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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE MUSTARD FAMILY | |||||||||
| The mustard family can easily be identified by the fruit types. In this family the fruit types are the silicle and the silique. Both fruit types split open along two lines and have a membranous partition in the center to which the seeds attach. The silicle is long and thin, while the silicle is short and wide. The mustard family can also be identified by the flowers. The flowers have four separate sepals and four clawed petals arranged in a cross shape. There are four long stamens and two short stamens. | |||||||||
| The mustard family is well known in Saskatchewan. Many people farm canola as a crop. Also, many vegetables we consume in North America come from this family including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts. | |||||||||
| CREEPING DRABA | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Draba reptans | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Creeping draba grows to about 15 cm tall from a slender taproot. This plant is annual and lacks the woody stem base that is seen in some of the other species in this genus. The stem is very slender and is generally less than 1 mm wide. The basal leaves are spoon-shaped and covered in hairs. There are usually one to four stem leaves arranged oppositely on the stem, near the base. The flowers are arranged in a cluster that resembles an umbrella. The petals are white and arranged in a cross shape. The siliques are slightly curved and can be hairless or hairy. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Creeping draba grows on silty or sandy grassland slopes and flats. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in southern Saskatchewan in the Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland, and Aspen Parkland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Creeping draba is threatened in Saskatchewan it limited to one general region of the province and most local populations are small. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY CREEPING DRABA | |||||||||
| * Are the flowers white? * Are there four petals in a cross shape? * Are the stem leaves opposite and near the base of the plant only? * Did you find it in southern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found creeping draba! | |||||||||
