam 779

common 780

compact 780

entire-leaved 777

silvery 775, 776

stinking 780
gumweed 758

hackberry 303
hair grass 1 17

annual 117

mountain 117

rough 92, 93

slender 1 19

tufted 117,118
harebell 18,678,679
hare's-ear mustard 19, 390, 401
hawk's-beard 691

dwarf 692

green 692

narrow-leaved 694

scapose 692

small-flowered 692

smooth 692, 693
hawkweed 694

alpine 695

Canada 695

orange 694

white 694

woolly 694

hawthorn 440
Douglas 440
long-spined 440
round-leaved 440, 441
hazel, American 19

beaked 19
hazelnut 301

American 301,302
beaked 301, 302
heads, fiddle 42
heath 571
heather, false 526
mountain- 573, 576
blue 577
purple 577
western 573
white 573
yellow 577
sand- 526
hedge-hyssop 644

clammy 644
hedge-nettle 629
marsh 18,629,630

815

hedysarum, American 476, 478

Mackenzie's 479

northern 479

yellow 479
heliotrope 612

mountain 681

spatulate-leaved 612
hellebore 267

false 267

green false 267
hemlock 553

bulb-bearing water- 55 1

ground 56

poison 553

water- 551, 552
hemp 304

Indian- 593
hemp-nettle 623

yellow 623
henbane 631

black 19,631,632
henbit 624
hepatica 374
hoary-alyssum 396
hog-peanut 464
hollyhock, mountain 520

wild 520
honewort 553
honeysuckle 670, 671

blue fly 673

bush- 671

hairy 673

involucrate 673

swamp fly 673

Tartarian 673

twining 672, 673

Utah 673
hop 304

common 304
hopbeam, horn 303
horehound 625

common 625

northern water- 625

western water- 625
horned-pondweed 67
hornwort 361
horse-radish 396
horsetail 47

common 48, 49

marsh 50

meadow 50

swamp 48

variegated 50

woodland 50

hound's-tongue 61 1
huckleberry 577
hymenopappus 764

tufted 764
hyssop 624

clammy hedge- 644

giant- 621, 622

hedge- 644

Indian-hemp 593
Indian-pipe 570, 571
indigo, dwarf false 464

false 463
iris 268
ironplant 758

spiny 759, 760

toothed 759
ironweed 790

western 790
ironwood 303
ivy, ground- 623

poison- 515, 516

Jacob's-ladder 603

showy 603, 604

sticky 605
jewelweed, western 510
jimsonweed 631
Joe-pye weed, spotted 755
juneberry 437
juniper 60

creeping 61, 62

low 60

rocky mountain 61

kittentails 640
knapweed, diffuse 740

Russian 740

spotted 740
knotweed 313

bushy 318

Douglas 317

dwarf 3 18

erect 317

least 318

slender 317

small 317

striate 315
kochia 338

Labrador paintbrush 642
Labrador-tea 575, 576
laceflower 435

816

lady's-slipper 18, 273

mountain 275

northern 275

ram's-head 275

showy 275

small white 275

small yellow 272, 275

stemless 273, 274

yellow 275
lady's-thumb318,319
lady's-tresses 279

hooded 279

slender 279
lamb's-quarters 331, 332
lantern plant, Chinese 633
larch 57

alpine 57
larkspur 371

low 18, 19,371,372

tall 371, 373
laurel, pale 575

sheep- 575

sticky 518
lavas 555

lavauxia, yellow 541
leadplant 463
leatherleaf573, 574
lemonwood 723
lettuce 695

annual blue 696

blue 696

glaucous white 700

Indian 346

lobed prickly 696

tall blue 696

tall yellow 696

western 696

white 699
licorice, wild 19, 476, 477
lily 256, 262

bluebead 260

corn 260

fawn 262

fragrant water- 362

glacier 262, 263

Mariposa 258

sand- 531

small pond- 362

small water- 362

water- 361, 362

western red 262, 264

wood 262

yellow pond- 361, 362
lily-of-the-valley, wild 262

linanthus 602
linden 520
liverleaf 374
loasa 531
lobelia 680

Kalm's 680

spiked 680

water 680
locoweed 489

Bessey's 490, 491

early yellow 493, 494

late yellow 490

purple 492

reflexed 492

showy 493

viscid 493

woolly 493
loosestrife 534, 583

fringed 584, 585

lance-leaved 584

purple 534

tufted 586

whorl-leaved 584
lopseed 663
lousewort 648

coiled-beak 649

common 649

flame-colored 650

Labrador 650

large-flowered 649

leafy 652

Oeder's 650

purple 652

swamp 650

western 649

woolly 650
lovage 555
luetkea 444
lungwort 615

lance-leaved 615

large-flowered 616

seaside 616

tall 616, 617
lupine 482

alpine 483

flexile 485

large-leaved 483

Nootka 483

silvery 483, 484

small 483

madder 667
madwort 610
mahonia 384

817

maidenhair 36
mallow 520

common 521

crisp 521

false 522

musk 521

pink 521

purple 522, 523

round-leaved 521

scarlet 522, 524

small-flowered 521
mallows, gay 520
maple 19,515

Manitoba 517

mountain 517

silver 517

white 517
mare's-tail 543
marigold, floating marsh- 369

marsh- 368, 369, 370

mountain- 368

water- 739
marsh-elder 686
marsh-marigold 368, 369, 370

floating 369
marsilea 47
Mary, blue-eyed 644
mayflower 573
mayweed 717

stinking 717
meadow-rue 381

few-flowered 382

tall 382, 383

veiny 382

western 382
meadowsweet 461

narrow-leaved 461

pink 461

shining-leaved 461
medick 485

black 485
menziesia 576
mignonette 417

white cut-leaved 417

yellow cut-leaved 417
milfoil 708

pinnate water- 544

spiked water- 544

water- 543, 544
milk-vetch 19, 464

alpine 467

American 470, 471

ascending purple 474

Canadian 469

cicer 469

cushion 470

Drummond's 469

few-flowered 475

Indian 467

loose-flowered 475

low 472

Missouri 472

narrow-leaved 468, 472

prickly 472

purple 469

Pursh's 474

racemose 474

slender 470

timber 472

tufted 474

two-grooved 467, 468
milkweed 19, 593

dwarf 595

green 597

hairy 595

showy 595, 596

silky 597

swamp 595

whorled 597
milkwort 510

fringed 510

sea- 583

white 510

whorled 510
millet 150

broomcorn 152

sand 152

soft 151
minniebush, western 576
mint 620, 626

field 626

wild 626
mistletoe 308

American 308

dwarf 308
miterwort 424

Brewer's 424

false 435
monkeyflower 18, 647

blue 647

Lewis 647

smooth 647

yellow 647
monkshood 363
monk's-wort 618

red 618
monolepis 338
moonseed 384

818

morning-glory 18, 597

wild 598, 599
moschatel 677
moss, club- 51

little club- 55

mountain 419

spike- 55

stiff club- 52

trailing club- 52, 53
motherwort 624

Siberian 625
mountain ash, western 460
mountain-avens 442

white 442

yellow 442
mountain-heather 573, 576

blue 577

purple 577

western 573

white 573

yellow 577
mountain-marigold 368
mountain moss 419
mountain parsnip 550
mousetail 374

least 374
mud-purslane 525
mud wort 644
muhly 143

bog 144

foxtail 144, 145

marsh 146

mat 146, 147

prairie 144

wood 146
mullein 656

common 656

woolly 656
musineon 559

leafy 559
mustard 18,389,390,396

ball 390, 412

dog 407

gray tansy 402

hare's-ear 19,390,401

hedge 416

Indian 397

narrow-leaved 416

perennial 414

short-fruited tansy 402

tall hedge 416

tansy 401

tower 390, 395

treacle 407

tumbling 416
white 397
wild 390, 397
wormseed 407

naiad 66

slender 66
nannyberry 675
navarretia 602

small 601, 602
nettle 304

dead- 624

English 305

hedge- 629

hemp- 623

marsh hedge- 18,629,630

stinging 305, 306

white dead- 624

wood 304

yellow hemp- 623
nettletree 303
New Jersey tea 518
nightshade 634

black 635

enchanter's- 536

large enchanter's- 536

small enchanter's- 536
ninebark 444

mallow-leaved 444
nipplewort 697

common 697
nut-grass 234

awned 235

Houghton's 235

sand 235

straw-colored 235

oak 19,303

bur 303
oakfern 41
oat 99, 100

wild 100, 101
oat grass 135

California 115

Hooker's 135

one-spike 115, 1 17

Parry 115

poverty 1 15

purple 168

timber 115, 116
oleaster 533
olive 587

Russian 533

819

onion 258
nodding 258
pink-flowered 258
prairie 258, 259
orache 329

halberd-leaved 329
orange, mock 427
orchard grass 112, 114
orchid 272, 279
bog 276
Alaska 277

green-flowered 272, 277
Hooker's 276
round-leaved 277
slender 277
small northern 277
white 276
long-bracted 277
round leaved 272, 279
orchis 270

oreocarya, clustered 611
orpine 418
owl's-clover 648
ox-eye 764
ox-eye daisy 741
oxtongue 610
bristly 699

paintbrush, downy 642

hispid 641

Indian 640

Labrador 642

lance-leaved 642

purple 642

red Indian 642, 643

scarlet 641

stiff yellow 641

yellow 641
pansy 530

wild 529
parilla, yellow 384
parsley 545

hairy-fruited 557, 558

long-fruited 557

prairie 555

Sandberg's wild 557

western wild 557

white-flowered 557
parsnip 561

cow- 19,555,556

mountain 550

mountain wild 557

water- 563, 564

wild 561

pea 462

Austrian field- 472, 473

beach- 480
peanut, hog- 464
pearlwort 354, 355

cushion 355

mountain 355

spreading 355
pear, prickly- 531
peatree, Siberian 475
peavine, wild 480
pellitory 304

American 304
pennycress 417
pennyroyal, mock 624

rough 624
pepper, water- 318
pepper-grass 410

branched 411

broad-leaved 411

common 411

perfoliate 411

roadside 411
pepperwort 47, 410

hairy 47
persicaria, pale 318

swamp 315
phlox 600, 601, 602

blue 602

downy 603

moss 601, 603

slender 603

western 603
picradeniopsis 738
pigweed, red-root 342

Russian 329, 330

winged 335
pimpernel 581

scarlet 581
pin cherry 455
pine 56, 58

eastern white 60

ground- 52, 54

jack 59

limber 59

lodgepole 59

Norway 60

running- 52

western white 59

western yellow 59

whitebark 59
pineappleweed 768
pinedrops 571
pinesap 571

820

pink 347, 352

grass- 271

purple grass- 271

rush- 702

steppen 352

wood 353
pinweed 526

hairy 526
pipsissewa 567
pitcherplant 418
plantain 663

buckhorn 664

common 665, 666

common water- 70, 71

hoary 665

lesser rattlesnake- 276

linear-leaved 665

narrow-leaved water- 70

Pursh's 667

rattlesnake- 275, 276

saline 665

sand 667

seaside 665

water- 69
plum 454

American 19, 455

Canada 455

ground- 19, 469
poison-ivy 515, 516
poison suckleya 339, 341
pond-lily, small 362

yellow 361, 362
pondweed 65, 66

fennel-leaved 67

horned- 67

inland 67

leafy 67

Richardson's 67

sago 67

sheathed 67

various-leaved 67
poplar 280

aspen 281

balsam 281

white 280
poppy 384

alpine 385

common 385

corn 385

Iceland 385
potato 631
povertyweed 686
prairie-clover 493

hairy 495

purple 495, 496

white 495
prairie-rocket, small-flowered 409
prickly-pear 531, 533

brittle 533
primrose 580, 582, 586

dwarf 586

erect 586

evening- 534, 540
gumbo 541, 542
shrubby 543
upland 540
western yellow 541
white 543
yellow 541

mealy 582, 586

mountain dwarf- 583
prince's-pine 567
psoralea

lance-leaved 497, 499

silverleaf495
puccoon 613

hoary 613

narrow-leaved 613, 614

red 385
puffs, sand 344
purslane 19, 345, 346

mud- 525

sea- 351
pussy-toes 713

common 714
pussy willow 294
pygmyflower 581, 582

western 581
pyrrocoma, lance-leaved 759

quack grass 87, 88
quillwort 50
flowering 66

rabbitbrush 742
radish 414

horse- 396

wild 19,390,414
ragweed 685

bur- 685

common 685

false 686, 687

great 685

perennial 685
ragwort, brook 780

cut-leaved 777, 778

few-flowered 779

golden 775

821

large-flowered 779

marsh 775

northern 779

rayless 777
rape, bird- 397

broom- 661
clustered 661
Louisiana 663
small 663
raspberry 19, 458

stemless 458

wild red 458, 459
rattle, Arctic 650

Lapland 650

purple 652
rattlesnake-plantain 275, 276

lesser 276
rattlesnakeroot 699

purple 700
redtop 94, 95

alpine 94

spike 92
reed, bur- 64

broad-fruited bur- 65

many stalked bur- 65

narrow-leaved bur- 65

northern bur- 65

small bur- 65

stemless bur- 65
ribgrass 665

western 664
rice, annual wild- 181

wild- 181
rock brake 37, 38
rock cress 394

Drummond's 395

hirsute 395

lyre-leaved 395

purple 395

reflexed 396
rockcress 416

silver 416
rocket 406, 409

dame's- 409

garden- 406

gray 409

purple 409

sand- 402

small-flowered prairie- 409
rock-rose 525
rockstar 422

small-flowered 424
rock tripe 44

common 44, 45

romanzoffia 607

Sitka 607
rose 436, 455

low prairie 457

prickly 457

rock- 525

smooth 457

wood's 457
rose-bay 577

Lapland 577

white 577
rose mandarin 266
rose-root 420
rowan 460
rowan tree 461
rubberweed 764

Colorado 764, 765

stemless 764
rudbeckia 773
running-pine 52
rush 246, 247

alpine 249

arctic 249

Baltic 250, 251

beak- 241

big-head 254

Canada 250

chestnut 252

common scouring- 48

Drummond's 252

Dudley's 252

dwarf scouring- 50

equitant-leaved 252

few-flowered 252

flattened 252

jointed 250

knotted 253

long-styled 253

mud 254

Parry's 253

Rocky Mountain 253

short-tail 250

slender 253

slender beak- 241

slender-stemmed 253

smooth scouring- 50

spike- 235
bald 236
beaked 237
creeping 237, 238
Englemann's 237
few-flowered 237
flattened 236
one-glumed 237

