Species: Oxytropis besseyi var. besseyi (Rydb.) Blank.

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Oxytropis besseyi var. besseyi (Rydb.) Blank.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Oxytropis

Species Synonyms:

Aragallus besseyi Rydb.
Oxytropis nana var. besseyi (Rydb.) Isely

Common Names:

Bessey’s locoweed

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southwestern – south-central Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern – south-central Saskatchewan

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

eroded, short-grassland and semi-bare slopes

Associaterd species:

bent-flowered milkvetch, golden buckwheat

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 N1T1 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Bessey’s locoweed is vulnerable in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon. It is restricted to the southern part of the province and most local populations are small. Possible threats have been identified.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Roots:

taproots stout

Stems:

caudex underground, branched, ultimate branches weakly ascending; stems absent

Stipules:

6 – 14 mm long, thin, hairless above, sparsely long-hairy below

Leaves:

stalks 1 – 6 cm long, hairy; leaves odd-pinnate, 3 – 12 cm long

Leaflets:

9 – 19, 4 – 20 mm long, 1 – 4 mm wide, scattered, elliptic to lance-shaped, long hairy on both sides

Inflorescence:

unbranched, 2 – 8 cm long, 7 – 20-flowered; inflorescence stalk 14 – 19 cm long

Flowers:

sepal tube 6 – 7 mm long, hairy, teeth 3 – 6 mm long; petals pink to reddish-purple, fading bluish; banner 18 – 25 mm long, wings 9 – 15 mm long, keel 13 – 18 mm long, with straight or curved appendage to 2 mm long; stamens 10, 9 + 1 arrangement; ovary superior

Fruits:

legume covered by sepals, short-stalked, 10 – 14 mm long, beak 4 – 5 mm long, hairy; seeds brown and often purple-spotted

OXYTROPIS KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Leaflets in groups of three or more, appearing whorled	O. splendens
1 Leaflets opposite or subopposite	2

2 Plants with a definite stem (with one or more nodes); flowers and pods reflexed	O. deflexa var. sericea
2 Plants lacking a definite stem, inflorescence stalks long and appearing stem-like but without leaves; flowers and pods ascending to erect	3

3 Petals white, cream-coloured, or yellow	4
3 Petals purplish or blue	5

4 Leaflets densely silky hairy, < 15; keel 15 – 20 mm long; pods leathery	O. campestris var. spicata
4 Leaflets sparsely hairy, > 15; keel 11 – 15 mm long; pods papery	O. monticola

5 Hairs attaching in the middle, one side usually shorter than the other	O. lambertii var. lambertii
5 Hairs attaching at the base	6

6 Leaves of two kinds; sepal hairs not shaggy; petals blue or purple	O. campestris var. dispar
6 Leaves of one kind; sepal hairs quite shaggy; petals bright pink-purple, may dry blue	O. besseyi var. besseyi