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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE PINK FAMILY | |||||||||
| The pink family is found mainly in
north temperate regions, though it may also be found in montane tropics
and the arctic. These plants are herbaceous perennials that have an erect
or reclining growth habit. Some species may be mat forming. Almost all of
the members of the pink family have three characteristics in common that
make this family easy to identify: swollen nodes, opposite leaves, and notched
petals. Several members of this family are used as ornamentals. One of the more well-known examples is Dianthus or the carnation. Many species are also considered weedy. |
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| BOREAL SANDWORT | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Minuartia rubella | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Boreal sandwort grows to 15 cm tall from a taproot and a branched, woody stem base. These plants are tufted and form cushion-like clusters. The stems are branched and glandular-hairy above. The leaves are opposite, but may appear whorled because of weakly developed clusters of secondary leaves. The leaves are on the bottom quarter of the stem and are overlapping. The flowers are few in a branched inflorescence or solitary. The flower stalks are slender and have glandular hairs. The sepals are three-ribbed with a membranous margin. The petals are white. The capsule opens by three valves to release dark or reddish brown seeds. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Boreal sandwort grows on gravely, often calcareous slopes. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in northern Saskatchewan in the Athabasca Plain, Mid-Boreal Upland and Tazin Lake Upland ecoregions as well as in the southwestern corner of the province in the Cypress Upland ecoregion. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Boreal sandwort is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. This species occurs in two or three general regions of the province. Most local populations are small. No threats are known for this species at present. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY BOREAL SANDWORT | |||||||||
| * Does the capsule open by three valves? * Is the plant glandular-hairy? * Are the leaves opposite and sessile, with bundles of secondary leaves in the leaf axils? * Did you find it in northern Saskatchewan or in the Cypress Hills area? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found boreal sandwort! | |||||||||
