Species: Stephanomeria runcinata Nutt.

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Stephanomeria runcinata Nutt.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Asteraceae or Compositae

Genus:

Stephanomeria

Species Synonyms:

Ptiloria ramose Rydb.

Common Names:

desert wirelettuce
runcinate-leaved rush-pink

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan; Upper South Saskatchewan River Valley, Frenchman River Valley, Wood Mountain

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

open, dry, eroding, shaly slopes

Associated species:

buttecandle, goldenbean, Indian rice grass, plains prickly pear, Russian thistle, saltgrass

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

Not At Risk

Desert wirelettuce is threatened due to varying population sizes and restricted distribution in the province.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

10 – 30 cm

Roots:

taproot long, thin; stout branching woody stem base or creeping horizontal underground stems

Stems:

solitary to few, branching pattern alternate, sap white, hairless to weakly hairy

Leaves:

alternate, lower leaves to 6 cm long, to 1 cm wide, lobes downward pointing; upper leaves to 2 cm long, < 1 mm wide, thread-like to scale-like near top

Inflorescence:

heads solitary or several, <0.5 cm wide; bracts 5 in several series; outer series very small; inner series lance-shaped, to 1 mm wide

Flowers:

ray flowers only, mostly 5, 10 – 15 mm long, pink

Fruits:

achenes wrinkly and bumpy; pappus single, feathery, barbs 0.5 to 1.0 mm, white

STEPHANOMERIA FROM MORPHOLICALLY SIMILAR SPECIES IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Pappus simple; lower leaves entire	2
1 Pappus plumose; lower leaves toothed or divided	3

2 Perennial; branching pattern appearing irregular from the top; latex yellowish-green; leaves reduced, usually less than 5 cm and scale-like; bracts usually 5; pappus brown	Lygodesmia juncea
2 Annual; branching pattern appearing dichotomous from the top; latex white; leaves 5 – 20 cm long; bracts usually 7 – 9; pappus white	Shinnersoseris rostrata

3 Plants < 30 cm tall; leaves not linear; margin lobed, with lobes downward pointing; achenes bumpy	Stephanomeria runcinata
3 Plants 20 – 50 cm tall; leaves linear to thread-like; margin entire to toothed; achenes ribbed but smooth	Stephanomeria minor var. minor