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

Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis 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, prostrate to decumbent, branched, greenish to straw-coloured, usually glabrous, 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, apex blunt, glabrous or glandular hairy

Inflorescence:

cymes or flowers in pairs, axillary or terminal; pedicels 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 erose or friable, dull or reddish brown

*KEY TO SPERGULARIA* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Stamens up to 7; capsule globose; seeds silvery black, may have papillae	S. diandra
1 Stamens 5 or less; capsule ovoid; seeds dull or reddish brown, not papillate	2

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