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: Larix laricina, Picea mariana, Pinus banksiana
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Endangered
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S1
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Loiseleuria procumbens 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, prostrate, branched, mat forming, rarely over 10 cm tall
Leaves: opposite, petioles 1 – 2 mm long, blades 2 – 8 mm long, elliptic to oblong, coriaceous, minutely tomentose beneath along midvein and margins, margins revolute
Inflorescence: umbelliform; petioles short, erect
Flowers: sepals 5, green; petals 5, 3 – 4 mm long, broadly campanulate, lobes about equalling tube, white to pink; stamens 5, anthers opening lengthwise, not appendaged
Fruits: capsule septicidal; 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 tomentose below; petals free
Ledum
2 Leaves not rusty tomentose below; petals connate
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 prostrate to decumbent
6
5 Fruit a dry capsule; stems erect
7
 
6 Flowers axillary; ovary partly inferior
Gaultheria
6 Flowers terminal; ovary superior
Arctostaphylos
 
7 Leaves glaucous or white pubescent below; anthers awned
Andromeda
7 Leaves densely scurfy; anthers awnless
Chamaedaphne