Species: Myosurus apetalus var. borealis Whittemore

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Myosurus apetalus var. borealis Whittemore

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Ranunculaceae

Genus:

Myosurus

Species Synonyms:

Myosurus aristatus auct. non Benth.
Myosurus minimus var. aristatus auct. non (Benth.) Boivin

Common Names:

bristly mousetail
northern awned mousetail

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia – southern Alberta – southern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan; Lower Battle Creek Valley, Cypress Hills – Maple Creek – Wood Mountain

Ecoregion:

Cypress Upland, Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

clayey, usually alkaline or calcareous, slough edges, mudflats and prairie depressions

Canada:

damp or wet soils

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Bristly mousetail is threatened because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. It is only somewhat regionally restricted in the province. No immediate threats are known but may occur in the future.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

1.5 – 12 cm

Roots:

fibrous

Stems:

annual, leafless

Leaves:

basal, blades 1 – 8 cm long, linear to narrowly inversely lance-shaped, margin entire

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary; in fruit creating heads of achenes (numerous carpels on receptacle), heads elongated, 5 – 10 mm long, 1.5 – 2 mm wide, appearing roughened due to projecting fruit beaks, extending beyond leaves

Flowers:

sepals 5, 1-veined, margin dry and membranous, spurred at the base; petals 5 or fewer, 1 – 3 mm long, claw 1 – 2 times as long as blade, white, nectariferous at tip; stamens 5 – 10; carpels numerous on receptacle

Fruits:

one-seeded, 1 – 2 mm long, beak diverging from outer face of fruit

MYOSURUS KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Beak of fruit < 0.5 mm long, heads of fruits appearing smooth	M. minimus
1 Beak of fruit 0.5 – 2 mm long, heads of fruits appearing roughened	2

2 Heads of fruits 5 – 10 mm long; sepals 1-veined	M. apetalus var. borealis
2 Heads of fruits 11 – 25 mm long; sepals lightly 3-veined	M. apetalus var. montanus