Species: Polanisia dodecandra ssp. trachysperma (Torr. & Gray) Iltis

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Polanisia dodecandra ssp. trachysperma (Torr. & Gray) Iltis

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Capparidaceae

Genus:

Polanisia

Species Synonyms:

Polanisia dodecandra var. trachysperma (Torr. & Gray) Iltis
Polanisia trachysperma Torr. & Gray

Common Names:

large clammyweed
clammyweed
sandyseed clammyweed
western clammyweed
red-whisker clammyweed

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia - southern Manitoba

Saskatchewan:

southern Saskatchewan; Maple Creek - Qu’Appelle River Valley

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

sandy or gravely soils on eroded slopes and shores

Associated Species:

Achnatherum hymenoides, Artemisia frigida, Helianthus annuus, Hesperostipa comata, Salsola kali

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Polanisia dodecandra ssp. trachysperma is threatened because it is uncommon in the province. It is only somewhat regionally restricted but most local populations are small.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

20 - 80 cm

Roots:

taproot

Stems:

annual, branched, viscid-pubescent

Leaves:

cauline, alternate, petiolate, trifoliately compound

Leaflets:

2 – 4 cm long, 4 – 20 mm wide, elliptic to oblanceolate, viscid-pubescent

Inflorescence:

raceme bracted, elongating in fruit; lower bracts trifoliate; pedicels widely divergent

Flowers:

zygomorphic; calyx purple or green; corolla 10 – 16 mm long, obtuse, yellowish white to pink; gland prominent between corolla and stamens, usually orange; stamens 10 – 20, 9 – 30 mm long, unequal length, staggered maturity, exserted; style 5 - 12 mm long, purple, persistent in fruit

Fruits:

capsule 2 – 7 cm long, 5 – 10 mm wide, glandular pubescent, stiffly erect; many reddish brown seeds, minutely wrinkled or tuberculate

*KEY TO POLANISIA* DODECANDRA IN SASKATCHEWAN**
*The two subspecies intergrade in Saskatchewan and can be quite difficult to separate.

1 Petals < 8 mm long, stamens 8 – 10 mm long, barely surpassing the petals	ssp. dodecandra
1 Petals commonly > 8 mm long, stamens 12 – 30 mm long, greatly surpassing the petals	ssp. trachysperma