Species: Parnassia palustris var. parviflora (DC.) Boivin

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Parnassia palustris var. parviflora (DC.) Boivin

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Saxifragaceae

Genus:

Parnassia

Species Synonyms:

Parnassia parviflora DC.

Common Names:

smallflower grass-of-parnassus

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

northern British Columbia – western Alberta, southeastern Saskatchewan, Ontario – Quebec – Labrador – Newfoundland – Nova Scotia

Saskatchewan:

southeastern Saskatchewan; Strawberry Lakes – Qu’Appelle River Valley

Ecoregion:

Aspen Parkland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

wet areas

Canada:

bogs and wet meadows

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4T4 ST1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Parnassia palustris var. parviflora is threatened because it is extremely rare and is only known from two locations in Saskatchewan. Possible threats have been identified for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

5 – 30 cm

Roots:

fibrous

Stems:

scapose, slender

Leaves:

basal, 1 – 2 cm long, 7 – 20 mm wide, oval, tapering to a petiole; cauline leaf inserted at or below the middle, sessile, 7 – 15 mm long, narrow

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary, terminal

Flowers:

calyx lobes 3 – 6 mm long, ascending in flower and fruit, lanceolate; petals 5 – 9 mm long, slightly longer than the sepals, elliptical to oblong, 5 – 7-nerved; staminodia 5 – 7 on each scale; stamens 4 – 7 mm long, surpassing the staminodia

Fruits:

capsule ovoid

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