Species: Draba cinerea var. cinerea M.F. Adams

comments | credits | copyright

Back to: Plants at Risk in Saskatchewan

Draba cinerea var. cinerea M.F. Adams

Species Image Gallery
(opens in a new window)

TAXONOMY

Family:

Brassicaceae

Genus:

Draba

Species Synonyms:

none

Common Names:

ashy whitlow-grass
grayleaf whitlowgrass

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon Territory - Northwest Territories - Labrador, south to British Columbia - northern Saskatchewan - northern Ontario - Ungava

Saskatchewan:

northern Saskatchewan; Lake Athabasca to Hasbala Lake

Ecoregion:

Tazin Lake Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

dry, granitic cliffs and outcrops

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Ashy whitlow-grass is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare and most local populations are small. This species is likely frequently overlooked, especially when not flowering.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

10 – 25 cm

Roots:

taproot

Stems:

base woody, simple to woody; stems perennial, erect or ascending, simple to branched, greenish to purplish, hairs star-shaped

Leaves:

basal and on the stem; basal leaves several in a loose tuft, 0.5 – 1 cm long, narrowly spoon-shaped, ashy-gray, with a felt-like covering of star-shaped hairs, margin entire; stem leaves usually less than 5, alternate, sessile, lance-shaped to ovate, with a felt-like covering of star-shaped hairs, margin entire

Inflorescence:

unbranched, elongating and becoming lax in fruit; 5 – 16 flowered

Flowers:

6 – 10 mm across; sepals four; petals four, cross-shaped, white

Fruits:

pod 7 – 10 mm long, 1 – 3 mm wide, broadly lance-shaped, not twisted, greenish-gray, with a felt-like covering of star-shaped hairs; stalks spreading-ascending, slightly longer to about equal to pod; seeds at most 36 in two rows, reddish brown

DRABA KEY IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Flowers yellow; stems very leafy or stalks 2 – 4 times as long as pod	2
1 Flowers white; stems with less than 10 leaves and stalks various	3

2 Stem leaves usually more than 10; stalks shorter than pod	D. aurea
2 Stem leaves 1 – 5; stalks 2 – 4 times as long as pod	D. nemorosa

3 Stem leaves all or mostly opposite; inflorescence umbrella-like in fruit	D. reptans
3 Stem leaves alternate; inflorescence elongate in fruit	4

4 Woody stem base absent; stem leaves on lower 1/3 of plant; stalks 2 – 4 times as long as pod	D. nemorosa
4 Woody stem base present; stem leaves usually at least 1/2 way up stem; stalks rarely 2 times as long as pod	5

5 Stem leaves less than 5; fruiting stalks spreading-ascending; mature siliques broadly lance-shaped, not twisted, with thick coat of minute hairs; seeds at most 36	D. cinerea var. cinerea
5 Stem leaves usually 5 – 8; fruiting stalks strongly ascending; mature siliques narrowly lance-shaped, twisted, with star-shaped hairs; seeds at most 20 – 48	D. breweri var. cana