Species: Parnassia kotzebuei Cham. ex Spreng.

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Parnassia kotzebuei Cham. ex Spreng.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Saxifragaceae

Genus:

Parnassia

Species Synonyms:

Parnassia kotzebuei var. pumila C.L. Hitchc. & Ownbey

Common Names:

small grass-of-parnassus
alpine grass-of-parnassus
Kotzebue grass-of-parnassus

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon – Mackenzie District– Ungava – southern Baffin Island, south to eastern British Columbia – southwestern Alberta, northern Saskatchewan – northern Manitoba – northern Ontario – eastern Quebec – Labrador – northern Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

northern Saskatchewan; Axis Lake – Patterson Lake

Ecoregion:

Tazin Lake Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

wet, rocky lake shores

Associated Species:

bog birch, diamondleaf willow

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Small grass-of-parnassus is endangered because it is rare or uncommon and is limited to the northern part of the province. This species is usually locally numerous within limited areas. No immediate threats are known but may occur in the future.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

ca. 10 cm

Roots:

rhizome short; roots fibrous

Stems:

essentially leafless, slender, grooved

Leaves:

basal, stalk expanded to nearly sessile, 3 – 15 mm wide, oval, rounded or heart-shaped; stem leaf rarely present, close to base, oval

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary, terminal

Flowers:

sepals 5 – 7 mm long, oblong, 3 – 7-veined; petals shorter than to equalling the sepals, 3-nerved; sterile stamens 3 – 6-lobed

Fruits:

capsules 8 – 10 mm long

PARNASSIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Sterile stamens with up to 15 divisions	P. palustris var. tenuis
1 Sterile stamens 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 with a waxy coating	P. glauca
3 Petals less than 2 times as long as the sepal lobes; calyx lobes ascending; stems without a waxy coating	4

4 Leaves acute at base; stem leaf small, narrowed to base	P. palustris var. parviflora
4 Leaves heart-shaped at base; stem leaf often heart-shaped and clasping	P. palustris var. montanensis