Species: Parnassia glauca Raf.

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Parnassia glauca Raf.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Saxifragaceae

Genus:

Parnassia

Species Synonyms:

Parnassia americana Muhl.

Common Names:

fen grass-of-parnassus
glaucous grass-of-parnassus

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

east-central Saskatchewan – Manitoba – Ontario – Quebec – New Brunswick - Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

east-central Saskatchewan; Big River – Pasquia Hills – Duck Mountain – Carievale

Ecoregion:

Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Lowland, Mid-Boreal Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

wet, calcareous fens or sedge meadows

Associated Species:

Carex viridula, Equisetum variegatum, Galium trifidum, Gentianopsis macounii, Juncus nodosus, Lobelia kalmii, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Oligoneuron album, Parnassia palustris, Rubus arcticus ssp. acaulis, Salix candida

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Parnassia glauca is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. This species is usually locally numerous within limited areas. No immediate threats are known but may occur in the future.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

15 – 40 cm

Roots:

roots fibrous, stringy; rhizomes short

Stems:

scapose, glaucous, solitary or several

Leaves:

basal, 2 – 5.0 cm long, broadly ovate to oblong or rounded, base rounded to tapered and decurrent on upper petiole, 7 – 9-veined, coriaceous; cauline leaf, when present, below the middle of the stem, sessile

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary, erect

Flowers:

sepals 5, 3 – 5 mm long, imbricate, coriaceous, margin hyaline, apex rounded, 3 – 5-nerved, spreading in flower, reflexed in fruit; petals 1 – 2 cm long, creamy to greenish, broadly ovate, spreading, conspicuously 9-nerved; staminodia 3 – 5 in each cluster, with rounded tips, shorter than stamens; stamens 4 – 9 mm long; ovary 4 – 9 mm long, sessile to slightly inferior

Fruits:

capsule membranaceous, many-seeded; seeds ca. 1 mm long

PARNASSIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Staminodia with up to 15 divisions	P. palustris var. tenuis
1 Staminodia with no more than 9 divisions	2

2 Petals shorter than to equalling sepals, 3-nerved; stem naked or with a leaf close to the base	P. kotzebuei
2 Petals longer than sepals, with at least 5 nerves; stem usually with a leaf at or below the middle	3

3 Petals more than 3 times as long as the sepal lobes; calyx lobes reflexed at maturity; stems glaucous	P. glauca
3 Petals less than 2 times as long as the sepal lobes; calyx lobes ascending; stems not glaucous	4

4 Leaves acute at base; cauline leaf small, narrowed to base	P. palustris var. parviflora
4 Leaves cordate at base; cauline leaf often cordate and clasping	P. palustris var. montanensis