|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
|||||||||
| THE PINK FAMILY | |||||||||
| The pink family is found mainly in
north temperate regions, though it may also be found in montane tropics
and the arctic. These plants are herbaceous perennials that have an erect
or reclining growth habit. Some species may be mat forming. Almost all of
the members of the pink family have three characteristics in common that
make this family easy to identify: swollen nodes, opposite leaves, and notched
petals. Several members of this family are used as ornamentals. One of the more well-known examples is Dianthus or the carnation. Many species are also considered weedy. |
|||||||||
| KNOTTED PEARLWORT | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Sagina nodosa | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Knotted pearlwort is a tufted perennial that grows as tall as 25 cm from fibrous roots. The stems are simple or branched and are only as wide as 1 mm. The stem is generally hairless, but may be hairy at the nodes. The leaves are opposite and have bulb-like clusters of fleshy leaflets in the axils. The leaves are thread-like in appearance. There are many flowers in branched clusters with purplish sepals and white petals. The petals are approximately twice as long as the sepals. There are either 10 or, less commonly, 8 stamens. The fruit is a capsule that releases dark brown or blackish, strongly wrinkled seeds. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Knotted pearlwort grows on wet, sandy or rocky lake shores. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in northern Saskatchewan in the Churchill River Upland, Athabasca Plain, and Tazin Lake Upland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Knotted pearlwort is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon and is regionally restricted to one general area of the province. Most local populations are small. No threats are known or anticipated at this time. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY KNOTTED PEARLWORT | |||||||||
| * Do the leaves have bulb-like clusters in their
axils? * Are petals white? * Are the leaves opposite and sessile? * Did you find it in northern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found knotted pearlwort! | |||||||||
