Species: Myosurus apetalus var. montanus (Campbell) Whitemore

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Myosurus apetalus var. montanus (Campbell) Whitemore

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Ranunculaceae

Genus:

Myosurus

Species Synonyms:

Myosurus aristatus ssp. montanus (Campbell) D.E. Stone ex Mason
Myosurus minimus ssp. montanus Campbell

Common Names:

tiny mousetail
mountain mousetail
awned mousetail

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia – southern Alberta – southern Saskatchewan – southern Manitoba – southern Ontario

Saskatchewan:

southern Saskatchewan; Cypress Hills – Rockglen – Saskatoon

Ecoregion:

Cypress Upland, Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

slough margins, mudflats, and prairie and cultivated field depressions

Associated species:

Chenopodium glaucum, Iva axillaris, Juncus bufonius, Veronica peregrina

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Myosurus apetalus var. montanus is vulnerable but is apparently secure 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; developing into heads in fruit (apocarpous ovary), heads elongated, 11 – 25 mm long, 1.5 – 2 mm wide, appearing roughened due to projecting achene beaks, extending beyond leaves

Flowers:

sepals 5, faintly 3-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:

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