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:

Betula nana, Salix planifolia

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Parnassia kotzebuei 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:

scapose, slender, furrowed

Leaves:

basal, petiole dilated to nearly sessile, 3 – 15 mm wide, ovate, rounded or cordate; cauline leaf rarely present, close to base, ovate

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary, terminal

Flowers:

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

Fruits:

capsules 8 – 10 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