Species: Stellaria arenicola Raup

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Stellaria arenicola Raup

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Caryophyllaceae

Genus:

Stellaria

Species Synonyms:

Stellaria longipes var. arenicola (Raup) Boivin

Common Names:

sand chickweed

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southeastern Alberta – southern Saskatchewan – southern Manitoba, Quebec – western New Brunswick

Saskatchewan:

southern Saskatchewan; Brooking – Souris River Valley

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

sand dunes and sandy lake shores

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

G2 N2 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

Vulnerable

COSEWIC Status:

Not At Risk

Sand chickweed is vulnerable in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon. This species is restricted to one small area of the province, though it is usually numerous within localized areas. There are no known or anticipated threats to sand chickweed. This taxon is endemic to the Lake Athabasca region of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

20 – 40 cm

Roots:

rootstocks extensive, branched

Stems:

perennial, tufted, weak, ascending to erect, 1 – 3 mm wide, hairless, shiny

Leaves:

opposite, sessile, 0.5 – 3 cm long, 2 – 4 mm wide, lance-shaped, boat-shaped in cross section, hairless

Inflorescence:

loose, few-flowered, branched, spreading; bracts paired below each flower papery, whitish

Flowers:

sepals distinct to base, hairless; petals longer than sepals, notched, whitish

Fruits:

capsule straw-coloured, valves reflexed and outwardly rolled at maturity

*KEY TO STELLARIA* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Leaves broadly elliptic to oval; middle and lower leaves stalked; stems with hairs in vertical rows	S. media ssp. media
1 Leaves linear to lance-shaped; cauline leaves all sessile, basal leaves may be short-stalked; stems hairless or hairy, but hairs not in vertical rows	2

2 Inflorescence bracts green, not papery or membranous; flowers solitary or in branched clusters	3
2 Inflorescence bracts papery and whitish, at least the uppermost; flowers in branched clusters	5

3 Petals shorter than sepals or absent; bracts and leaves or sepals with marginal hairs; seeds smooth	S. calycantha
3 Petals equalling or longer than sepals; bracts, leaves and sepals without marginal hairs; seeds netted or wrinkled	4

4 Leaves soft, fleshy; stems branched, often matted; petals cleft more than halfway; seeds wrinkled	S. crassifolia var. crassifolia
4 Leaves firm, boat-shaped in cross section; stems branched, short, ascending; petals cleft less than halfway; seeds netted	S. longipes

5 Inflorescence narrow; stalks erect to ascending or reflexed; leaves strongly ascending; capsule purplish-black	S. longipes
5 Inflorescence widely spreading; stalks ascending to reflexed; leaves spreading to ascending; capsule green or straw-coloured	6

6 Leaves linear, acute at both ends; flowers few	S. longifolia
6 Leaves lanceolate, broadest below the middle; flowers few to many	7

7 Sepal margins with hairs; capsule teeth not reflexed at maturity	S. graminea var. graminea
7 Sepal margins without hairs; capsule teeth rolled back at maturity	S. arenicola