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:

Achnatherum hymenoides, Cirsium undulatum, Cryptantha celosioides, Iva axillaris, Distichlis spicata, Opuntia polyacantha, Salsola kali, Thermopsis rhombifolia

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

Stephanomeria runcinata 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 caudex or creeping rhizomes

Stems:

solitary to few, alternate branching pattern, latex white, glabrous to weakly pubescent

Leaves:

cauline, alternate, lower leaves to 6 cm long, to 1 cm wide, runcinate-pinnatifed to pinnatisect, upper leaves to 2 cm long, < 1 mm wide, filiform, scale-like near top

Inflorescence:

heads solitary or several, <0.5 cm wide; phyllaries 5 in several series; outer series very small; inner series lanceolate, to 1 mm wide

Flowers:

ligulate florets only, mostly 5, 10 – 15 mm long, pink

Fruits:

achenes rugose-tuberculate pitted; pappus single, plumose, 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; phyllaries usually 5; pappus brown	Lygodesmia juncea
2 Annual; branching pattern appearing dichotomous from the top; latex white; leaves 5 – 20 cm long; phyllaries usually 7 – 9; pappus white,	Shinnersoseris rostrata

3 Plants < 30 cm tall; leaves not linear; margin runcinate-pinnatifed; achenes rugose-tuberculate	Stephanomeria runcinata
3 Plants 20 – 50 cm tall; leaves linear-filiform; margin entire to toothed; achenes ribbed but smooth	Stephanomeria minor var. minor