Species: Loiseleuria procumbens (L.) Desv.

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Loiseleuria procumbens (L.) Desv.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Ericaceae

Genus:

Loiseleuria

Species Synonyms:

Azalea procumbens L.
Chamaecistus procumbens (L.) Kuntze
Kalmia procumbens auct. comb. nov. ined.

Common Names:

alpine azalea
trailing azalea

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Mackenzie District – Keewatin District – Baffin Island, south to southern British Columbia – southwestern Alberta – northeastern Saskatchewan – northern Manitoba – James Bay – Labrador – Newfoundland – Nova Scotia

Saskatchewan:

northeastern Saskatchewan; Hasbala Lake

Ecoregion:

Selwyn Lake Upland, Tazin Lake Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

rocky tundra-meadows and open-wooded esker-ridge slopes

Associated Species:

black spruce, jack pine, tamarack

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Alpine azalea is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is rare and highly regionally restricted in the province. No immediate threats are known for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Roots:

taproot slender

Stems:

evergreen shrub, lying flat on the ground, branched, mat forming, rarely over 10 cm tall

Leaves:

opposite, stalks 1 – 2 mm long, blades 2 – 8 mm long, elliptic to oblong, leathery, minutely woolly beneath along midvein and margins, margins rolled under

Inflorescence:

umbrella-like; stalks short, erect

Flowers:

sepals 5, green; petals 5, 3 – 4 mm long, broadly bell-shaped, lobes about equalling tube, white to pink; stamens 5, anthers opening lengthwise, not appendaged

Fruits:

capsule opening along the septa; seeds many

ERICACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Ovary inferior; fruit a fleshy berry	Vaccinium
1 Ovary superior (or partly inferior in Gaultheria); fruit fleshy or dry	2

2 Leaves rusty woolly below; petals free	Ledum
2 Leaves not rusty woolly below; petals fused	3

3 Leaves opposite	4
3 Leaves alternate	5

4 Leaves < 1 cm long; flowers white to pinkish; stamens 5	Loiseleuria
4 Leaves > 1 cm long; flowers bright pink to rose purple; stamens 10	Kalmia

5 Fruit fleshy; stems creeping or lying flat on the ground	6
5 Fruit a dry capsule; stems erect	7

6 Flowers axillary; ovary partly inferior	Gaultheria
6 Flowers terminal; ovary superior	Arctostaphylos

7 Leaves with a waxy coat or white hairs below; anthers awned	Andromeda
7 Leaves densely covered in bran-like scales; anthers awnless	Chamaedaphne