Camissonia breviflora (Torr. & Gray) Raven
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Camissonia
 
Species Synonyms: Oenothera breviflora Torr. & Gray
Taraxia breviflora (Torr. & Gray) Nutt. ex Small
Common Names: shortflower suncup
taraxia
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: south-central British Columbia, southeastern Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: southwestern Saskatchewan; Sidewood – Southview
Ecoregion: Cypress Upland, Mixed Grassland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: moist to drying clay flats along shores or sloughs
Canada: drier meadowlands and streambanks
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Endangered
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 N2 SI
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Camissonia brevifolia is endangered because of rarity in Saskatchewan. It is regionally restricted to one general region of the province and most local populations are small. Possible threats are inferred by occurrences in heavily populated areas, fragile habitats, or areas of possible planned developments.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Roots: taproots
Stem: absent
Leaves: basal rosette, blades 5 – 10 cm long, deeply pinnatifed, puberulent
Inflorescence: flowers solitary, on basal peduncles
Flowers: calyx 4-merous; corolla 4-merous, 5 – 8 mm long, yellow, turning reddish when dried; free part of hypanthium to 2.5 cm long; stamens 8; stigma capitate
Fruits: capsules to 1.5 cm long, tapering upwards, 4-winged
 
CAMISSONIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Plants acaulescent or nearly so; leaves all basal, coarsely dentate to deeply pinnatifed; flowers solitary
C. brevifolia
1 Plants caulescent; leaves cauline, entire; flowers in leafy spikes
C. andina