822

slender 237

Small's 237
thread 252
toad 250
Torrey's 254
two-glumed 250
white 249
white beak- 241
wood- 254

field 255

Greenland 255

hairy 255

mountain 256

northern 255

small-flowered 255

smooth 255

spiked 256
rush-pink 702
Russian-thistle 339
rye 168

Altai wild 124
blue wild 124
Canada wild 124, 125
giant wild 124
hairy wild 126
Macoun's wild 84
Russian wild 126
smooth wild 124
variable-glumed wild 126
Virginia wild 126
wild 84, 123

sage 628

Herriot's 727

lance-leaved 628

long-leaved 725

Michaux's 727

mountain 727

pasture 725, 726

prairie 727

slender 727

wood 628
sagebrush 728

hoary 725
salsify 703
samphire 338

red 338
sandalwood 305
sand-heather 526
sand-lily 531
sand-rocket 402
sand puffs 344
sandwort 348

blunt-leaved 350

Dawson 351

early 351

large-leaved 350

rocky-ground 350

thyme-leaved 351
sarsaparilla, bristly 545, 546

wild 544, 545, 547
saskatoon 438, 439
sawwort 773

dwarf 773

tall 773
saxifrage 420, 429

alpine brook 433

early 435

golden 42 1

leather-leaved 422

marsh 433, 434

red-flowered 433

rhomboid-leaved 433

spotted 433

three-toothed 435

wedge-leaved 43 1

yellow mountain 43 1
scabious, field 681
scorpionweed 606

Franklin's 606

glandular 607

linear-leaved 607

Lyall's 607

silky 607, 608

silver-leaved 607

tansy 607
scorzonella 697

nodding 699
scouring-rush, common 48

dwarf 50

smooth 50
scurvy-grass 401
sea-blite 339

erect 339

western 339
sea-milkwort 583
sea-purslane 351
sedge 181, 182,183,184

alpine 223

Assiniboia 202

awl-fruited 229

awned 202, 203

Back's 204

bald 232

beaked 227

beautiful 206

bent 207

blackening 220

823

black-margined 220
blister 233
blunt 220
bog 217, 218
bog- 241

bristle-leaved 208
bristle-stalked 215
broad-fruited 208
broom 229
brown 205
browned 201
brownish 205
capitate 205
chaffy 221
chestnut 205
Crawe's 206
Crawford's 206
cyperus-like 223
Dewey's 207
Douglas 208
erect 23 1
few-flowered 221
few-fruited 220
fox 234
foxtail 201
fragrant 219
Geyer's 210
glacier 210
golden 204
graceful 223
granular 210
green 234
hair-like 205
hairy-fruited 215
hay 229, 230
head-like 222
heavy 212
Hood's 212
Hooker's 212
Hudson Bay 212
inland 219
Kellogg's214
lakeshore 214
lens-fruited 215
livid 2 16
long-beaked 23 1
long-bracted 202
long- fruited 219
long-haired 206
low 229

low northern 206
Mackenzie 216
mud 216
narrow 201

Nebraska 220
nodding 219
northern bog 212, 213
Norway 220
open 201
Parry's 221
pasture 222
pleasing 215
porcupine 214
prairie 223
Presl 223
prickly 233
prostrate 206
purple 217
Raynold's 224, 225
reddish 227
Richardson's 224
rigid 232
rock 227

rocky-ground 228
Ross' 227
round 227
rush-like 228
rye-grass 216
salt 227
sand 212
Sartwell's 228
scant 224
seaside 217
sheathed 233
short 207
short-awned 219
silvery-flowered 201
simple bog- 241
slender 210, 211
smooth-fruited 214
spiked 224
Sprengel's 229
stalked 221
stiff 204
stone 222
straw-colored 229
sun-loving 221
swollen 214
thick-spike 216
thin-flowered 232
thread-leaved 208, 209
three-seeded 233
tinged 232
Torrey's 232
turned 224, 226
two-colored 204
two-seeded 207
two-stamened 207

824

umbellate 233

water 201

weak 23 1

white-scaled 234

wire-grass 208

woolly 214

yellow 210
selaginella, prairie 55
selfheal 628
serviceberry 438

eastern 438
sheep-laurel 575
shepherd's-needle 561
shepherd's-purse 19, 390, 398, 399
shieldwort, pygmy 581
shinleaf, common 570

white-veined 570
shootingstar 18, 19, 583

mountain 582, 583

saline 583
sibbaldia 454
Siberian peatree 475
silverberry 533
silverplant 310
silverweed 448
sisymbrium 415
skeletonweed 697, 698, 702

annual 697
skullcap 629

blue 629

marsh 629

small 629
skunkberry 428
skunkbush 515
small-snapdragon 642
smartweed 314

green 320

water 318
snakeroot 561, 562

seneca 510
snapdragon, small- 642
sneezeweed 709, 710, 761

mountain 761
snowberry 674

creeping 575

few-flowered 674

western 674
snow-in-summer 352
snow-on-the-mountain 512
soapweed 267
soapwort 355
solomon's-seal 262

common 262

star-flowered 265

three-leaved 265

two-leaved 261, 262
sorrel, alpine sheep 323

Bush's yellow wood- 507

creeping wood- 507

mountain 310

sheep 321, 322

wood- 505

yellow wood- 507
sow-thistle 700

annual 700

perennial 700, 701

prickly 700

smooth perennial 700
spangletop 168, 170
spearmint 626
spearwort, creeping 377
speedwell 656

alpine 657

American 658

broad-leaved 659

germander 658

hairy 658

marsh 658

prostrate 657

smooth 658

spiked 658

thyme-leaved 659

water 658
spiderflower 386, 388
spiderwort 246

western 246
spike-moss 55
spikenard 545

false 265

western wild 265

wild 265

spike-rush 235
bald 236
beaked 237
creeping 237, 238
Engelmann's 237
few-flowered 237
flattened 236
needle 236
one-glumed 237
slender 237
Small's 237

spiraea, ash- 460

false 460
spleenwort 36

alpine 37

green 36

825

springbeauty 345

alpine 346

lance-leaved 345

linear-leaved 346

small-leaved 346
spruce 57

black 58

western white 58

white 58
spurge 5 1 1

cypress 5 1 1

leafy 18,512,513

petty 512

prostrate 512

shining 512

sun 512

thyme-leaved 512
spurred-gentian 592
spurry 358

corn 358

salt-marsh sand 358

sand 358
squawroot 561, 661
squirreltail 171
staff-tree 517
starflower 422, 586, 587

northern 582, 587
star-grass 268

yellow 268
star-thistle, yellow 741
starwort, northern water- 514

vernal water- 514

water- 514
stenanthium 266
stenotus, narrow-leaved 759

sticky 759
stickseed 612

Jessica's 613

large-flowered 613

nodding 612
stinkgrass 127
stinkweed 19,390,417
stitchwort 358

fleshy 360

long-leaved 360

long-stalked 360

northern 360
St. John's-wort 522

Canada 522

large Canada 525

marsh 525

western 525
stonecrop418, 420, 427

ditch 427

lance-leaved 419

narrow-petaled 420
stork's-bill 504
stramonium 631
strawberry 19, 442

American wild 442

smooth wild 442
suckleya 339

poison 339, 341
sugarscoop 435
suksdorfia 435

blue 435
sumach 514

smooth 514
summer-cypress 338
sundew 418

oblong-leaved 418

round-leaved 418

slender-leaved 418
sundrops 543

large 543
sunflower 761

beautiful 762

narrow-leaved 762, 763

prairie 762

rough false 764

showy 761

tuberous-rooted 762
Susan, black-eyed 773
swamp-candles 584
sweet-broom 19, 476
sweet cicely 19, 559

blunt-fruited 559

smooth 559, 560

western 561
sweet-clover 487

white 487, 488

yellow 487
sweet flag 246
sweet gale 299
sweet grass 135, 136
sweet William 352
tamarack 57

western 57
tansy 788, 789

Indian 788
taraxia 541
tarweed 766
tea, Labrador- 575, 576

New Jersey 518

trapper's- 576
tear-thumb, arrow-leaved 3 1 :
teasel 681
thimbleberry 460

826

thistle 742

bull 746

Canada 743, 744

cross- 553

dwarf 745

entire-leaved Canada 745

field 743

Flodman's 745

globe- 746, 748

Hooker's 745

nodding 739

plumeless 739

Russian- 339

short-stemmed 745

sow- 700
annual 700
perennial 700, 701
prickly 700
smooth perennial 700

swamp 745

wavy-leaved 746, 747

yellow star- 741
thorough-wax 550
thoroughwort 755
three-awn, red 99
tickseed 746, 788

common 746
tick-trefoil 476
timothy 154, 157

alpine 154, 156
toadflax 18

bastard 305, 307
toad-flax 638, 644

broad-leaved 645

field 645

Maroccan 645

yellow 645
tomatillo 634
tomato, wild 18, 635, 637
torch, black 656
torchflower 444
touch-me-not 508

spotted 508
townsendia 788

low 788

Parry's 790, 791
trailplant 709
trapper's-tea 576
tree, rowan 461
trefoil 480, 482

bird's-foot 482

tick- 476
tripe, common rock 44, 45

rock 44

trisetum 179

awnless 181

nodding 179

spike 181

tall 179
trumpetweed, Bruner's 755
tumbleweed 342
turkey-beard 267
turtlehead 644
twayblade 277

broad-lipped 278

heart-leaved 278

northern 272, 278

western 278
twinflower 671, 672
twistedstalk 266

clasping-leaved 261, 266

umbrellaplant 309, 310

cushion 309

nodding 309

yellow 310, 311
umbrellawort 344

hairy 344

heart-leaved 345

linear-leaved 344

valerian 681 .

northern 681, 682
velvetleaf 520
Venus'-comb 561
Venus-slipper 271, 272
verbena, sand 344
vervain 619
blue 619
bracted619
nettle-leaved 619
vetch 19, 501, 502
American 502, 503
chicken 480
crown- 475
field crown- 475
hairy 502
milk- 19,464
alpine 467
American 470
ascending purple 474
Canadian 469
cicer 469
cushion 470
Drummond's 469
few-flowered 475
Indian 467
loose-flowered 475

827

low 472

Missouri 472

narrow-leaved 472

prickly 472

purple 469

Pursh's 474

racemose 474

slender 470

timber 472

tufted 474

two-grooved 467
narrow-leaved 502
Oregon 502
tufted 502
vetchling 18,479

cream-colored 480, 481
marsh 480
tuberous 480
vine, matrimony 633
violet 18, 19,526,528
crowfoot 530
downy yellow 530
early blue 527, 528
kidney-shaped 530
long-spurred 530
marsh 529

northern bog 528, 529
Nuttall's yellow 528, 529
round-leaved wood 529
sweet white 529
Western Canada 528, 530
yellow wood 529
Virginia creeper 519
large-toothed 519
virgin's-bower 369, 371
purple 369
western 369

wakerobin 267

nodding 267

western 267
wallflower, western 407, 408
water-arum 246
water calla 246
watercrowfoot, large-leaved 377

small yellow 379
water-hemlock 551, 552

bulb-bearing 551
water-horehound 625

northern 625

western 625
waterleaf 605
water-lily 361,362

fragrant 362

small 362

water-marigold 739
water-milfoil 543, 544

pinnate 544

spiked 544
water-parsnip 563, 564
water-pepper 318
water-plantain 69

common 70, 71

narrow-leaved 70
waterpod 605
water-starwort 514

northern 514

vernal 514
waterweed 73

Canada 73
waterwort 525
weed, spotted Joe-pye 755
wheat 181

cow- 645, 646
wheatgrass 84

awned 89, 90

awned northern 85

Baker's 85

bluebunch 89

broad-glumed 87

crested 85, 86

northern 87

slender 89, 91

streambank 87

western 89
white geranium, wild 505
white lettuce 699

glaucous 700
whitetop 750
whitlow-grass 403

alpine 404

creeping 406

few-seeded 406

golden 404

hairy 405

thick-leaved 404

yellow 390, 405
whitlowwort 354

low 354
whortleberry 579

bog 579

red 579
wild barley 137,138
wild bergamot 626, 627

western 628
wild black currant 428
wild buckwheat 314, 317
wild chamomile 768
wild chives 258
wild columbine 368

828

wild cucumber 677
wild flax, Lewis 507

meadow 508
wild geranium, Carolina 505
wild ginger 308
wild licorice 19, 476, 477
wild lily of-the-valley 262
wild mint 626

wild morning-glory 598, 599
wild mustard 390, 397
wild oat 100, 101
wild pansy 529
wild parsley, Sandberg's 557

western 557
wild parsnip 561

mountain 557
wild peavine 480
wild radish 19,390,414
wild red raspberry 458, 459
wild-rice 181

annual 181
wild rye 84, 123

Altai 124

blue 124

Canada 124, 125

giant 124

hairy 126

Macoun's 84

Russian 126

smooth 124

variable-glumed 126

Virginia 126
wild sarsaparilla 544, 545, 547
wild spikenard 265

western 265
wild strawberry, American 442

smooth 442
wild tomato 18, 635, 637
wild white geranium 505
willow 279, 281, 283

Alaska 290

arctic 291

autumn 298

balsam 298

Barclay's 291

Barratt's 292

basket 297

bay-leaved 297

beaked 292

bog 296

brittle 294

changeable 294

diamond 294

flat-leaved 297

gray 295

hoary 292

lime 292

Mackenzie 296

mountain 296

peach-leaved 290

pussy 294

rock 299

sandbar 295

satin 297

shining 295

short-capsuled 292, 293

shrubby 291

Sitka 298

smooth 294

snow 298

trailing 291

velvet-fruited 296

white 290

wolf- 533

yellow 295
willowherb 537

alpine 537

annual 539

low 540

marsh 539

northern 539
winterfat 337, 338
wintergreen 567, 568, 569, 575

alpine 575

common 570

greenish-flowered 570

large 569

lesser 570

one-flowered 567, 568

one-sided 568, 570

pink 568, 569
wolf-willow 533
wonderberry 635
wood nettle 304
woodruff 667

field 667
wood-rush 254

field 255

Greenland 255

hairy 255

mountain 256

northern 255

small-flowered 255

smooth 255

spiked 256
wood-sorrel 505

Bush's yellow 507

creeping 507

yellow 507
wool-grass 243

829

woollen-breeches 605 many-flowered 708

wormwood 722 woolly 709

biennial 723 yellowbell 262

common 728 yellowrattle 654

linear-leaved 725 yew 56
plains 725 western 56

Roman 727 youngia 692

yarrow 708 yucca 267

830

Index to scientific names

(Page numbers of illustrations are in boldface; synonyms are in italic type.)

