Anagallis minima (L.) Krause
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Anagallis
 
Species Synonyms: Centunculus minimus L.
Common Names: chaffweed
false pimpernel
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: southern British Columbia, southeastern Alberta – southern Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: southern Saskatchewan; Burstall – Kerrobert – Saskatoon
Ecoregion: Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: drying slough margins and prairie depressions
Associated Species: Beckmannia syzigachne, Carex praegracilis, Eleocharis engelmannii, Epilobium brachycarpum, Gnaphalium palustre, Gratiola neglecta, Helenium autumnale, Navarretia minima, Potentilla rivalis var. millegrana, Rorippa teres, Veronica americana, Veronica peregrina
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Threatened
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S2
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Anagallis minima is threatened because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. It is usually numerous but within limited areas. Possible threats have been identified for this species.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Stems: low annual, herb, creeping to erect, rooting at the nodes, mat-forming
Leaves: alternate, lower ones may be opposite, subsessile, 5 – 10 mm long, oblanceolate, margin entire
Inflorescence: flowers solitary in leaf axils, sessile to subsessile, ephemeral
Flowers: minute; sepals 4, lobed nearly to base, linear to lance-shaped, minutely saw-toothed; petals with a short tube, deeply 5-parted, pinkish; stamens 4 or 5, filaments fused to the petals, included; stigma head-like, ovary superior
Fruits: capsule round, opening like a lid; seed brown, pitted, numerous
 
PRIMULACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Acaulescent, leaves basal; flowers in umbels
2
1 Caulescent; flowers in leaf axils or unbranched clusters
4
   
2 Petals deep purple to pink or white, lobes reflexed; anthers exserted, connivent
Dodecatheon
2 Petals lilac to white or cream, lobes ascending or spreading; anthers included, separate
3
   
3 Petals white or cream, tube shorter than sepals; leaves subsessile
Androsace
3 Petals lilac, tube longer than sepals; leaves wing-stalked
Primula
   
4 Leaves in a single terminal whorl with scale-like bracts below
Trientalis
4 Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled along the stem
5
   
5 Plants fleshy; petals absent; sepals pinkish or white
Glaux
5 Plants scarcely fleshy if at all; petals present; sepals green
6
   
6 Flowers pinkish; leaves alternate
Anagallis
6 Flowers yellow; leaves opposite
Lysimachia