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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE BORAGE FAMILY | |||||||||
| The borage family is represented around the world, especially in temperate and subtropical regions. There are about 117 genera and 2,400 species in this family. The borages are herbaceous plants. The name Borago comes from the Latin word “burra”, which means hairy garment and refers to the hairy leaves. The inflorescences are coiled or one-sided. The flowers are small and can often be hard to see. The fruit type is a nutlet or a drupe. Members of the borage family contain chemical compounds that are used for medicines, wines, and some cosmetics. Some borages are used as ornamentals and pot herbs; others are important as honey plants. | |||||||||
| WESTERN MARBLESEED | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Onosmodium molle ssp. occidentale | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Western marbleseed is 30 to 90 cm tall, though it is usually only 60 cm in Saskatchewan. The stems are tufted from woody taproots. The stem is straw-coloured and covered in rough hairs. The leaves are mostly on the stem and the basal leaves soon wither and fall off. The stem leaves are not stalked and are slightly smaller farther up the stem. The leaves are 5 to 7-nerved with whitish nerves that come together at the tip of the leaves. The nerves can best be seen on the underside of the leaf. In this species, the leaves are very hairy, except for on the veins, and the edges of the leaves are smooth. The flowers are in leafy clusters. The sepals are very hairy. Western marbleseed’s petals form a tube and are yellowish-white or greenish. The style is very long and protrudes from the flower. There are 1 to 4 smooth, shiny, cream or light brown nutlets. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Western marbleseed grows in shrubby areas near rivers. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species grows in the Antler and Qu’Appelle River Valleys in southeastern Saskatchewan in the Moist Mixed Grassland and Aspen Parkland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| This species is vulnerable in Saskatchewan because it is limited to a small area and is uncommon. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY WESTERN MARBLESEED | |||||||||
| * Are leaves 5 to 7-nerved, with white, hairless
nerves? * Are the flowers yellowish-white or greenish? * Are there 1 to 4 smooth, shiny nutlets? * Did you find it in the Antler or Qu’Appelle River Valleys? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found western marbleseed! | |||||||||