Abies 56, 57

balsamea 57
var. fallax 57

lasiocarpa 57
Abronia 344

micrantha 344
Abutilon theophrasti 520
Acer 515

glabrum var. douglasii 515, 517

negundo var. interius 515, 517

saccharinum 515, 517

spicatum 515, 517
Aceraceae 25, 28, 515
A cerates vihdiflora 597
Achillea 708

borealis 709

lanulosa 709

millefolium 708
var. nigrescens 709
var. occidentalis 708
f. purpurea 708

multiflora 709

ptarmica 708, 710

sibirica 708
Aconitum 362, 363

delphinifolium 363
Acorus 246

calamus 246
Actaea 363

rubra 363

f. neglecta 363
A ctinea hchardsonii 764
Acutae 188, 198
Adenocaulon 704, 709

bicolor 709
Adiantum 35, 36

pedatum 36
Adlumia 385

fungosum 385
Adoxa 677

moschatellina 677
Adoxaceae 30, 677
Aegopodium 548, 549

podagraria 549
Agalinis 639

aspera 639

purpurea 639

var. parviflora 640

tenuifolia 639
var. parviflora 640
Agastache 620, 621

anethiodora 62 1

foeniculum 621, 622
Agoseris 689, 690

aurantiaca 690

cuspidata 699

glauca 690

var. dasycephala 691

grandiflora 690, 691
Agrimonia 437

striata 437
Agrohordeum 81, 84

macounii 84
Agropyron 80, 84, 804

albicans 84, 85
var. griffithsii 85

bakeri 85

cristatiforme 87

cristatum 84, 85, 86

dasystachyum 84, 87

desertorum 85

latiglume 85, 87

pectiniforme 87

repens 84, 87, 88

riparium 84, 87

scribneri 85, 87

smithii 84, 89
var. molle 89

spicatum 85, 89
var. inerme 89

subsecundum 85, 89, 90

trachycaulum 85, 89, 91

trachycaulum 89
var. unilaterale 89

triticeum 84, 89
Agrostemma 347, 348

githago 348, 349
Agrostideae 77, 78, 81
Agrostis 82, 92

alba 94

borealis 92

exarata 92

scabra 92, 93

stolonifera 92, 94
f. palustris 94
var. genuina 94, 95

831

var. major 92, 94

thurberiana 92, 94

variabilis 92, 94
Albae 188, 190, 196
Alisma 69, 70

geyeri 70

gramineum 70

plantago-aquatica 70, 71
Alismaceae 22, 69
Allium 256, 258

cernuum 258

schoenoprasum var. sibiricum 258

stellatum 258

textile 258, 259
A llocarya californica 6 1 8
Alnus 299, 300

crispa 300

incana 300

rugosa var. americana 300

tenuifolia 300

viridis var. sinuata 300
Alopecurus 82, 94

aequalis 94

alpinus 94

geniculatus 94, 96

pratensis 94, 96
Althea rosea 520
Alyssum 391, 393

alyssoides 390, 393
Amaranthaceae 24, 342
Amaranthus 342

albus 342

blitoides 342

graecizans 342, 343

retroflexus 342
Amaryllidaceae 22, 268
Ambrosia 685

artemisiifolia var. elatior 685

coronopifolia 685

elatior 685

psilostachya var. coronopifolia 685

trifida 685
Amelanchier 436, 437

alnifolia 438, 439

florida 438

sanguinea 438
Amorpha 28, 462, 463

canescens 463

fruticosa 463

nana 463, 464
Amphicarpa 462, 464

bracteata 464
Amsinckia 610

menziesii 610

Anacardiaceae 28, 514
Anagallis 581

arvensis 581
Anaphalis 704, 709

margaritacea 709
var. subalpina 709
Androcera rostrata 635
Andromeda 571, 572

polifolia 572
Andropogon 84, 96

gerardi 96, 97

hallii 96

scoparius 96, 98
Andropogoneae 77, 79, 84
Androsace 580, 581

chamaejasme 581

occidentalis 581

septentrionalis 581, 582
var. diffusa 581
var. puberulenta 581
Anemone 24, 363, 364

canadensis 364, 365

cylindrica 364, 365

drummondii 364, 365

multifida 365
var. richardsiana 364, 365

narcissiflora 364, 365

nemorosa var. bifolia 364, 365

occidentalis 364, 365

parviflora 364, 366

patens var. wolfgangiana 364, 366,
367

quinquefolia var. interior 365

richardsonii 364, 366

riparia 366

virginiana 364, 366
Anethum 549, 550

graveolens 550
Angelica 548, 550

arguta 550

dawsonii 550

genuflexa 550

lyallii 550
Angiospermae 20, 21, 62, 790
Anogra nuttallii 543
Anoplanthus fasciculatus 661
Antennaria 704, 709

aizoides 716

alpina712, 713
var. canescens 713

anaphaloides 711,713

angustata 712, 713

aprica 712, 713

canadensis 7 1 4

832

corymbosa 712, 713
dimorpha 711,713
glabrata712, 713
howellii712, 714, 715
var. athabascensis 714
var. campestris 714
var. howellii 714
lanata 71 1,714
luzuloides 71 1, 714
monocephala 712, 714
neodioica 712, 714, 716

var. randii 714
obovata 714
parlinii 712, 716
parvifolia 712, 716
plantaginifolia 712, 716
pulcherrima 711,716
racemosa 71 1, 716
rosea 712, 716
russellii 712, 716
umbrinella 711, 716
Anthemis708, 717
cotula 717
tinctoria 717
Anthopogon chnitus 591
Anticlea elegans 268
Apocynaceae 31, 592
Apocynum 592

androsaemifolium 592

var. incanum 593, 594
cannabinum 592

var. hypericifolium 593
medium 592, 593
sibiricum 593
Aquilegia 363, 366
brevistyla 366, 368
canadensis 368
flavescens 366, 368
formosa 368
jonesii 366, 368
Arabis 392-394, 409
arenicola 394
var. arenicola 394
var. pubescens 394
divaricarpa 394, 395
var. dacotica 395
drummondii 394, 395
glabra 390, 394, 395
hirsuta 394, 395

var. glabrata 395
lemmonii 394, 395

var. drepanoloba 395
lyallii 394, 395
lyrata var. kamchatica 394, 395

nuttallii 394, 396

retrofracta 394, 396
var. collinsii 396
var. multicaulis 396
Araceae 22, 246
Aralia 544

hispida 544, 545, 546

nudicaulis 544, 545, 547

racemosa 544, 545
Araliaceae 27, 544
Arceuthobium 308

americanum 308

pusillum 308
Arctagrostis 82, 99

latifolia 99
Arctium 704,717

lappa 717

minus 717

tomentosum 717
Arctophila 79, 99

fulva 99
Arctostaphylos 572

alpina 572, 573
var. rubra 573

uva-ursi 573
Arenaria 348

capillaris var. americana 348, 350

congesta var. lithophila 348, 350

humifusa 348, 350

laricifolia var. occulta 348, 350

lithophila 350

lateriflora 348, 350

macrophylla 348, 350

nuttallii 348, 350

obtusiloba 350

peploides var. diffusa 348, 35 1

rossii var. columbiana 350, 351

serpyllifolia 348, 351

stricta ssp. dawsonensis 350, 351

verna 350, 351
Arenariae 186
Arethusa270, 271

bulbosa 271
Aristida 82, 99

longiseta 99
Aristolochiaceae 24, 308
Armoracia 391, 396

rusticana 396
Arnica 705, 706, 718

alpina var. ungavensis 719
var. vestita 719

chamissonis 718, 719

cordifolia 718, 719,720

diversifolia718, 719

833

fulgens719,720
latifolia 718, 721

lonchophylla718, 721

longifolia 721

louiseana 719, 721

mollis 718, 721
var. aspera 721

parryi 718, 721

rydbergii 719,722

sororia 719, 722
Artemisia 661, 704, 705, 722

abrotanum 723

absinthium 722, 723, 724

biennis 722, 723

boreal is 725

bourgeauiana 725

campestris 722, 725
var. douglasiana 725
var. scouleriana 725
var. wormskjoldii 725

camporum 725

cana 722, 725

canadensis 725

caudata 725

dracunculus 722, 725

frigida 722, 725, 726

her riot ii 121

longifolia 723, 725

ludoviciana 723

var. gnaphalodes 727
var. ludoviciana 727

michauxiana 723, 727

norvegica var. saxatilis 723, 727

pontica 723, 727

tilesii ssp. unalaschensis 723, 727

tridentata 722, 728

vulgaris 723, 728
Asarum 308

canadense 308
Asclepiadaceae 31, 593
Asclepias 593

incarnata 595

lanuginosa 595

ovalifolia 595

speciosa 595, 596, 597

syriaca 595, 597

verticillata 595, 597

viridiflora 595, 597
var. linearis 597
Asparagus 256, 258

officinalis 258
Asperugo 609, 610

procumbens 610
Asperula 667

arvensis 667

Asplenium 36

viride 36
Aster 705, 707, 708, 728
adscendens 729, 730
ads ur gens 734
alpinus 729, 730
angustus 73 1
brachyactis 728, 731
campestris 728, 731
canescens 728, 731
ciliolatus 729, 731,732
commutatus 734
conspicuus 728, 731, 733
eatoni730, 731
engelmannii 730, 734
ericoides 730, 734
falcatus 730, 734
foliaceus var. apricus 737
frondeus 131
hesperius 730, 734
junciformis 730, 734, 804
laevis 729, 734, 735
lateriflorus 730, 734
lindleyanus 73 1
maccallae 729, 736
macrophyllus 728, 736
modestus 729, 736
multiflorus 734
novae-angliae 728, 736
occidentalis 729, 736
osterhoutii 734
pansus 734
pauciflorus 728, 736
ptarmicoides 785

var. lutescens 785
puniceus 730, 737
sericeus 729, 737
sibiricus 729, 737
simplex 730, 737
subspicatus 729, 737

var. apricus 737
umbellatus 729, 737

var. pubens 737
Astragalus 463, 464, 489
aboriginorum 467
aboriginum 466, 467

var. major 467
adsurgens 475
alpinus 465-467

var. brunetianus 467
americanus 470
bisulcatus 464, 467, 468
bourgovii 467, 469
caespitosus 474
canadensis 466, 469

834

caryocarpus 469
cicer 466, 469
crassicarpus 465, 469
danicus 465, 466, 469

var. dasyglottis 469

f. virgultulus 469
drummondii 465, 469
eucosmus 467, 470

var. eucosmus 470

f. leucocarpus 470
flexuosus 465, 470
frigidus 466, 470

var. americanus 470, 471

var. frigidus 470
gilviflorus 462, 465, 470
goniatus 469
hypoglottis 469
iochrous 466, 472, 473
kentrophyta 464, 472
lotiflorus 465, 472
miser 464, 466, 472

var. serotinus 472
missouriensis 465, 472
pectinatus 464, 465, 468, 472
purshii 465, 474
racemosus 466, 474
robbinsii 467, 474
serotinus 472
spatulatus 462, 465, 474
striatus 466, 474
tenellus 466, 475
triphyllus 470
vexilliflexus 465, 475
yukonis 466, 475
A telophragma aboriginum 467

alpinum 467
A tenia gairdneri 56 1
Athyrium 36
alpestre 36, 37
filix-femina 37

var. cyclosorum 37

var. filix-femina 37
Atratae 191, 198
Atriplex 23, 326
argentea 327
dioica 329
hortensis 327, 328

var. atrosanguinea 327
nuttallii 326, 327
patula 327, 329

var. hastata 329
powellii 327, 329
Avena81,99
fatua 99, 100, 101
sativa 99, 100

Aveneae77, 78, 81
Avicularia 313
Axyris 326, 329

amaranthoides 329, 330

Bahia 706, 738

oppositifolia 738
Balsaminaceae 27, 508
Balsamorhiza 707, 738

sagittata 738
Barbarea 392, 396

orthoceras 396

vulgaris 396
Bartsia 639, 640

alpina 640
Bassia 326, 329

hyssopifolia 329
Batidophaca lotiflora 412
Beckmannia 83, 100

syzigachne 100, 102
Berberidaceae 26, 29, 382
Berberis 382, 384

aquifolium 384

f. repens 384
Berteroa391,396

incana 396
Besseya 638, 640

cinerea 640

wyomingensis 640
Betula 299, 300

fontinalis 30 1

glandulifera 300

glandulosa 300

nana var. sibirica 300

occidentalis 300, 301

papyrifera 300, 301
var. cordifolia 301
var. neoalaskana 301
var. papyrifera 301

pumila var. glandulifera 300
Betulaceae 25, 299
Bicolores 188, 196
Bidens 684, 705, 707, 738, 804

beckii 738

cernua 738, 739, 804

frondosa 738, 739
var. puberula 739

glaucescens 739

tripartita 738, 739

Bilderdykia 313, 314

Bistorta313, 314
Blysmus rufus 244
Boisduvalia 536
glabella 536

835

Bolelia laeta 680
Boltonia 708, 739

asteroides 739
Boraginaceae 31, 609
Borago609, 610

officinalis 610
Botrychium 32

boreale 32

var. obtusilobum 32

lanceolatum 32

lunaria 32, 33

matricariifolium 32, 33

multifidum 32, 33

simplex 32, 33

virginianum 32, 33, 34
Bouteloua 83, 100

curtipendula 100

gracilis 100, 103
Brachyactis angusta 73 1
Bracteosae 187, 191
Brassica 392, 396

campestris 397

hirta 397

juncea 397

kaber 390, 397

napus 397
B rax ilia minor 570
Braya 393, 397

humilis 397
Brickellia 705, 739

grandiflora 739
Bromus 80, 104

ciliatus 104, 105

inermis 104, 105

japonicus 104, 105

kalmii 104, 105

marginatus 104, 105

ported 104, 106

pumpellianus 104, 106

purgans 104, 106

squarrosus 104, 106

tectorum 104, 106, 107, 804

vulgaris 104, 106
Buchloe83, 108

dactyloides 108
Bupleurum 548, 550

americanum 550

Cactaceae 25, 531
Calamagrostis 82, 108
canadensis 109
var. robusta 109
var. scabra 109
deschampsioides 108, 109

