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
 
Oxytropis campestris var. dispar 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, subterranean; acaulescent
Stipules: 4 – 16 m long, glabrate or pilose
Leaves: odd-pinnate, weakly to strongly dimorphic, 2 – 23 cm long, linear to obovate, pilose
Leaflets: 9 – 19, 4 – 20 mm long, 1 – 4 mm wide, scattered, elliptic to lanceolate, pilose on both sides
Inflorescence: raceme 8 – 20-flowered; bracts pilose; scape erect, 10 – 40 cm long
Flowers: calyx tube 6 – 7 mm long, white-pilose, with short, appressed, brown or black hairs; corolla pink, blue or purple; banner 12 – 19 mm long; wings 10 – 16 mm long; keel 10 – 14 mm long
Fruits: legume nearly sessile, 8 – 16 mm long, beak to 5 mm long, oblong to ellipsoid, short pilose with black and white hairs; seeds dark brown, smooth
 
OXYTROPIS KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Leaflets fascicled, appearing whorled
O. splendens
1 Leaflets opposite or subopposite
2
   
2 Plants caulescent (with one or more nodes); flowers and pods reflexed
O. deflexa var. sericea
2 Plants acaulescent, scapose; flowers and pods ascending to erect
3
   
3 Corolla white, ochroleucus, or yellow
4
3 Corolla purplish or blue
5
 
4 Leaflets densely silky pilose, < 15; keel 15 – 20 mm long; pods coriaceous
O. campestris var. spicata
4 Leaflets sparsely pilose, > 15; keel 11 – 15 mm long; pods chartaceous
O. monticola
 
5 Pubescence dolabriform
O. lambertii var. lambertii
5 Pubescence not dolabriform
6
 
6 Leaves strongly dimorphic; calyx pubescence not shaggy; corolla blue or purple
O. campestris var. dispar
6 Leaves not dimorphic; calyx pubescence quite shaggy; corolla bright pink-purple, may dry blue
O. besseyi var. besseyi