Species: Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis R.P. Rossb.

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Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis R.P. Rossb.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Caryophyllaceae

Genus:

Spergularia

Species Synonyms:

none

Common Names:

western sandspurry
western Canada sandspurry

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia, east-central Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

east-central Saskatchewan; Nitenai River Salt Marsh

Ecoregion:

Mid-Boreal Lowland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

edge of salt-spring ponds in saline marsh-meadows

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Western sandspurry is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare, highly regionally restricted, and the populations are small. No threats are known or anticipated for this species at present.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

10 – 20 cm

Roots:

fibrous

Stems:

annual, densely tufted, creeping, branched, greenish to straw-coloured, usually hairless, may be glandular-hairy

Leaves:

stipules broader than long, < 3 mm long; leaves opposite, sessile, to over 4 cm long, ca. 2 mm broad, linear, tip blunt, hairless or glandular-hairy

Inflorescence:

axillary or terminal, branched cluster or flowers pairs; stalks may be glandular-hairy

Flowers:

sepals 5, < 4 mm long, blunt; petals 5, < 3 mm long, white or pinkish; stamens 5; styles 3

Fruits:

capsule exserted, 3-valved, dehiscent to base; seeds to 1.4 mm long, smooth, wing irregularly toothed, dull or reddish-brown

*KEY TO SPERGULARIA* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Stamens up to 7; capsule spherical; seeds silvery black, may be bumpy	S. diandra
1 Stamens 5 or less; capsule ovoid; seeds dull or reddish-brown, not bumpy	2

2 Stipules broader than long, < 3 mm long; seeds winged; leaf tips blunt	S. canadensis
2 Stipules slightly longer than broad, to 4 mm long; seeds wingless; leaf tips short, sharp pointed	S. salina var. salina