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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. |
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| HALIMOLOBOS | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Halimolobos virgata | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Halimolobos grows 20 – 40 cm tall from a slender taproot and small woody stem base. The stem is usually solitary and may be branched. The stem has several different types of hairs including long, branched and straight hairs. The hairy basal leaves are narrowly spoon-shaped. The stem leaves are alternate on the stem and are without stalks. Sometimes they may have ear-like lobes that clasp the stem. The flowers are in an unbranched cluster and have slender stalks. The sepals are purplish. The four petals are white with pinkish veins. The silique is 4 to 10 mm long and is round in cross-section. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Halimolobos grows in silty, sandy, or clay soils on eroded or grazed grassland slopes and flats. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in southwestern Saskatchewan in the Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland, and Cypress Upland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Halimolobos is endangered because it is rare and somewhat regionally restricted in the province. In addition, population sizes vary. Possible threats have been identified for this species, including occurring in a fragile habitat. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY HALIMOLOBOS | |||||||||
| * Are the flowers white with pinkish veins? * Are the four petals in cross-shaped? * Are the fruits round in cross section? * Did you find it in southwestern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found halimolobos! | |||||||||