inexpansa 109

lapponica 109, 1 10
var. nearctica 1 10

montanensis 108, 110, 111

neglecta 109, 110

purpurascens 108, 110

rubescens 108, 1 10
Calamovilfa 82, 112

longifolia 112,113
Calla 246

palustris 246
Callistachys 185, 191
Callitrichaceae 23, 514
Callitriche514

autumnalis 514

hermaphroditica 514

palustris 514
Calochortus 256, 258

apiculatus 258
Calopogon 271

pulchellus 271
Caltha 363, 368

leptosepala 368

natans 368, 369

palustris 368, 369, 370
Calypso 270, 271

bulbosa271,272
Camassia 256, 260

quamash 260
Camelina391,398

dentata 398

microcarpa 398

sativa 390, 398
Campanula 677

aparinoides 678

glomerata 677, 678

lasiocarpa 677, 678

rapunculoides 677, 678

rotundifolia 678, 679

uliginosa 678

uniflora 677, 678
Campanulaceae 31, 677
Cannabinaceae 23, 304
Capillares 190
Capitatae 185
Capparidaceae 27, 28, 386
Caprifoliaceae 29, 31, 670
Capsella 389, 398

bursa-pastoris 390, 398, 399
Caragana 462, 475

arborescens 475
Cardamine 393, 398

bellidifolia 398, 400

bulbosa 398, 400

836

parviflora 400

pensylvanica 400

pratensis 400

var. angustifolia 400

umbellata 400
Cardaria 389, 400

draba401

var. repens 401

pubescens var. elongata 401
Carduus 705, 739

nutans 739
Carex 182, 185

adusta 194,201

aenea 202

albo-nigra 204

alopecoidea 192, 201

angustior 219

aperta 199,201

aquatilis 199,201
var. altior 201
var. stans 201

arcta 193,201

argyrantha 194

assiniboinensis 189, 197,202

atherodes 200, 202, 203

athrostachya 193, 202

atrata 197, 202

atrofusca 197, 204

atrosquama 204

aurea 196, 204

backii 186, 189,204

bebbii 208

bicknellii 23 1

bicolor 196,204

bigelowii 199, 204

brevior 23 1

brunnescens 193, 205

buxbaumii 198,205

canescens 207

capillaris 190, 205

var. capillaris 205

var. elongata 205
capitata 185,205
castanea 190, 197,205
chordorrhiza 186, 206
concinna 196, 206
concinnoides 196, 206
crawei 197, 206
crawfordii 193, 206
crinita 199,206
cristatella 233
cumulata 23 1
curta 193, 207
deflexa 195,207

deweyana 187, 207
diandra 192,207
disperma 187, 192,207
douglasii 191,208
eburnea 190, 196,208
eleusinoides 198, 208
epapillosa 204
festivella 2 1 7
festucacea 194, 208
filifolia 186,208,209
flava 197,210
foenea 229

garberi var. bifaria 204
geyeri 186,210
glacialis 190, 196,210
gracillima 190,210,211
granulans 197, 210
gravida 192, 212
gynocrates 185, 212, 213
haydeniana 2 1 7
heleonastes 193,212
heliophila 222
hoodii 192,212
hookerana 191, 212
houghtonii 197, 212
hystricina 200, 214
incondita 2 1 7
interior 219
intumescens 189, 214
kelloggii 199,214
lacustris 200, 214
laeviconica 200, 214
lanuginosa 197, 215
lasiocarpa 197, 215
laxiflora 190
var. varians 215

lenticularis 199,215
leptalea 186,215
limnophila 2 1 7
limosa 198,216
livida 196,216
loliacea 193,216
mackenziei 193, 216
macloviana 1 94, 2 1 6, 2 1 7
magellanica 198,217,218
maritima 186, 217
merritt-fernaldii 23 1
mertensii 198, 217
michauxiana 188, 219
microglochin 199, 219
microptera 2 1 7
misandra 197, 219
molest a 23 1
muricata 188,219

837

nardina 186,219

var. hepburnii 219
nebraskensis 199, 220
nigricans 191, 220
nigromarginata 195

var. elliptica 220
normalis 208
norvegica 198, 220
obtusata 186, 195,220
oligosperma 191,200,220
pachystachya 2 1 7
paleacea 199, 221
parryana 198, 221
pauciflora 199,221
paupercula 2 1 7
pedunculata 195, 221
pensylvanica 195,221

var. digyna 222

var. distans 222

var. pensylvanica 222
petasata 194,222
petricosa 197, 222

var. franklinii 222
phaeocephala 194, 222
platylepis 222
podocarpa 198, 223
praegracilis 191, 223
prairea 192, 223
praticola 222
preslii 194,223
projecta 233

pseudo-cyperus 200, 223
pyrenaica 191, 224
rariflora 198,224
raymondii 202, 204
raynoldsii 198,224,225
retrorsa 200, 224, 226
richardsonii 196, 224
rossii 195,227
rostrata 200, 227
rotundata 200, 227
rufina 188, 196,227
rupestris 196, 227
salina 199,227

var. kattegatensis 228

var. salina 228

var. subspathacea 228
sartwellii 187,228
saxatilis 188,200,228

var. major 228

var. saxatilis 228
scirpoidea 185, 228
scoparia 194, 229
siccata 186,229,230

sprengelii 189,229
stenophylla 191

ssp. eleocharis 229
stipata 192,229
straminea 194, 229
stricta 199,231
supina 191, 195

ssp. spaniocarpa 231
sychnocephala 193,231
tenera 208
tenuiflora 192, 232
tetanica 196, 232

var. meadii 232

var. woodii 232
tincta 194,232
tonsa 195, 232
torreyi 189,232
tribuloides 194, 233
trisperma 192, 233
umbellata 195, 233
vaginata 196, 233
vesicaria 200, 233
viridula 197,234
vulpinoidea 187,234
xerantica 194, 234

Carum549, 551

carvi 551
Caryophyllaceae 24, 26, 347
Cassiope 572, 573
mertensiana 573
tetragona 573

var. saximontana 573
var. tetragona 573

Castilleja 638, 640
acuminata 642
coccinea 640, 641
cusickii 641
hispida 641
lutea 64 1
lutescens 641
miniata 641, 643
occidentalis 641
pallida 641

var. septentrionalis 642

raupii 640
sessiliflora 640
sulphurea 642

Catabrosa79, 112

aquatica 1 12
Cathartolinum rigidum 508

sulcatum 508
Caulophyllum 26, 382, 384

thalictroides 384

838

Ceanothus29, 518

ovatus 518

velutinus 518
Celastraceae 28, 517
Celastrus 517

scandens 517
Celtis 303

occidentalis 303
Centaurea 704, 705, 740

diffusa 740

maculosa 740

pier is 74 1

repens 740

solstitialis 740, 741
Centunculus 580, 581

minimus 581
Cerastium 347, 351

alpinum 352

arvense 351, 352

nutans 351, 352

tomentosum 351, 352

vulgatum 351, 352

Ceratophyllaceae 23, 361
Ceratophyllum 361

demersum 361
Chaenorrhinum 638, 642

minus 642
Chamaedaphne 571, 573

calyculata 573, 574
Chamaenerion angustifolium 537

la t ij o Hum 537

spicatum 537
Chamaepericlymenum canadense 565
Chamaerhodos 437, 438

erecta var. parviflora 438

nut t allii 438
Chamaesaracha grandiflora 634
Chamomilla suaveolens 768
Cheilanthes 36, 37

feei 37
Cheirinia aspera 407

cheiranthoides 407
Chelone 639, 644

glabra var. linifolia 644
Chenopodiaceae 23-25, 324, 804
Chenopodium 326, 329

album 331, 332

capitatum 329, 331

dacoticum 331

fremontii 331, 333, 334

glaucum var. pulchrum 331, 333

hybridum var. gigantospermum 331,
333

lanceolatum 331

leptophyllum331,333
polyspermum 331, 333
rubrum 331, 333
salinum 333
subglabrum 331, 333

Chimaphila 29, 567

umbellata var. occidentalis 567
Chiogenes hispidula 575
Chlorideae 77, 78, 83
Chondrophylla fremontii 590
Chordorrhizae 186
Chrysanthemum 704, 708, 741
arcticum 741

var. polaris 741
balsamita 741

f. tanacetoides 741
leucanthemum 741
var. pinnatifidum 741

Chrysobotrya aurea 428
Chrysopsis 706, 741

hispida 742

villosa 742
Chrysosplenium 24, 420, 421

iowense 42 1

tetrandrum 421
Chrysothamnus 705, 742

frigidus 742

nauseosus 742
Cichorium 689, 691

endivia 691

intybus 691

Cicuta 548, 551,555

bulbifera 551

douglasii 553

mackenzieana 551

maculata var. angustifolia 551, 552
var. maculata 553

occidentalis 553
Cinna82, 112

latifolia 112
Circaea 536

alpina 536

quadrisulcata var. canadensis 536
Cirsium 684, 704, 740, 742

altissimum var. discolor 743

arvense 742, 743, 744
var. integrifolium 745

drummondii 743, 745
flodmanii 743, 745
foliosum 743, 745
hookerianum 743, 745

lanceolatum 746
muticum 743, 745

839

undulatum 743, 745, 746, 747
var. megacephalum 746

vulgare 742, 746
Cistaceae 27, 28, 525
Claytonia 345

caroliniana var. lanceolata 345

fontana 345, 346

linearis 345, 346

megarrhiza 345, 346

parvifolia 345, 346
Clematis 24, 25, 28, 362, 369

columbiana 369

ligusticifolia 369

tangutica 369

verticellaris var. columbiana 369

virginiana 369, 371

Cleome 386

serrulata 386, 388
Clintonia 257, 260

borealis 260

uniflora 260
Cnemidophacos pectinatus 474
Cochlearia 389, 401

officinalis 401
Cogswellia macrocarpa 557

oriental is 557
Collinsia 639, 644

parviflora 644
Collomia 600

linearis 600, 601
Comandra 305

livida 305

pallida 308

richardsiana 308

umbellata 305, 307
var. angustifolia 305, 308
var. pallida 308
var. umbellata 305, 308

Comarum palustre 45 1
Commelinaceae 22, 246
Compositae 29, 30, 683
Conimitella 420, 421

williamsii 421
Conium 549, 553

maculatum 553
Conopholis 661

americana 661
Conringia 391-393, 401

orientalis 390, 401
Convolvulaceae 30, 31, 597
Convolvulus 597

americanus 599

arvensis 597, 598

interior 599

sepium 597, 599

var. americanus 598, 599
var. pubescens 599
Coptis 363, 371

trifolia 37 1
Corallorhiza 270, 271

maculata 271, 273

striata 271, 273

trifida271,273
Coreopsis 707, 746

atkinsoniana 746

tinctoria 746
Corispermum 326, 335

hyssopifolium 335

marginale 335

orientale var. emarginatum 335, 336

villosum 335
Cornaceae 26, 28, 563
Cornus 563

alba 565

var. baileyi 565
var. interior 565

alternifolia 565

canadensis 565, 566

racemosa 565, 567

rugosa 565, 567

stolonifera 565

Coronilla 463, 475

varia 475
Corydalis 385, 386

aurea 386

sempervirens 386, 387
Corylus 25, 299, 301

americana 301, 302

cornuta 301, 302
Cotoneaster 436, 438

acutifolia 438, 440

melanocarpa 440
Crassulaceae 28, 418
Crataegus 436, 440

chrysocarpa 440

columbiana 440

douglasii 440

rotundifolia 440, 441

succulenta 440
Crepis 689-691

capillaris 691, 692

elegans 692

intermedia 692

nana 691, 692

occidentalis 692

runcinata 692

var. glauca 692, 693
var. hispidulosa 692

840

tectorum 691, 694
Cruciferae 28, 389, 390
Cryptantha 609, 610

bradburiana 6 1 1

fendleri610, 611

minima 610, 61 1

nubigena 610, 61 1
Cryptocarpae 188, 199
Cryptogramma 35, 37, 38

crispa 37

var. acrostichoides 38, 39

stelleri 37, 38
Cryptotaenia 548, 553

canadensis 553
Cucurbitaceae 30, 677
Cupressaceae 21, 60
Cuscuta 597, 599

curta 600

gronovii 600

pentagona 600

planiflora 600
Cyclachaena xanthifolia 686
Cycloloma 326, 335

atriplicifolium 335
Cymopterus 549, 553

acaulis 553, 554
Cynoglossum 609, 611

boreale 61 1

officinale 611
Cyperaceae 22, 74, 181
Cyperus 182, 234

houghtonii 235

inflexus 234, 235

schweinitzii 234, 235

strigosus 234, 235
Cypripedium 270, 273

acaule 273, 274

arietinum 275

calceolus 275

var. parviflorum 272, 275
var. pubescens 275

candidum 275

montanum 275

passerinum 275

reginae 275
Cystopteris 36, 38

fragilis 38, 40

montana 38
Cytherea bulbosa 27 1

Dactylis79, 112

glomerata 112, 114
Danthonia81, 112

californica 1 12
var. americana 112

intermedia 112, 116

parry i 112

spicata 1 12

unispicata 112
Dasiphora fruticosa 449
Dasystephana affinis 590

andrewsii 590

flavida 590

puberula 591
Datura 631

stramonium 631
Daucus 549, 553

carota 553
Delphinium 363, 371

bicolor371,372

brownii 371

canmorense 371

glaucum371,373
Deschampsia 81, 117

atropurpurea 117

caespitosa 117, 118

danthonioides 117

elongata 117, 119

Descurainia391,392, 401

pinnata var. brachycarpa 402

richardsonii 402

sophia 402

sophioides 402
Desmodium 463, 476

canadense 476
Deweyanae 187
Dianthus 347, 352

barbatus 352

deltoides 352

sylvestris 352, 353

Diapensia 580

lapponica 580
Diapensiaceae 29, 580
Dicotyledoneae 12, 20, 23, 279, 790
Diervilla670,671

lonicera 671
Digitaria84, 119

ischaemum 1 19

sanguinalis 1 19

Digitatae 189, 195
Diholcos bisulcatus 467
Dioicae 185
Diplotaxis 392, 402

muralis 402
Dipsacaceae 30, 681
Disporum 257, 260

hooked var. oreganum 260

trachycarpum 260, 261
Distegia involucrata 673

841

Distichlis 79, 119

stricta 119, 120
Divisae 187, 191
Dodecatheon 580, 583

conjugens 583

var. beamishii 582, 583

cylindrocarpum 583

pulchellum 583
Doellingeria pubens 738

umbellatus 131
Douglasia 580, 583

montana 583
Downingia 680

laeta 680
Draba391

alpina 404

aurea 403, 404
var. leiocarpa 404

cinerea 403, 404

crassifolia 404

fladnizensis 404, 405

hirta 403, 405

incana 403, 405

incerta 404, 405

lanceolata 403, 405

lutea 405

mccallae 403, 405

nemorosa 403, 405
var. leiocarpa 390, 405

nivalis 404, 406
var. elongata 406

oligosperma 404, 406

paysonii var. treleasii 406

praealta 403, 406

reptans var. micrantha 403, 406

stenoloba 403, 406
var. nana 406

stenopetala 404, 406
Dracocephalum 620, 621

nuttallii 628

parviflorum 621

thymiflorum 621
Drosera 418

anglica418

linearis 418

rotundifolia418
Droseraceae 26, 418
Dryas 436, 442

drummondii 442

integrifolia 442

octopetala var. hookeriana 442
Drymocallis agrimonioides 448
Dryopteris 36, 38

austriaca 41

var. spinulosa 41

cristata 41
disjuncta 38, 41
filix-mas 41
fragrans 41, 42
phegopteris 38, 42
spinulosa 4 1
thelypteris 38, 42
Dupontia79, 121
fisheri 121

