Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule (Nutt.) LaFrankie
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Maianthemum
 
Species Synonyms: Maianthemum amplexicaule (Nutt.) W.A. Weber
Maianthemum racemosum var. amplexicaule (Nutt.) Dorn
Smilacina amplexicaulis Nutt.
Smilacina amplexicaulis var. glabra J.F. Macbr.
Smilacina amplexicaulis var. jenkinsii Boivin
Smilacina amplexicaulis var. ovata Boivin
Smilacina racemosa var. amplexicaulis (Nutt.) S. Wats.
Smilacina racemosa var. brachystyla G. Henderson
Smilacina racemosa var. glabra (J.F. Macbr.) St. John
Smilacina racemosa var. jenkinsii (Boivin) Boivin
Vagnera amplexicaulis (Nutt.) Greene
Vagnera amplexicaulis var. glabra (J.F. Macbr.) Abrams
Common Names: western Solomon’s-seal
feathery false lily of the valley
false Solomon’s seal
feathery false Solomon’s seal
spikenard
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: British Columbia – Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: southwestern Saskatchewan; Cypress Hills
Ecoregion: Cypress Upland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: moist woods and thickets
Canada: rich woods, thickets, and clearings
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Threatened
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S1S2
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule is threatened because of rarity in Saskatchewan. Its occurrence is regionally highly restricted. Some local populations are small and some larger. No immediate threats are known but are quite possible in the future.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: 75 – 125 cm tall
Roots: rhizomes sympodial, cylindrical; roots scattered
Stems: arching, 7 – 9 mm wide
Leaves: cauline leaves 7 – 12, petiole 2 – 6 mm long, blade elliptic to ovate, 9 – 17 cm long, 2– 8 cm wide, base rounded or tapered, apex acute or caudate
Inflorescence: paniculate, 7 – 250-flowered
Flowers: tepals inconspicuous, 0.5 – 1 mm long; ovary globose, 1 mm wide, stigma obscure
Fruits: berries 4 – 6 mm wide, globose or 3-lobed, green with copper spots when young, deep translucent red when mature; seeds 1 – 4, globose
 
MAIANTHEMUM KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Inflorescence a panicle; tepals inconspicuous, 0.5 – 1 mm long
M. racemosum ssp. amplexicaule
1 Inflorescence a raceme; tepals conspicuous, > 1 mm long
2
   
2 Leaves 8 – 11; tepals 6; immature fruits green, striped with black
M. stellatum
2 Leaves 2 – 4; tepals 4 or 6; immature fruits green, mottled or spotted with red
3
   
3 Base of leaf tapered; raceme simple, 1 flower per node; tepals 6
M. trifolium
3 Base of leaf cordate; raceme complex, 1 – 4 flowers per node; tepals 4
M. canadense