Species: Lithospermum ruderale Dougl. ex Lehm.

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Lithospermum ruderale Dougl. ex Lehm.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Boraginaceae

Genus:

Lithospermum

Species Synonyms:

Lithospermum pilosum Nutt.

Common Names:

western gromwell
western stoneseed
white stoneseed

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

central British Columbia - southwestern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan; Cypress Hills

Ecoregion:

Cypress Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

dry soil on south-facing grassland slopes

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Western gromwell is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare. It is restricted to one small region of the province and population sizes are variable.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

30 – 60 cm

Roots:

taproot reddish-brown

Stems:

woody persistent stem base; erect stem perennial, tufted, regularly branched from one main axis, very leafy, stout, to 5 mm wide, straw-coloured to brownish, rough hairy

Leaves:

on the stem, the uppermost almost concealing flowers, 2 – 6 cm long, 4 – 7 mm wide, linear to lance-shaped, tip long-tapered (short-tapered to obtuse in Saskatchewan), with short and appressed or long and soft hairs, appearing greyish, some hairs with blisters at the base

Inflorescence:

leafy, spike-like; flowers crowded

Flowers:

self-fertilizing flowers absent; sepals ~ 5 mm; petal tube 5 – 8 mm, not bearded, lobes ~ 1.5 mm, pale yellow or greenish

Fruits:

nutlets 4 – 6 m long, oval, no basal collar, white or brownish, shiny, hard

LITHOSPERMUM KEY FOR VARIETIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Later flowers self-fertilizing; petal lobes fringed or toothed; nutlets usually pitted	L. incisum
1 Self-fertilizing flowers absent; petal lobes entire; at least some nutlets usually smooth	2

2 Stems very leafy; leaves usually long-tapered (short-tapered to obtuse in Saskatchewan); hairs coarse; flowers crowded, dull greenish yellow; nutlets	L. ruderale
2 Stems not very leafy; leaves rounded at tip; hairs of soft and thin hairs; flowers not crowded, bright yellow or orange; nutlets 3 – 4 mm	L. canescens