Echinacea 708, 746
angustifolia 746
Echinochloa 83, 121
crusgalli 121, 122

f. breviseta 121

f. longiseta 121

var. depressa 121

var. erecta 121

var. frumentacea 121
pungens 121

Echinocystis 677

lobata 677
Echinops 705, 746

exaltatus 746, 748

sphaerocephalus 746, 748
Echium609, 611

plantagineum 61 1

vulgare 611
Elaeagnaceae 25, 533
Elaeagnus 533

angustifolia 533

commutata 533
Elatinaceae 26, 525
Elatine 525

triandra var. americana 525
Eleocharis 182, 235

acicularis 236

calva 236

compressa 236

elliptica 237

engelmannii 235, 237

palustris 237, 238

pauciflora var. fernaldii 237

rostellata 237

smallii 237

uniglumis 237

Ellisia 605

nyctelea 605
Elodea 73

canadensis 73
Elsholtzia 620, 623

ciliata 623
Elymus 81, 123, 804

angustus 124

842

arenarius 123, 124
ssp. mollis 124

canadensis 123, 124, 125

cinereus 123, 124

glaucus 123, 124

hirtiflorus 123, 124

innovatus 123, 126

interruptus 123, 126

junceus 123, 126

virginicus 123, 126
Empetraceae 25, 514
Empetrum 514

nigrum 514
Endolepis 326, 335

suckleyi 335
Epigaea 572, 573

repens 573
Epilobium 536, 537

adenocaulon 539

adenocladon 539

alpinum 537

angustifolium 537, 538

ciliatum 537

glandulosum var. adenocaulon 539

latifolium 537

leptophyllum 539

linear e 539

palustre 537

paniculatum 537
Equisetaceae 20, 47
Equisetum 47

arvense 48, 49

fluviatile 48

hyemale 48
var. affine 48

kansanum 48

laevigatum 48

limosum 48

palustre 48

pratense 48

prealtum 48

scirpoides 48

sylvaticum 47

variegatum 48
Eragrostis 79, 126

cilianensis 127

hypnoides 127

poaeoides 127
Ericaceae 29, 30, 571
Erigeron 705, 707, 708, 748

acris var. asteroides 748, 750

annuus 749, 750

arthurii 749, 750

asper 750

aureus 749, 751

caespitosus 749, 751, 752
canadensis 748, 751
compositus 748, 749, 751
elatus748, 751
flagellaris 749, 751
glabellus 750, 753
grandiflorus 749, 750, 753
hyssopifolius 749, 750, 753
lanatus 749, 753
lonchophyllus 748, 753
ochroleucus var. scribneri 749, 753
pallens 749, 753
peregrinus ssp. callianthemus var.

scaposus 750, 754
philadelphicus 750, 754
pumilus 749, 754
radicatus 749, 754
scotteri 748, 749, 754
speciosus 750, 754

uniflorus var. unalaschkensis 748, 754
Eriogonum 24, 308, 309
androsaceum 309
cernuum 309
flavum 309, 310,311
multiceps 309, 310
ovalifolium 309, 310
subalpinum 310
umbellatum 309, 310

Eriophorum 182, 239
angustifolium 239
brachyantherum 239
callitrix 239, 240
chamissonis 239, 240

f. albidum 240
gracile 239, 240

scheuchzeri 239, 240
vaginatum 239, 240
ssp. spissum 240
viridi-carinatum 239, 240

Erodium 504

cicutarium 504
Eruca391,406

sativa 406
Erucastrum 392, 407

gallicum 407
Eryngium 548, 553

planum 553
Erysimum 392, 393, 407

asperum 407, 408, 804

cheiranthoides 407

hieracifolium 407, 409

inconspicuum 407, 409

pallassii 407, 409

parviflorum 409

843

Erythronium 257, 262
grandiflorum 262, 263

Eupatorium 705, 755
bruneri
maculatum 755

var. bruneri 755
perforatum 755

Euphorbia 511
cyparissias 51 1
esula 51 1,512, 513
geyeri 511, 512
glyptosperma 5 1 2
helioscopia 51 1, 512
lucida 51 1,512
marginata 511,512
peplus 511,512
serpyllifolia 511, 512
var. hirtella 512

Euphorbiaceae 23, 51 1

Euphrasia 639, 644
arctica 644
var. dolosa 644

Eurotia 326, 338
lanata 337, 338

Eutrema 393, 409
edwardsii 409

Extensae 189, 191, 197

subulata 127, 131

viridula 127, 132
Festuceae 77-79
Festucoideae 78, 79
Filifoliae 186
Firmiculmes 186
Foetidae 186
Folliculatae 188
Fragaria 437, 442

americana 442

glauca 443

vesca var. americana 442

virginiana 442

virginiana var. glauca 443
Franseria 685

acanthicarpa 685
Fraxinus 587

campestris 587

nigra 587

pennsylvanica var. austinii 587, 588
var. subintegerrima 587
Fritillaria 257, 262

pudica 262
Fumaria 385, 386

officinalis 386
Fumariaceae 28, 385

Fagaceae 25, 303
Fagopyrum 309, 310

esculentum 310

tataricum 310,312
Ferrugineae 189, 197
Festuca 80, 127

altaica 128
f. scabrella 128

doreana 128

elatior 127, 129

var. arundinacea 129

hallii 128, 129

idahoensis 128, 129, 130

obtusa 127, 129

occidentalis 128, 131

octoflora 127, 131

ovina 128, 131
ssp. eu-ovina 131
var. saximontana 131
var. vulgaris 131

rubra 128, 131
ssp. eu-rubra 131
subvar. arenaria 131
var. genuina 131

saximontana 131

scabrella 128

Gaillardia 684, 706, 755

aristata 755, 756
Galeopsis 621, 623

speciosa 623

tetrahit 623
Galinsoga 708, 757

ciliata 757

parviflora 757
Galium 667

aparine 667, 668

aparine var. vaillantii 668

boreale 667, 668, 669
var. intermedia 668

palustre 668

septenthonale 668

trifidum 668

triflorum 667, 668

vaillantii 668

verum 667, 670
Gaultheria 572, 575

hispidula 575

humifusa 575

procumbens 575
Gaura 536, 539

coccinea 539
var. glabra 539

844

Gayophytum 536, 540

humile 540
Gentiana 589

acuta 590

affinis 589, 590

amarella 590

andrewsii 589, 590
f. albiflora 590

aquatica 589, 590

calycosa 589, 590

crinita589, 591
var. browniana 591
var. tonsa 591

detonsa 589
var. raupii 591

flavida 590

fremontii 590

glauca589, 591

interrupta 590

linearis 589, 591

macounii 591

plebeia 590

procera 591

propinqua 590, 591

prostrata 590

puberula 591

puberulenta 589, 591

scopulorum 590

strictiflora 590
Gentianaceae 31, 589
Geocaulon lividum 305
Geoprumnon crassicarpum 469
Geraniaceae 27, 504
Geranium 504

bicknellii 504, 505

carolinianum 504, 505

pusillum 504, 505

richardsonii 504, 505

strigosum 505

viscosissimum 504, 505, 506

Geum 437, 443

aleppicum 443

perincisum 443

rivale 443

strictum 443

triflorum 443, 444, 445
Gilia 600

aggregata 600, 602

congesta 600, 602
Glaux 24, 580, 583

maritima 583
Glechoma 621, 623

hederacea 623
Glyceria80, 132

borealis 132, 133

elata 133

fluitans 132, 133

grandis 132, 133, 134

maxima 133
ssp. grandis 133
var. americana 133

pauciflora 132, 133

pulchella 132, 133

striata 132, 135
Glycyrrhiza 463, 476

lepidota 476, 477
Gnaphalium 704, 757

macounii 758

microcephalum 757

palustre 757, 758

uliginosum 757, 758

viscosum 757, 758
Goodyera 271, 275

oblongifolia 275, 276

repens 275, 276
var. ophioides 276
Gracillimae 190
Gramineae 22, 73, 74
Granulares 190, 197
Gratiola 638, 644

neglecta 644
Grindelia 706, 758

perennis 758

squarrosa 758
Gutierrezia 706, 758

divers if o I ia 758

sarothrae 758
Gymnospermae 20, 21, 56, 790
Gypsophila 347, 353

acutifolia 353

elegans 353

paniculata 353

Habenaria 270, 276

bracteata 277

dilatata 276

hookeri 276

hyperborea 272, 276, 277

obtusata 276, 277

orbiculata 276, 277

saccata 276, 277

unalascensis 276, 277

viridis var. bracteata 276, 277
Hackelia americana 612

floribunda 6 1 3
Halenia 589, 592

deflexa 592

845

Halimolobos 393, 409

virgata 409
Haloragaceae 23, 26, 543
Haplopappus 705, 706, 758

armerioides 759

lanceolatus 759

lyallii 759

nuttallii 758, 759

spinulosus 758, 759, 760
Hedeoma 621, 624

hispida 624
Hedysarum 463, 476

alpinum 479

var. americanum 476, 478

americanum 476

boreale 476, 479
var. boreale 479
var. cinerascens 479
var. mackenzii 479

sulphurescens 476, 479
Helenium706, 761

autumnale var. montanum 761

montanum 761
Heleonastes 187, 192
Helianthemum 525

bicknellii 525
Helianthus 684, 707, 761

annuus 761

f. lenticularis 761
var. giganteus 761

annuus 762

ssp. lenticularis 762

aridus 762

couplandii 761, 762

laetiflorus var. subrhomboideus 761
762

maximilianii 761, 762, 763

nuttallii 761, 762

var. subtuberosus 762

petiolaris 762

tuberosus 761, 764
Helictotrichon 81, 135

hookeri 135
Heliopsis 707, 764

helianthoides var. scabra 764
Heliotropium 609, 612

curassavicum var. obovatum 612

spathulatum 612
Hepatica 363, 374

nobilis 374
Heracleum 548, 555

lanatum 555, 556

maximum 555
Hesperis 393, 409

matronalis 409

Heuchera 421

cylindrica 421, 422
var. glabella 422

glabra 421, 422

parvifolia var. dissecta 421, 422

richardsonii 421, 422, 423
Hieracium689, 690, 694

albertinum 694

albiflorum 694

aurantiacum 694

canadense 695

cynoglossoides 694, 695

triste var. gracile 694, 695

umbellatum 694, 695
Hierochloe83, 135

alpina 135

odorata 135, 136
Hippuris 23, 543

vulgaris 543
Hirtae 188, 197
Homalobus caespitosus 474

serotinus All

tenellus 475

vexilliflexus 475
Hordeae 77, 78, 80
Hordeum81, 137

brachyantherum 137

distichon 137

hexastichon 137

jubatum 137, 138
var. boreale 137
var. caespitosum 137

pusillum 137

vulgare 137
Houstonia 667, 670

longifolia 670
Hudsonia 525, 526

tomentosa 526
Humulus 304

lupulus 304
Hutchinsia procumbens 410
Hydrocharitaceae 22, 73
Hydrophyllaceae 31, 605
Hydrophyllum 605

capitatum 605
Hymenolobus 389, 409

procumbens 409
Hymenopappus 705, 764

filifolius 764
var. polycephalus 764
Hymenoxys 706

acaulis 764

richardsonii 764, 765
Hyoscyamus 631

niger 631, 632

846

Hypericaceae 26, 522
Hypericum 522

canadense 522

formosum var. nortoniae 522, 525

majus 522, 525

virginicum var. fraseri 522, 525
Hypochoeris 689, 695

radicata 695
Hypopithys latisquama 57 1
Hypoxis 268

hirsuta 268
Hyssopus 620, 624

officinalis 624

Iliamna 520

rivularis 520
Impatiens 508

biflora508, 510

capensis 508

noli-tangere 508, 510

occidentalis 510
Intermediae 187
Iridaceae 22, 268
Iris 268, 269

pseudacorus 269

versicolor 269
Isoetaceae 20, 50
Isoetes 50

bolanderi 50, 51

echinospora 51
var. braunii 51
Iva 683, 686

axillaris 686

xanthifolia 686, 687

Juncaceae 22, 74, 246
Juncaginaceae 22, 68
Juncus 247

albescens 248, 249

alpinus 249

arcticus 247, 249

articulatus 249, 250

balticus 247, 250
var. littoralis 250
var. montanus 250, 251

biglumis 248, 250

brevicaudatus 249, 250

bufonius 247, 250

canadensis 249, 250

castaneus 248, 252

compressus 248, 252

confusus 248, 252

drummondii 247, 252

dudleyi 248, 252

ensifolius 248, 252

filiformis 247, 252
longistylis 248, 253
mertensianus 248, 253
nodosus 248, 253
parryi 247, 253
saximontanus 248, 253
tenuis 248, 253

var. dudleyi 252
torreyi 249, 254
tracyi 248, 254
vaseyi 248, 254
Juniperus 60
communis 60

var. depressa 60
horizontalis 60, 61 > 62
scopulorum 60, 61
sibirica 60

Kalmia 28, 571,575

polifolia 575
Kentrophyta montana 472
Knautia681

arvensis 681
Kobresia 182,241
myosuroides 241
simpliciuscula 241
Kochia 326, 338

scoparia 338
Koeleria81, 137
gracilis 137, 139
ssp. eugracilis 140
ssp. nitida 140
var. glabra 140
var. typica 140
Krigia 690, 695
biflora 695

