Species: Plantago patagonica var. spinulosa (Dcne.) Gray

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Plantago patagonica var. spinulosa (Dcne.) Gray

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Plantaginaceae

Genus:

Plantago

Species Synonyms:

Plantago spinulosa Dcne.
Plantago purshii R.& S. var. spinulosa(Dcne.) Shinners
Plantago aristata auct. non Michx.
Plantago patagonica var. aristata auct. non (Michx.) Gray

Common Names:

woolly Indianwheat, wolly plantain, spinulose-bracted plantain

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia – southern Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan; Lower Frenchman River – Unity

Ecoregion:

Cypress Upland, Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

eroded grasslands and drying mudflats

Associated Species:

Allium textile, Bouteloua gracilis, Plantago elongata ssp. elongata, Phlox hoodii, Polygonatum aviculare, Veronica peregrina

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Plantago maritima var. juncoides is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare. It is restricted to one region of the province but is usually locally numerous. No immediate threats are known for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

5 – 20 cm

Roots:

taproots terminated in a crown or short caudex

Stems:

annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial; stem absent or 1 – 4 cm long, woolly villous

Leaves:

principal leaves 2 – 15 cm long, 1 – 7 mm wide, linear, apex callous, 1 – 3-veined, woolly villous

Inflorescence:

spikes dense, 5 – 10 cm long; bracts much longer than the calyx, conspicuous, woolly villous, awn-tipped, margin narrowly scarious; peduncles 1 – 20, 2 – 25 cm long

Flowers::

calyx 1.5 – 2.5 mm long, obovate, margin scarious; corolla zygomorphic, 1 – 2 mm long, orbicular to ovate; stamens 4, exserted or included

Fruits:

capsule circumscissile at or below middle, 3 – 4 mm long; seeds 2, reddish-tan

PLANTAGO KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Leaves linear, blades and petioles not well-differentiated	2
1 Leaves ovate, lanceolate, elliptic or oblanceolate, petioles and blades well-differentiated	5

2 Bracts of spike very conspicuous, awn-tipped	P. patagonica var. spinulosa
2 Bracts somewhat inconspicuous, generally shorter than the flowers, not awn-tipped	3

3 Corolla tube pilose	P. maritima var. juncoides
3 Corolla tube glabrous	4

4 Leaves and spikes densely white woolly; leaves linear, greater than 1 mm wide; stamens 4	P. patagonica var. patagonica
4 Leaves and spikes glabrous or nearly so; leaves filiform, about 1 mm wide; stamens 2	P. elongata ssp. elongata

5 Leaves lanceolate to elliptic or oblanceolate, margin entire or sparsely toothed; sepals apparently 3 (2 united with a double midvein)	P. lanceolata
5 Leaves ovate, margin undulate to coarsely dentate; sepals 4	6

6 Corolla lobes less than 1 mm long; seeds up to 30; leaf blade abruptly tapering to a narrow petiole, blades prostrate	P. major
6 Corolla lobes greater than 1 mm long; seeds at most 4; leaf blade gradually tapering to a petiole, blades ascending	P. eriopoda