Species: Moehringia macrophylla (Hook.) Fenzl

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Moehringia macrophylla (Hook.) Fenzl

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Caryophyllaceae

Genus:

Moehringia

Species Synonyms:

Arenaria macrophylla Hook.

Common Names:

largeleaf sandwort

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia, southern Mackenzie District– northern Saskatchewan – southern Ontario – Ungava – Labrador – eastern Quebec

Saskatchewan:

northern Saskatchewan; Lake Athabasca – Hasbala Lake – Haultain River

Ecoregion:

Churchill River Upland, Tazin Lake Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

thin soil on granitic outcrops in semi-open areas

Associated Species:

bishop’s cap, black spruce, jack pine, paper birch, pink wintergreen, rusty woodsia, starflower, three toothed saxifrage, trembling aspen, twinflower, white spruce

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Largeleaf sandwort is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. This species is only partially regionally restricted and population sizes vary. No immediate threats are known at this time.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

8 – 20 cm

Roots:

taproot; rhizome present

Stems:

erect to ascending or reclining, often branched, thin, slightly hairy

Leaves:

on the stem, opposite, proportionately large, 1 – 4 cm long, 2 – 10 mm wide, lance-shaped, hairless,margin entire

Inflorescence:

terminal, flowers usually in pairs, occasionally solitary or in few-flowered, branched clusters; flower stalks 5 – 15 mm long, slender; inflorescence stalk 1 – 3 cm long

Flowers:

sepals distinct, tapered at tip, green; petals about equal to sepals, white; nectaries at filament base; stamens 10; stigmas 3

Fruits:

capsule 6-valved, nearly spherical, straw-coloured, edges reflexed at maturity; seeds reddish-brown, with a fleshy appendage

MOEHRINGIA VERSUS ARENARIA IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Leaves narrowly linear, < 3 mm wide; seeds without fleshy appendages	Arenaria
1 Leaves elliptic to oblong, > 3 mm wide; seeds with fleshy appendages	Moehringia

*KEY TO MOEHRINGIA* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Leaves hairless, broadest towards base; sepals and petals about equal, sepals tapered at tip; capsule valves strongly reflexed outwards at dehiscence; seeds reddish brown	M. macrophylla
1 Leaves minutely hairy, broadest near middle; petals up to twice as long as sepals, sepals rounded; capsule valves slightly reflexed; seeds black	M. lateriflora