Labia tae 30, 31,620
Lactuca 684, 690, 695

biennis 695, 696

canadensis 696

floridana 696

ludoviciana 695, 696

pulchella 695, 696

serriola 695, 696
var. integrata 697

spicata 696

virosa 697
Lamium 621, 624

album 624

amplexicaule 624
Laportea 304

canadensis 304
Lappula 609, 612, 804

americana 6 1 2

847

deflexa var. americana 612, 804

echinata 612

var. occidentalis 612

floribunda 612, 613

jessicae 612, 613

occidentalis 612
Lapsana 689, 697

communis 697
Larix 56, 57

laricina 57

lyallii 57

occidentalis 57
Lathyrus 462, 479

japonicus 479, 480
ssp. maritimus 480

ochroleucus 479, 480, 481

odoratus 479

palustris 479, 480

sativus 479, 480

tuberosus 479, 480

venosus 479, 480
var. intonsus 480
Lavatera thuringiaca 520
Lavauxiaflava 541
Laxiflorae 190
Lechea 525, 526

intermedia 526

stricta 526
Ledum 571, 575

glandulosum 575, 576

groenlandicum 576

palustre 575, 576
var. decumbens 576
var. latifolium 576
Leersia 83, 140

oryzoides 140
Leguminosae 27, 28, 462
Lemna 245

minor 245

trisulca 245
Lemnaceae 21, 245
Lentibulariaceae 31, 659
Leonurus 621, 624

cardiaca 624

sibiricus 624, 625
Lepachys columnifera 770
Lepidium 389, 410

apetalum 411

campestre410

densiflorum 410, 41 1
var. bourgeauanum 41 1

latifolium 410, 411

perfoliatum410, 411

ramosissimum 410, 41 1

ruderale410,411

sativum 410, 41 1
Leptarrhena 421, 422

pyrifolia 422
Leptilon canadense 75 1
Leptotaenia multifida 557
Lesquerella 391, 412

alpina var. spathulata 412

arctica412

var. purshii 412

ludoviciana var. arenosa 390, 412, 413
Leucanthemum vulgare 74 1
Leucophysalis grandifiora 634
Levisticum 548, 555

officinale 555
Lewisia 345, 346

pygmaea 346
Liatris 705, 766

ligulistylis 766

punctata 766, 767
Lilaea 65, 66

scillioides 66

subulata 66
Liliaceae 22, 256, 804
Lilium 256, 262

philadelphicum 262
var. andinum 262, 264
Limnobotrya lacustris 428
Limnorchis dilatata 276

viridiflora 277
Limosae 191, 198
Limosella 638, 644

aquatica 644
Linaceae 28, 507
Linanthus 600, 602

harknessii var. septenthonalis 602

septentrionalis 602
Linaria 638, 644

canadensis 645
var. texana 645

dalmatica 645

maroccana 645

vulgaris 645
Linnaea 670, 671

americana 67 1

borealis var. americana 671, 672
Linum 507

compactum 508

lewisii 507

pratense 507, 508

rigidum 507, 508, 509

sulcatum 507, 508
Liparis 271, 277

loeselii 277
Listera 270, 277

borealis 272, 278

848

caurina 278

convallarioides 278

cordata 277, 278
Lithophragma 420, 422

bulbifera 422

parviflora 422, 424
Lithospermum 609, 613

angustifolium 6 1 5

arvense 613

canescens 613

incisum 613, 614

officinale 613, 615

ruderale 613, 615
Loasaceae 27, 531
Lobelia 680

dortmanna 680

kalmii 680

spicata var. hirtella 680

strictiflora 680
Lobeliaceae 31, 680
Loiseleuria 572, 576

procumbens 576
Lolium 80, 140

multiflorum 140

perenne 140

persicum 141, 142

temulentum 141
Lomatium 548, 549, 555, 559

cous 555, 557

dissectum var. multifidum 555, 557

foeniculaceum 557

macrocarpum 555, 557

orientale 555, 557

sandbergii 555, 557

simplex 557

triternatum 555, 557

villosum 555, 557, 558
Lomatogonium 589, 592

rotatum 592
Longirostres 189
Lonicera 670, 671

caerulea var. villosa 671, 673

dioica 673
var. glaucescens 671, 672, 673

glaucescens 673

hirsuta var. schindleri 671, 673

involucrata 671, 673

oblongifolia671,673

tatarica 671, 673

utahensis 671, 673

villosa var. solonis 673
Loranthaceae 23, 308
Lotus 463, 480

americanus 482

corniculatus 482

pedunculatus 482

purshianus 482
Luetkea 437, 444

pectinata 444
Lupinus 463, 483

argenteus 483, 484

flexuosus 485

minimus 482, 483

nootkatensis 483

polyphyllus 483

pusillus 482, 483

sericeus 482, 485
Lupulinae 189
Luzula 254

campestris 254, 255

confusa 254, 255

glabrata 254, 255

groenlandica 255

parviflora 254, 255

pilosa 254

var. saltuensis 255

spicata 255

wahlenbergii 254
Lychnis 347, 353

affinis 353, 354

alba 353, 354

apetala 353, 354
ssp. attenuata 354
var. arctica 354

drummondii 353, 354
Lycium 631, 633

halimifolium 633
Lycopodiaceae 20, 5 1
Lycopodium 51

alpinum 51, 52

annotinum 51, 52

clavatum 51, 52

complanatum 51, 52, 53

inundatum 51, 52

obscurum 51, 52, 54

sabinifolium 52
var. sitchense 55

selago 51, 55
Lycopsis 610, 615

arvensis 615
Lycopus 621, 625

americanus 625

asper 625

uniflorus 625

virginicus 625

var. pauciflorus 625
Lygodesmia 690, 697, 702

juncea 697, 698

rostrata 697
Lysiella obtusata 211

849

Lysimachia 14,581,583

ciliata 13, 14, 584, 585

hybrida 584

quadrifolia 584

terrestris 583, 584

thyrsiflora 584, 586
Lythraceae 26, 534
Lythrum 534

salicaria 534

Machaer anther a canescens 73 1

pulverulenta 73 1
Madia 704, 707, 766

glomerata 766
Maianthemum 256, 257, 262

canadense var. interius 261, 262
Malaxis 271, 278, 804

monophylla var. brachypoda 278

paludosa 278

unifolia 278
Malva 520

alcea520, 521

crispa 521

moschata 520, 521

neglecta 521

parviflora 521

pusilla 521

sylvestris 520, 522, 523
Malvaceae 27, 520
Malvastrum 520, 522

coccineum 522, 524
Mamillaria 531

vivipara 531
Marrubium 621, 625

vulgare 625
Marsilea 47

mucronata 47

vestita 47
Marsileaceae 21, 47
Maruta cotula 1 1 7
Matricaria 705, 708, 766

chamomilla 768

inodora 1\1, 768

maritima 768, 769
var. maritima 717

matricarioides 766, 768
Matteuccia 35, 42

struthiopteris 42

var. pensylvanica 42, 43
Medicago 462, 485

lupulina 485

polymorpha 485

sativa 485
ssp. falcata 485, 487
ssp. sativa 485, 486, 487

Megalodonta 707

beckii 739
Melampyrum 639, 645

lineare 645, 646
Melica80, 141

bulbosa 141

smithii 141

spectabilis 141, 143

subulata 141, 143
Melilotus 462, 487

alba 487, 488

indica 487

officinalis 487

wolgica 487
Melissa 621, 626

officinalis 626
Menispermaceae 28, 384
Menispermum 384

canadense 384
Mentha 620, 621,626

arvensis 626
var. villosa 626

spicata 626
Mentzelia 531

decapetala 531, 532
Menyanthes 589, 592

trifoliata 592
Menziesia 572, 576

ferruginea var. glabella 576
Meriolix serrulata 543
Mertensia 610, 615

lanceolata 615

linearis 6 1 5

longiflora 615, 616

maritima 615, 616

paniculata 615, 616, 617

Micrampelis lobata 611
Micranthes rhomboidea 433
Microseris 689, 690, 697

cuspidata 697, 699

nutans 697, 699
Milium 82, 143

effusum 143
Mimulus 639, 647

floribundus 647

glabratus 647

guttatus 647

langsdorfii 647

lewisii 647

ringens 647
Minuartia laricifolia 350
Mirabilis 344

hirsuta 344

linearis 344

nyctaginea 344, 345

850

Mitella420,424

breweri 424

nuda 424

pentandra 424

trifida 424
Moehringia lateriflora 350
Moldavica parviflora 623

thymiflora 623
Monarda 620, 626

fistulosa 626, 627
var. menthaefolia 628

menthaefolia 628
Moneses 567

uniflora 567, 568
Monocotyledoneae 20, 21, 62, 790
Monolepis 326, 338

nuttalliana 338
Monotropa 570, 571

hypopithys var. latisquama 571

uniflora 571
Monotropaceae 30, 570
Montanae 188, 189, 195
Montia linearis 346
Muhlenbergia 82, 143

andina 144, 145

asperifolia 143

cuspidata 143

glomerata 144
var. cinnoides 144

mexicana 144, 146

racemosa 144, 146

richardsonis 143, 146, 147
Multiflorae 187
Munroa 79, 83, 146

squarrosa 146
Musineon 549, 559

divaricatum 559

tr achy sper mum 559

Myosotis 610, 616

arvensis 616

laxa 616

scorpioides 616

sylvatica var. alpestris 616, 618
Myosurus 363, 374

minimus 374
Myrica 299

gale 299

Myricaceae 25, 299
Myriophyllum 23, 543, 544

alterniflorum 544

exalbescens 544

pinnatum 544

scabratum 544

spicatum 544

spicatum var. exalbescens 544
Myzorrhiza ludoviciana 663

Nabalus albus 699

racemosus 700
Najas 66

flexilis 66
Nardinae 185, 186
Naumburgia thyrsi flora 586
Navarretia 600, 602

minima 601, 602
Negundo interius 5 1 7
Nemophila 605, 606

breviflora 606
Neomamillaria vivipara 53 1
Nepeta 620, 628

cataria 628
Neslia391,412

paniculata 390, 412
Nonea610, 618

vesicaria 618
Nuphar 361

microphyllum 361, 362

variegatum 361, 362
Nuttallia decapetala 53 1
Nyctaginaceae 24, 344
Nymphaea 361, 362

odorata 362

tetragona ssp. leibergii 362
Nymphaeaceae 26, 361

Obtusatae 186, 191, 195
Ochrocodon pudicus 262
Odontites 639, 648

serotina 648
Oenothera 536, 540

andina 540

biennis 540, 541
var. canescens 541
var. hirsutissima 541

breviflora 540, 541

caespitosa 540, 541, 542
var. montana 541

flava 540, 541

fruticosa var. linearis 540, 543

nuttallii 540, 543

perennis 540, 543

serrulata 540, 543
Oleaceae 25, 29, 587
Onagraceae 26, 27, 534
Onoclea 35, 42

sensibilis 42

struthiopteris 42

85

Onosmodium 609, 618

molle var. hispidissimum 618
var. occidentale 618
Ophioglossaceae 21, 32
Oplopanax 544, 545

horridum 545
Opuntia 531

fragilis 533

polyacantha 533
Orchidaceae 22, 270, 804
Orchis 270, 279

rotundifolia 272, 279
Oreocarya glomerata 6 1 1
Orobanchaceae 30, 661
Orobanche 661

fasciculata 661

ludoviciana 661, 663

uniflora 661, 663
Orophaca caespitosa 470
Orthilia secunda 570
Orthocarpus 638, 648

luteus 648
Orthocerates 185, 199
Oryzeae 78, 83
Oryzopsis 82, 146

asperifolia 148

canadensis 148

exigua 148

hymenoides 146, 149

micrantha 148, 150

pungens 148, 150
Osmorhiza 548, 559

aristata 559

var. brevistylis 559
var. longistylis 559, 560

chilensis 559

var. chilensis 559, 561

var. cupressimontana 559, 561

var. purpurea 559, 561

divaricata 559

obtusa 561

occidentalis 559

purpurea 561
Osmunda 35

claytoniana 35
Osmundaceae 21, 35
Ostrya 299, 303

virginiana 303
Ovales 187, 193
Oxalidaceae 27, 505
Oxalis 505

corniculata 505, 507

europaea 505, 507

stricta 505, 507

Oxybaphus hirsutus 344
linearis 345
nyctagineus 345
pilosus 344
Oxycoccus 577, 578
microcarpus 578
palustris 578
quadripetalus 578
Oxyria309, 310

digyna 310
Oxytropis 463, 489
bellii 489, 490
besseyi 489, 490, 491
campestris 489, 490

ssp. campestris 490

ssp. gracilis 490

var. cusickii 490

var. dispar 490

var. gracilis 490

var. johannensis 490

var. varians 490
deflexa 489, 492

var. deflexa 492

var. foliolosa 492

var. sericea 492
lagopus 489, 492
lambertii 489, 492
podocarpa 489, 493
sericea 489, 493

var. sericea 493

var. spicata 493, 494
splendens 489, 493

var. richardsonii 493
viscida 463, 489, 493

Pachylophus caespitosus 541

montanus 541
Pachystima 517

myrsinites 517
Paludosae 189,200
Paniceae 77, 79, 83, 190, 196
Panicoideae 78, 83
Paniculatae 187, 192
Panicum84, 150

capillare 150, 151
var. occidentale 151

depauperatum 151

lanuginosum 150, 151

leibergii 150, 152

linearifolium 151, 152

miliaceum 150, 152

oligosanthes 151

var. scribnerianum 152

perlongum 151, 152

852

virgatum 150, 152, 153

wilcoxianum 151, 152

xanthophysum 151, 154
Papaver 384

nudicaule 384, 385

pygmaeum 384, 385

rhoeas 384, 385

somniferum 384, 385
Papaveraceae 26, 384
Parietaria 304, 804

pensylvanica 304
Parnassia 420, 425

americana 425

fimbriata 425

glauca 425

kotzebuei 425

palustris var. montanensis 425
var. parviflora 425
var. tenuis 425, 426
Paronychia 24, 347, 354

depressa 354

sessiliflora 354
Parthenocissus 519

inserta 519

quinquefolia 519
Pastinaca 548, 561

sativa 561
Pedicularis 638, 648

bracteosa 649

canadensis 649

capitata 648, 649

contorta 648, 649

flammea 648, 650

groenlandica 648, 650, 651

labradorica 649, 650

lanata 649, 650

lanceolata 648, 650

langsdorfii 649, 650

lapponica 648-650

montanensis 649

oederi var. albertae 649, 650

parviflora 648, 652

racemosa 648, 652

sudetica 649, 652
Pediomelum esculentum 497
Pellaea 35, 44

glabella 44
var. nana 44
var. simplex 44
Penstemon 638, 652

albertinus 653

albidus 652, 653

confertus 652, 653

ellipticus 652, 653

eriantherus 652, 653
fruticosus 652, 653
gracilis 653, 654, 655
lyallii 652, 654
nitidus 652-654, 655
procerus 652, 654, 655

