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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE FIGWORT FAMILY | |||||||||
| The figwort family is very common in Saskatchewan. The leaves are usually opposite, though they may be alternate, whorled, or all basal. The leaf margin may be entire to pinnately or palmately lobed. The flowers are irregular and are commonly 2-lipped. The upper lip usually has two lobes and the lower lip three lobes. Each flower has two or four stamens. If four stamens are present, they are in two groups of two and are usually attached to the petals. The sepals and the petals are commonly fused together. In some species, large, brightly-coloured bracts hide the flowers. The fruit is a many-seeded capsule. | |||||||||
| SMALL-FLOWERED BLUE-EYED MARY | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Collinsia parviflora | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Small-flowered blue-eyed Mary grows as tall as 30 cm. The stem may be simple or branched and is often bent at the base. The leaves are opposite or the upper leaves may be whorled. The flower stalks become longer and point downwards in fruit. The petals are strongly two-lipped. The petals are blue with a white upper lip. The stamens are in two groups of two. The fruit is a capsule. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Small-flowered blue-eyed Mary grows in open aspen or pine woods, forest clearings, and roadsides. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This plant is found in southwestern and east-central Saskatchewan in the Cypress Upland, Mid-Boreal Lowland, and Churchill River Upland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Small-flowered blue-eyed Mary is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. It occurs in two general regions of the province, but the populations are separated by a wide distance. This species is usually locally numerous within limited areas. No immediate threats known but may occur in the future. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY SMALL-FLOWERED BLUE-EYED MARY | |||||||||
| * Is the upper petal lip white and the lower blue? * Are the stamens in two groups of two? * Are the leaves opposite or whorled? * Did you find it in southwestern or east-central Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found small-flowered blue-eyed Mary! | |||||||||
