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

Myosurus apetalus var. borealis 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, scapose

Leaves:

basal, blades 1 – 8 cm long, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, margin entire

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary; in fruit developing into heads (apocarpous ovary), heads elongated, 5 - 10 mm long, 1.5 – 2 mm wide, appearing roughened due to projecting achene beaks, extending beyond leaves

Flowers:

sepals 5, 1-veined, margin scarious, usually spurred at the base; petals 5 or fewer, 1 – 3 mm long, claw 1 – 2 times as long as blade, white; stamens 5 – 10; carpels many on a receptacle

Fruits:

achenes 1 – 2 mm long, beak diverging from outer face of achene

MYOSURUS KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

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

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