Pentastemon 652

Penthorum 420, 427
sedoides 427

Pentstemon 652

Perideridia 549, 561
gairdneri 561

Pehtoma serrulatum 386

Persicaria 313, 314

Petalostemon 463, 493
candidum 495
purpureus 495, 496

var. pubescens 495
villosum 493, 495

Petasites 705, 707, 768
palmatus 768, 770, 771
sagittatus 768, 770, 771
vitifolius 768, 770, 771

Phaca americana 470

Phacelia 605, 606
campanularia 606
franklinii 606
hastata 606, 607
linearis 606, 607
lyallii 606, 607
sericea 606, 607, 608
tanacetifolia 606, 607
thermalis 606, 607

Phalarideae 77, 78, 83

Phalaris83, 154
arundinacea 154, 155
canadensis 154

Philadelphus 420, 427
lewisii 427

Phleum82, 154
alpinum 154, 156
pratense 154, 157

Phlox 600, 602
alyssifolia 602
gracilis 602, 603
hoodii601,602, 603
pilosa 602, 603

Phragmites 79, 158
communis 158

Phryma 663

leptostachya 663

Phrymaceae 30, 663

Phyllodoce 572, 576
caerulea 576, 577

853

empetriformis 576, 577

glanduliflora 576, 577
Phyllostachyae 186, 189
Physalis631,633

alkekengi 633

grandiflora 633, 634

heterophylla 633, 634

ixocarpa 633, 634

pubescens 633, 634

virginiana 633, 634
Physaria389,414

didymocarpa 414
Physocarpus 436, 444

malvaceus 444
Physostegia 620, 628

parviflora 628

virginiana var. formosior 628
var. ledinghamii 628
var. parviflora 628
Picea 56, 57

glauca 58

var. albertiana 58

mariana 58
Picradeniopsis oppositifolia 738
Picris 689, 699

echioides 699
Pinaceae 21, 56
Pinguicula 659

macroceras 659, 660

villosa 659, 660

vulgaris 659, 660
Pinus 56, 58

albicaulis 59

banksiana 58, 59

contorta 58
var. latifolia 59

divaricata 59
var. latifolia 59

flexilis 59

monticola 59

murrayana 59

ponderosa 58, 59

resinosa 58, 60

strobus 59, 60
Pisophaca flexuosa 470
Plagiobothrys 609, 618

scouleri var. penicillatus 618
Plantaginaceae 30, 663
Plantago 663

aristata 664

canescens var. cylindrica 664

coronopus 663, 664

elongata 664, 665

eriopoda 664, 665

lanceolata 664, 665
major 664, 665, 666
var. asiatica 665
maritima 664, 665
media 664, 665
patagonica 664, 667
psyllium 663, 667
purshii 667
spinulosa 667
Pleurogyne rotata 592
Poa80, 158
agassizensis 165
alpina 160
ampla 158, 160
annua 159, 160
arctica 158, 159, 161
arida 158, 161
canbyi 159, 161, 162
compressa 158, 161
cusickii 159, 161
epilis 159, 161
fendleriana 158, 163
glauca 159, 163
glaucifolia 159, 163
gracillima 160, 163
interior 164
juncifolia 160, 163
leptocoma 159, 163
nemoralis 159, 164
var. firmula 164
var. interior 164
nervosa 158, 164
palustris 160, 164
pattersonii 159, 164
pratensis 158, 164
var. arenaria 165
var. humilis 165
rupicola 159, 165
secunda 159, 165
stenantha 160, 165
trivialis 160, 165
Polanisia 386, 389
dodecandra 389

var. trachysperma 389
graveolens 389

Polemoniaceae 30, 31, 600
Polemonium 600, 603

occidentale 603

pulcherrimum 603, 604

viscosum 603, 605
Politrichoideae 186
Poly gala 510

alba 510

paucifolia 510

854

senega 510

verticillata 510
Polygalaceae 28, 510
Polygonaceae 24, 308
Polygonatum 257, 262

canaliculatum 262

commutatum 262
Polygonum 309, 313, 804

achoreum 313, 315

amphibium 314, 315
var. emersum 315

amphibium var. stipulaceum 3 1 5

austiniae 313, 315

aviculare 314, 315, 316

bistortoides 314, 317

boreale314, 317

cilinode 314, 317

cocci neum f. natans 3 1 5
f. terrestre 3 1 5

confertiflorum 313, 317

convolvulus 314, 317

douglasii 313, 317

engelmannii 313, 317

erectum 314, 317

hydropiper 315, 318

kelloggii 313, 318

lapathifolium315, 318, 804

minimum 313, 318

natans f. genuinum 3 1 5
f. hartwrightii 315

persicaria 315, 318, 319

punctatum 315

var. confertiflorum 318

ramosissimum 314, 318

sagittatum315, 318

scabrum 315, 320, 804

scandens 314, 320

tomentosum 318

viviparum 314, 320
Polypodiaceae 21, 35
Polypodium 36, 44

vulgare 44

var. columbianum 44
var. virginianum 44, 45
Polypogon 82, 165

monspeliensis 165
Polystichum 36, 44

lonchitis 44
Populus 279, 280

alba 280

angustifolia 280

balsamifera 280, 28 1

candicans 28 1

deltoides 280, 281

var. occidentalis 281
gi leadens is 28 1
grandidentata 280, 281
tacamahacca 28 1
tremuloides 280, 281
trichocarpa 28 1
Portulaca 345, 346

oleracea 346
Portulacaceae 26, 28, 345
Potamogeton 65, 66
foliosus 66, 67
gramineus 66, 67
interior 66, 67
pectinatus 66, 67
richardsonii 66, 67
vaginatus 66, 67
Potentilla 436, 437, 444
anserina 446, 448

f. sericea 448
argentea 448
arguta 446, 448
bipinnatifida 447, 448
concinna 447, 448
diversifolia var. glaucophylla 448
drummondii 446, 449
flabellifolia 447, 449

var. emarginata 449
flohbunda 449
fruticosa 449

fruticosa ssp. floribunda 444, 449, 450
glandulosa var. intermedia 446, 449
gracilis 447-449

var. flabelliformis 449

var. gracilis 449
hippiana 446, 45 1

var. argyrea 45 1
millegrana 452
monspeliensis 45 1
multifida447,451
nivea 447, 45 1

var. pulchella 451

var. villosa 451
norvegica 446, 45 1
palustris 444, 451
paradoxa 446, 452
pensylvanica 446, 452, 453

var. atrovirens 452

var. pensylvanica 452
pensylvanica

var. bipinnatifida 448
plattensis 446, 452
quinquefolia 447, 452
recta 447, 452
rivalis 446, 447, 452

855

saximontana 447, 454

sibbaldii 447, 454

tridentata 444, 454
Prenanthes 690, 699

alba 699

racemosa 699, 700

sagittata 699, 700
Primula 580, 586

egaliksensis 586

incana 582, 583, 586

mistassinica 586

stricta 586
Primulaceae 14,24,31,580
Prunella 620, 628

vulgaris 628
Prunus 436, 454

americana 454, 455

nigra 454, 455

pensylvanica 454, 455

pumila 454, 455

virginiana 454, 455

var. melanocarpa 454, 455, 456
Psedera quinquefolia 5 1 9

vitacea 5 1 9
Pseudo-Cyperae 189, 200
Pseudotsuga 56, 60

menziesii 60
Psilocarphus 704, 770

elatior 770
Psoralea 462, 495

argophylla 495

esculenta 495, 497, 498

lanceolata 495, 497, 499
Psoralidium argophyllum 495

lanceolatum 497
Pteretis nodulosa 42

pensylvanica 42
Pteridium 35, 44

aquilinum 44
var. pubescens 46
Pteridophyta 20, 32, 790
Pterospora 570, 571

andromedea 571
Puccinellia 80, 166

distans 166

nuttalliana 166, 167

phryganodes 166
Pulsatilla ludoviciana 366

occidentalis 365

patens ssp. teklae 366
Pyrola 567, 569

asarifolia 569

var. incarnata 568, 569

bracteata 569

chlorantha 570

elliptica 569, 570

minor 569, 570

picta 569, 570

rotundifolia 569, 570

secunda 568, 569, 570

uniflora 567

virens 569, 570
Pyrolaceae 26, 29, 31,567
Pyrrocoma lanceolata 759

Quercus 303
macrocarpa 303

Ranunculaceae 24-28, 362
Ranunculus 363, 374
abortivus 375, 376
acris 375, 376
affinis 380
aquatilis 374, 377

var. capillaceus 377

var. eradicatus 377

var. longirostris 377

var. subrigidus 377
buddii 379

cardiophyllus 375, 377, 378
cymbalaria 375, 377
fascicularis 376, 377
flammula 374

var. filiformis 377

var. ovalis 377
gelidus 376, 379
glaberrimus 374, 379

var. ellipticus 379
gmelinii 374, 376, 379
hyperboreus 375, 379

var. intertextus 379
inamoenus 375, 379
lapponicus 375, 379
macounii 376, 379
nivalis 375, 379, 380

var. eschscholtzii 380

var. nivalis 380
occidentalis 375, 380

var. brevistylis 380
ovalis 381
pallassii 374, 380

pedatifidus var. leiocarpus 375, 380
pensylvanicus 376, 380
pygmaeus 375, 380
repens 376, 380
rhomboideus 375, 380
sceleratus 376, 380, 381
septentrionalis 376, 381

856

uncinatus 375, 381

verecundus 380
Raphanus 391, 414

raphanistrum 390, 414
Rapistrum 391, 414

perenne 414
Ratibida 684, 707, 770

columnifera 770, 772
f. pulcherrima 770
Reseda 417

alba 417

lutea417
Resedaceae 27, 417
Rhamnaceae 29, 518
Rhamnus 518

alnifolius 518

catharticus 518

frangula518, 519
Rhinanthus 639, 654

crista-galli 654
Rhododendron 572, 577

albiflorum 577

lapponicum 577
Rhus 514

aromatica van trilobata 515

glabra 514, 515

radicans var. rydbergii 515, 516
Rhynchospora 182, 241

alba 241

capillacea 241
Ribes 29, 420, 427

americanum 428

aureum 427, 428

diacanthum 428

floridum 428

glandulosum 427, 428

hirtellum 429

hudsonianum 428

lacustre 427, 428

laxiflorum 427, 429

oxyacanthoides var. oxyacanthoides
427, 429, 430
var. saxosum 429

rubrum var. propinquum 429

setosum 429

triste 429

viscosissimum 427, 429
Romanzoffia 605, 607

sitchensis 607
Rorippa 391-393, 414

austriaca 414

hispida 4 1 5

islandica 415

var. fernaldiana 415
var. hispida 415

palustris 4 1 5

sinuata 415

sylvestris 415

tenerrima 415
Rosa 437, 455

acicularis 457

arkansana 457

blanda 457

woodsii 457
Rosaceae 27, 29, 436
Rubiaceae 31, 667
Rubus 436, 437, 458

acaulis 458

chamaemorus 458

idaeus var. aculeatissimus 458, 459

melanolasius 458

parviflorus 458, 460

pedatus 458, 460

pubescens 458, 460

strigosus 458
Rudbeckia 707, 773

hirta 773

laciniata 773

serotina 773
Rumex 309, 320

acetosa 320, 321

acetosella 320, 321,322

confertus 32 1

crispus 321

dentatus 320, 323

domesticus var. pseudonatronatus 323

fennicus 321, 323

longifolius 321, 323

maritimus var. fueginus 320, 323

mexicanus 324

occidentalis 321, 323

orbiculatus 321, 323

paucifolius 320, 323

salicifolius 321, 324

stenophyllus 321, 324

triangulivalvis 324

venosus 320, 324, 325
Rupestres 186, 190, 196
Ruppia 65, 67

maritima 67

occidentalis 67

Sabina horizontalis 61

Sagina 348, 354
caespitosa 355
decumbens 354, 355
nodosa 355
saginoides 355

857

Sagittaria 69, 70
cuneata 70, 72
latifolia 70
Salicaceae 25, 279
Salicornia 24, 324, 338
europaea 338
rubra 338
Salix 280-282, 286
alaxensis 284, 287, 290
alba 286, 287, 290
amygdaloides 286, 288, 290
arbusculoides 284, 288, 291
arctica284, 289, 291
arctophila 284, 289, 291
barclayi 284, 285, 288, 291
barrattiana 284, 292
bebbiana 282, 287, 290, 292
brachycarpa 284, 287, 292, 293
calcicola 285, 288, 289, 292
Candida 284, 287, 292
commutata 285, 287, 294
discolor 285, 287, 290, 294
drummondiana 297
exigua 295
fluviatilis 295

f. hindsiana 295

var. sericans 295
fragilis 286, 288, 294
glauca 284, 287, 289, 290, 294
herbacea 286, 289, 294
humilis 285, 287, 294
interior 282, 286-288, 295

