Species: Calamagrostis lapponica (Wahlenb.) Hartman

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Calamagrostis lapponica (Wahlenb.) Hartman

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Poaceae

Genus:

Calamagrostis

Species Synonyms:

Calamagrostis lapponica var. alpina Hartman
Calamagrostis lapponica var. groenlandica Lange
Calamagrostis lapponica var. nearctica Porsild

Common Names:

lapland reedgrass

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon – Mackenzie – Keewatin – Ungava – Labrador – southern Baffin Island, south to British Columbia – southwestern Alberta – northern Saskatchewan – Manitoba – Quebec – Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

northern Saskatchewan; Lake Athabasca – Hasbala Lake – La Loche

Ecoregion:

Mid-Boreal Upland, Athabasca Plain, Churchill River Upland, Tazin Lake Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

moist to dry clearings and fen margins in boreal forest

Canada:

moist, sandy or gravel ground

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2S3

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Lapland reedgrass is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. It occurs in two or three general regions of the province and is usually locally numerous within limited areas. No threats are known or anticipated.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

30 – 60 cm

Roots:

rhizome short, thin

Stem:

loosely tufted, slender, erect, with 2 or 3 nodes, hairless or rough below panicle

Leaves:

blades 2 – 3 mm wide, flat or rolled under, upper surface rough, lower surface smooth; sheaths hairless; ligules 0.5 – 3 mm long

Inflorescence:

branched, open or contracted, 5 – 15 cm long, 1 – 2 cm wide, often purple

Florets:

glumes 4 – 5.5 mm long, tips tapered to a point, slightly shiny, slightly hairy on keel; hardened thickening below lemma with unequal hairs; lemmas shorter than glumes, 3.5 – 5 mm long; lemma awn slender, almost straight, shorter than lemma

Fruits:

grain

CALAMAGROSTIS KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Lemma awn bent, usually protruding from glumes; hairs on hardened thickenings below lemma much shorter than lemma	2
1 Lemma awn straight or nearly so, usually included in glumes; hairs on hardened thickenings below lemma usually nearly equal to lemma	4

2 Awn greatly exceeding glumes	C. purpurascens
2 Awn about equalling glumes	3

3 Plants rhizomatous not tufted; stems rough below the inflorescence; glumes boat-shaped; spikelets strongly flattened; collar hairless	C. montanensis
3 Plants tufted, often with short rhizomes; stems smooth below inflorescence; glumes not boat-shaped; spikelets not strongly flattened; collar hairy	C. rubescens

4 Inflorescence loose, open, branches often drooping; blades flat; plants frequently taller than 90 cm	5
4 Inflorescence contracted; blades flat or rolled; plants generally less than 90 cm tall	7

5 Spikelets to 6 mm long; glumes narrow, strongly boat-shaped; awn inserted on the lower third of lemma	C. canadensis var. langsdorfii
5 Spikelets to 4 mm long; glumes rounded on the back, not strongly boat-shaped; awn inserted about the middle of lemma	6

6 Glumes distinctly exceeding the lemma	C. canadensis var. canadensis
6 Glumes shorter than or nearly equal to the lemma	C. canadensis var. macouniana

7 Glumes 3 – 4 mm long; hairs on hardened thickening below lemma about equal to lemma; inflorescence lax, purplish	C. lapponica
7 Glumes 2 – 3 mm long; hairs on hardened thickening below lemma shorter than lemma; inflorescence stiff, usually brownish

8 Leaves smooth or sometimes rough hairy at tip and on margins, to 4 mm broad, rolled; ligules 1 – 3 mm long, entire	C. stricta ssp. stricta
8 Leaves harsh and rough, flat, to 8 mm wide; ligules over 3 mm long, appearing torn	C. stricta ssp. inexpansa