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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE BORAGE FAMILY | |||||||||
| The borage family is represented around the world, especially in temperate and subtropical regions. There are about 117 genera and 2,400 species in this family. The borages are herbaceous plants. The name Borago comes from the Latin word “burra”, which means hairy garment and refers to the hairy leaves. The inflorescences are coiled or one-sided. The flowers are small and can often be hard to see. The fruit type is a nutlet or a drupe. Members of the borage family contain chemical compounds that are used for medicines, wines, and some cosmetics. Some borages are used as ornamentals and pot herbs; others are important as honey plants. | |||||||||
| KELSEY’S CRYPTANTHA | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Cryptantha kelseyana | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Kelsey’s cryptantha grows as tall as 10 – 25 cm high from a slender taproot. This annual plant is branched and the slender stem has stiff or bristly hairs. Basal leaves are absent in this species. The stem leaves are linear to spoon-shaped and are covered in bristly hairs with blisters at the bases of the hairs. The flowers are in a long cluster with one main axis. The flowers are very small and are often hidden by the hairs on the sepals. The white petals are less than 2 mm long. There are two types of nutlets in Kelsey’s cryptantha, one large, smooth nutlet and three small, bumpy nutlets. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Kelsey’s crytpantha grows in dry, silty grasslands. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species grows in southern Saskatchewan in the Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland, Cypress Upland, and Aspen Parkland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Kelsey’s cryptantha is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon. It is threatened by human developments in its environment. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY KELSEY’S CRYPTANTHA | |||||||||
| * Are the leaves all on the stem? * Are the leaves and stem bristly-hairy? * Are the flowers white and very small? * Did you find it in southern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found Kelsey’s cryptantha! | |||||||||