var. pedicellata 295

var. wheeleri 295
lasiandra 295
lucida 286, 288, 295
lutea 286, 289, 290, 295
maccalliana 284, 289, 296
mackenzieana 285, 289, 296
monticola 285, 289, 290, 296
myrtillifolia 286, 288, 296
nivalis 298
pedicellaris 286, 290, 296

var. athabascensis 297
pellita 285, 287, 290, 297

var. angustifolia 297

var. psila 285, 297
pentandra 286, 288, 297
petiolaris 284, 288, 297
phylicifolia 298

ssp. planifolia 298
planifolia 285, 290, 297
pyrifolia 285, 286, 288, 298
reticulata 288, 289, 298

var. nivalis 298

serissima 286, 288, 298

sitchensis 284, 287, 298

vestita 284, 287, 289, 298
Salsola 324, 339

kali var. tenuifolia 339

pestifer 339
Salvia 620, 628

nemorosa 628

reflexa 628, 629
Sambucus 670, 674

racemosa 674

var. arborescens 674
var. pubens 674
Sanguinaria 384, 385

canadensis 385
Sanicula 548, 561

marilandica 561, 562
Santalaceae 24, 305
Saponaria 347, 355

vaccaria 355, 356
Sarcobatus 25, 324, 339

vermiculatus 339, 340
Sarracenia 418

purpurea 418
Sarraceniaceae 26, 418
Saussurea 705, 773

glomerata 773

nuda var. densa 773
Saxifraga421,429

adscendens ssp. oregonensis 431

aizoides 431

bronchialis var. austromontana 431,
432

cernua 431, 432

cespitosa431, 432

ferruginea 431, 432
f. vreelandii 432

flagellaris 43 1, 432

hirculus 431, 432

lyallii 431, 432
var. hultenii 432
var. laxa 433

mertensiana 429, 433

occidentalis 431, 433

oppositifolia 429, 433

pensylvanica 429, 433, 434

punctata var. porsildiana 43 1, 433

rhomboidea 433

rivularis431, 433

tricuspidata 431, 435

virginiensis 431, 435
Saxifragaceae 24, 28, 29, 420
Scabiosa arvensis 68 1
Scandix549, 561

pecten-veneris 561

858

Schedonnardus 83, 166

paniculatus 166
Scheuchzeria 68

palustris 68
Schizachne 79, 168

purpurascens 168, 169
Scirpinae 185
Scirpus 182,242

acutus 242, 243

americanus 242, 243

atrovirens 243

caespitosus 242
van callosus 243

clintonii 242, 243

cyperinus 243

fluviatilis 242, 244

hudsonianus 242, 244

microcarpus 243, 244

nevadensis 242, 244

paludosus 243, 244

pumilus 242, 244

rufus 242, 244

torreyi 242, 244

validus 242, 244
Scolochloa 79, 168

festucacea 168, 170
Scrophularia 639, 654

lanceolata 654
Scrophulariaceae 30, 31, 638
Scutellaria 621, 629

epilobiifolia 629

galericulata 629

lateriflora 629

parvula var. leonardii 629
Secale 80, 168

cereale 168
Sedum 418

acre 419

aizoon 419

hybridum419

lanceolatum 419

rosea 419

var. integrifolium 420

stenopetalum 419, 420

telephium419, 420
Selaginella 55

densa 55

rupestris 55

selaginoides 55

wallacei 55
Selaginellaceae 20, 55
Senecio 705, 706, 774

aureus 775

canus 775, 776

congestus 774, 775

eremophilus 774, 777, 778

foetidus 774, 777

fremontii 774, 777

indecorus 775, 777

integerrimus 774, 777
var. exaltatus 777
var. integerrimus 777
var. lugens 777

megacephalus 774, 779

palustris 775

pauciflorus 775, 779

pauperculus 775, 779
var. firmifolius 779
var. pauperculus 779
var. thomsoniensis 779

resedifolius 774, 779

streptanthifolius 774, 775, 779

triangularis 774, 780

tridenticulatus 774, 775, 780

viscosus 774, 780

vulgaris 774, 780
Setaria83, 168

glauca 168

viridis 168, 171, 172
Shepherdia 534

argentea 534, 535

canadensis 534
Sibbaldiopsis tridentata 454
Side ran thus grindelioides 759

spinulosus 759
Sieversia triflora 444
Silene 347, 355

acaulis var. exscapa 357

anthirrina 357

cserei 357

cucubalus 357

menziesii 357, 358

noctiflora 357, 358

parryi 357, 358

sibirica 357, 358

vulgaris 357
Sisymbrium 392, 415

altissimum 415, 416

linifolium 415, 416

loeselii 416

officinale 415, 416
var. leiocarpum 416
Sisyrinchium 268, 270
angustifolium 270

montanum 270
Sitanion81, 171

hystrix 171
Sium 548, 555, 563
cicutaefolium 563
suave 563, 564

859

Smelowskia 392, 416

calycina var. americana 416
Smilacina 257, 265

racemosa 265

var. amplexicaulis 265

stellata 265

trifolia 265
Smilax 256, 265

herbacea var. lasioneura 265
Solanaceae 31, 631
Solanum 631

dulcamara 634, 635, 636

interius 635

nigrum 634, 635

rostratum 634, 635

sarachoides 635

triflorum 634, 635, 637
Solidago 706, 780

bicolor781,782

var. concolor 781, 782

canadensis 782

var. canadensis 782, 783
var. gilvocanescens 782

decumbens 785

gigantea var. serotina 782

glaberrima 784

graminifolia 781

var. graminifolia 782
var. major 784

hispida var. lanata 782

juncea 782, 784

lutescens 785

missouriensis 782, 784, 785
var. fasciculata 785

mollis 781, 782, 784

multiradiata781,784

nemoralis 781, 784

oreophila 785

pruinosa 782

ptarmicoides 780, 785

riddellii. 78 1,785

rigida var. humilis 781, 785, 786

serotina 782

spathulata var. spathulata 781, 785,
787

uliginosa 781, 785
Sonchus 690, 700

arvensis 700, 701
var. glabrescens 700

asper 700

oleraceus 700

f. integrifolius 702

uliginosus 700
Sophia brachycarpa 402

multifida 402

richardsonii 402
Sorbaria 437, 460

sorbifolia 460
Sorbus 437, 460

americana 460

aucuparia 460, 461

scopulina 46 1

sitchensis 460, 461
Sorghastrum 84, 171

nutans 171
Sparganiaceae 22, 63
Sparganium 63

angustifolium 63

chlorocarpum var. acaule 63

eurycarpum 63, 65

fluctuans 63, 65

hyperboreum 63, 65

minimum 63, 65

multipedunculatum 63, 65
Spartina 83, 171

gracilis 171, 173

pectinata 171, 174
Spergula 347, 358

arvensis 358
Spergularia 347, 358

marina var. leiosperma 358

salina 358
Spermatophyta 12, 20, 21, 56, 790
Sphenopholis 81, 174

intermedia 174

obtusata 174
Spiraea 436, 461

alba 461

densiflora 461

lucida 461
Spiranthes 271, 279

gracilis 279

romanzoffiana 279
Spirodela 245

polyrhiza 245
Sporobolus 82, 174

cryptandrus 174, 175, 176

heterolepis 174, 175

neglectus 174, 175
Stachys 620, 629

palustris var. pilosa 629, 630
Steironema 14

cilia turn 584

hybridum 584
Stellaria 347, 358

americana 359, 360

borealis 360

calycantha 359, 360

860

ciliatisepala 359, 360

crassifolia 359, 360

crispa 359, 360

humifusa 359, 360

laeta 359, 360

longifolia 359, 360

longipes 359, 360

media 359, 361

obtusa359, 361

umbellata 359, 361
Stellulatae 188
Stenanthium 257, 266

occidentale 266
Stenotus armehoides 759
Stephanomeria 689, 702

runcinata 702
Stipa82, 175

columbiana 177

comata 175, 177, 178

richardsonii 177

spartea 175, 177

var. curtiseta 175, 177

viridula 177, 179,180
Streptopus 257, 266

amplexifolius 261, 266
var. americanus 266
var. denticulatus 266

roseus var. perspectus 266
Suaeda 326, 339

depressa 339
var. erecta 339

maritima var. americana 339
Subularia389,416

aquatica 416
Suckleya 326, 339

suckleyana 339, 341
Suksdorfia 421, 435

violacea 435
Svida stolonifera 565
Swainsona salsula 472
Sylvaticae 189, 190, 197
Symphoricarpos 670, 674

albus 674

var. pauciflorus 674

occidentalis 674

pauciflorus 674
Symphytum 610, 618

asperum 618

officinale 618, 619

Tanacetum 704, 788

huronense 788

vulgare 788, 789
Taraxacum 689, 702, 804

ceratophorum 702

erythrospermum 702

laevigatum 702

officinale 702
Taraxia brevi flora 541
Taxaceae 21, 56
Taxus 56

brevifolia 56

canadensis 56
Telesonix421, 435

jamesii var. heucheriformis 435
Tetraneuris acaulis 764
Teucrium 620, 631

canadense var. occidentale 631
Thalictrum 363, 381

dasycarpum 381, 382, 383

occidentale var. palousense 381, 382

sparsiflorum var. richardsonii 381,
382

venulosum 381, 382
var. lunellii 382
var. turneri 382
var. venulosum 382
Thelesperma 704, 788

marginatum 788
Thellungiella393,417

salsuginea 417
Thermopsis 463, 497

rhombifolia 497, 500
Thlaspi389,417

arvense390, 417

Thuja 61

occidentalis 61

plicata 61
Tiarella421,435

trifoliata 435

unifoliata 435
Tilia 520

americana 520
Tiliaceae 29, 520
Tium drummondii 470

racemosum 474
Tofieldia 257, 266

glutinosa 266

pusilla 266
Townsendia 707, 788

exscapa 788

hookeri 788

parryi 788, 790, 791

sericea 788
Toxicodendron rydbergii 5 1 5
Toxicoscordion gramineum 268
Tradescantia 246

occidentalis 246

861

Tragopogon 684, 689, 702

dubius 703

porrifolius 703

pratensis 703
Trientalis 580, 586

americana 587

borealis 582, 586, 587

europaea 587
Trifolium 462, 497

aureum 501

campestre 501

hybridum 501

pra tense 501

repens497, 501
Triglochin 68

maritima 68, 69

palustris 68
Trigonella americana 482
Trillium 257, 267

cernuum var. macranthum 267

ovatum 267
Trisetum81, 179

canescens 179

cernuum 179

spicatum 179, 181

wolfii 179, 181
Triticeae 804
Triticum80, 181

aestivum 181
Trollius 363, 382

laxus 382
Typha 61

angustifolia 61

latifolia 61, 63, 64
Typhaceae 22, 61

Ulmaceae 25, 303
Ulmus 303

americana 303
Umbelliferae 27, 545
Unamia alba 785
Urtica 304

dioica var. procera 304, 305, 306

urens 304, 305
Urticaceae 24, 304
Utricularia 659, 660

cornuta 660

intermedia 660

macrorhiza 66 1

minor 660

vulgaris var. americana 660, 661, 662
Uvularia 257, 267

sessilifolia 267

Vac car ia vulgaris 355
Vacciniaceae 29, 577
Vaccinium 577, 578

angustifolium 578, 579
var. angustifolium 579
var. myrtilloides 579

caespitosum 578, 579

membranaceum 578, 579

myrtilloides 579

myrtillus 578, 579

oxycoccus var. microphyllum 578
var. oxycoccus 578

scoparium 578, 579

uliginosum 578, 579

vitis-idaea 578
var. minus 580
Valeriana 681

dioica var. sylvatica 681, 682

septentrionalis 68 1

sitchensis 681
var. scouleri 681
Valerianaceae 31, 681
Veratrum 257, 267

eschscholtzii 267
Verbascum 638, 656

nigrum 656

phlomoides 656

thapsus 656
Verbena 619

bracteata 619

bracteosa 6 1 9

hastata619

urticifolia 619
Verbenaceae 30, 619
Vernonia 705, 790

fasciculata var. corymbosa 790
Veronica 638, 656

agrestis 657

alpina var. unalaschensis 657

americana 657, 658

catenata 658

chamaedrys 657, 658

comosa var. glaberrima 657, 658

connata ssp. glaberrima 658

longifolia 657, 658

peregrina var. xalapensis 657, 658

persica 657, 658

polita 657, 658

scutellata 657, 658

serpyllifolia var. humifusa 657, 659

teucrium 656, 659

xalapensis 658
Veronicastrum 638, 659

virginicum 659

862

Vesicariae 188, 189, 191,200
Viburnum 670, 675

affine var. hypomalacum 675

edule 675, 676

eradiatum 675

lentago 675

opulus var. americanum 675

rafinesquianum 675

trilobum 675
Vicia 462, 479, 501

americana 502, 503
var. minor 502
var. truncata 502

americana var. angustifolia 502

cracca 502

oregana 502

sativa ssp. nigra 502

villosus 502
Viola 526

adunca 527, 528

arvensis 526

blanda 527

cucullata 527, 528

glabella 527

nuttallii 527, 528

orbiculata 527

palustris 527

pedatifida 527, 530

pubescens 527, 530

renifolia 527, 530

rugulosa 527, 528, 530

selkerkii 527, 530

tricolor 527, 530
Violaceae 27, 526
Virescentes 189
Vitaceae28, 519
Vitis 519

riparia 519
Vitis-idaea punctata 580
Vulpinae 187, 192

Wahlbergella drummondii 354
Woodsia 36, 46
alpina 46
glabella 46
ilvensis 46
oregana 47

var. cathcartiana 47
var. oregana 47
scopulina 47

Xanthium 685, 686
commune 686
echinatum 686

glanduliferum 686

italicum 686

macounii 686

strumarium 686, 688
Xanthoxalis corniculata 507

stricta 507
Xerophyllum 257, 267

tenax 267
Xylophacos missouriensis All

purshii 474
Xylosteon oblongifolium 673

tataricum 673

Yucca 257, 267
glauca 267

Zannichellia 66, 67

palustris 67
Zizania83, 181

aquatica 181
Zizanieae 78, 83
Zizia 548, 563

aptera 563

aurea 563

cor data 563
Zosteraceae 21, 65
Zygadenus 257, 268

elegans 268

gramineus 268, 269

863

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AGRICULTURE CANADA OTTAWA K \ IA 0C5

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