Species: Oxytropis campestris var. dispar (A. Nels.) Barneby

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Oxytropis campestris var. dispar (A. Nels.) Barneby

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Oxytropis

Species Synonyms:

Oxytropis dispar (A. Nels.) K. Schum
Oxytropis monticola ssp. dispar (A. Nels.) Elisens & Packer

Common Names:

field locoweed
northern yellow locoweed

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

western Mackenzie District – Alberta – Manitoba

Saskatchewan:

eastern Saskatchewan; Sylvania – Indian Head

Ecoregion:

Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

sandy grasslands and open woods

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 N1T3 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Field locoweed is endangered in Saskatchewan because is extremely rare and only two locations are known for this species. Both populations are locally sparse and possible threats have been identified.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Roots:

taproots stout

Stems:

caudex multiple underground; stem absent

Stipules:

4 – 16 m long, nearly hairless or long hairy

Leaves:

odd-pinnate, weakly to strongly different, may be two kinds of leaves, to 3 cm long, linear to egg-shaped, long hairy

Leaflets:

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

Inflorescence:

unbranched, 8 – 20-flowered; bracts hairy; inflorescence stalk erect, 10 – 40 cm long

Flowers:

sepals tube 6 – 7 mm long, white-hairy, with short, appressed, brown or black hairs; petals pink, blue or purple; banner 12 – 19 mm long; wings 10 – 16 mm long; keel 10 – 14 mm long

Fruits:

pod nearly stalkless, 8 – 16 mm long, beak to 5 mm long, oblong to ellipsoid, short hairy with black and white hairs; seeds dark brown, smooth

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