| BEN |
| BOTANICAL ELECTRONIC NEWS |
|---|
| ISSN 1188-603X |
| No. 369 January 3, 2007 | aceska@telus.net | Victoria, B.C. |
|---|
Rare plant surveys related to industrial proposals in NE Alberta have resulted in some additions to the Alberta list of vascular plants. In the present article I discuss three taxa I have personally collected in surveys based on Conklin during 2005 and 2006. Relevant specimens have or will be deposited in ALTA, and photographs offered for publication in Iris, the Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter.
The ranks of taxa constituting the Cardamine pratensis complex are interpreted differently in different publications. North American authors have generally treated the whole complex as a single species, within which subspecies or varieties are recognized. But in recent special European literature (e.g. Marhold et al. 2004), the complex is divided into 11 species. It is my understanding that the Flora of North America treatment now being written by Karol Marhold and collaborators will apply the nomenclature used in recent European special studies to North American material.
The basic subdivision of this complex derives from the monograph by Lovkvist (1956). He divided the material he studied into two main groups, between which he did not succeed in obtaining hybrids in crossing trials: the "Temperate Group" [including Cardamine pratensis s. str., C. palustris (= paludosa), C. matthiolii, C. granulosa and C. rivularis] and the "Arctic Group" containing the single species C. nymanii (within which he included North American material of var. angustifolia). He also recognized a third "Repent Rhizome Group" containing the Pyrenean C. crassifolia and the Siberian C. prorepens, but was unable to obtain living material of this group for experimentation. The "Repent Rhizome Group" does not occur in North America.
As far as I am aware, all collections of the Cardamine pratensis complex in Alberta prior to 2005 belong to the plant to be called C. nymanii Gandoger in the Flora of North America [= C. pratensis L. var. angustifolia Hook.]. I have seen this plant in the field east of Fort MacKay and in Elk Island National Park, also a herbarium specimen from NW of Athabasca in the University of Athabasca Herbarium. The plants flower from the end of May through June. The leaflets are thick with embedded veins; on basal leaves the terminal leaflet is not much larger than the lateral leaflets; leaflets on the upper stem leaves are narrowly wedge-shaped, not borne on petiolules. In Alberta populations the plants flower profusely; but an increased reliance on vegetative reproduction is reported towards the northern range limits of this taxon in the Arctic. The entries for "Cardamine pratensis" in the current Tracking List for rare vascular plants in Alberta (Gould 2006) and for the "Carex limosa Menyanthes trifoliata Cardamine pratensis community" in the Preliminary Ecological Community Tracking List (Allen 2006) both refer to this taxon. The occurrence of a second member of the Cardamine pratensis complex in NE Alberta first came to light in 2005. Only nonflowering plants were found during that season, on which account identification proved problematical.
I sent photographs by e-mail to numerous botanists, and eventually received a firm identification of C. pratensis L. subsp. paludosa (Knaf) Celak. from Thomas Karlsson of the Swedish Natural History Museum. An equivalent identification (as C. pratensis var. palustris) was also suggested by Canadian botanist Paul Catling. This same taxon (when ranked as a full species) is known as C. dentata Schult. in recent European special literature (e.g. Marhold et al. 2004), and I understand that this name will be used in the Flora of North America. Confirmation that this identification is correct was obtained in 2006, when the first flowering stem was found. This well shows the diagnostic feature used in published keys (e.g. Flora Europaea 1: 287), that the leaflets of all leaves (including upper stem leaves) are stalked (borne on petiolules).
So far Cardamine dentata is known from seven localities, six situated NW of Conklin and one East of Conklin (Conklin: 55 deg 38 min N, 111 deg 05 min W). The habitats are in most cases rich shrubby mossy fens (prominent shrubs including Betula pumila var. glandulifera, Larix laricina saplings and diverse Salix spp.); in one case a flooded sedge fen (dominated by Carex aquatilis). Most plants grow as emergents in waterfilled depressions, with only the tips of their basal leaves rising above water level. In Alberta populations the plants reproduce mainly by means of "adventitious shoots" arising from their leaflet blades; flowering stems are very rarely produced. The leaflets are relatively thin (veins not embedded); on basal leaves the terminal leaflet is often much larger than the lateral leaflets; leaflets on all leaves (including those on flowering stems, if present) are borne on petiolules. My observations of plants grown indoors indicate that leaflets bearing adventitious shoots may fall off and give rise to separate new plants; or, if the leaf is prostrate, the new plant may remain attached to the parent plant. In the latter case plants may appear to be connected by stolons, but the apparent stolons originated as the petioles and rhachises of basal leaves. True stolons (horizontal stems producing new plants) are not known in any North American members of the Cardamine pratensis complex.
The following key couplet is intended to distinguish the two
members of the Cardamine pratensis complex now known in
Alberta:
Sell & Yeo (1970) accepted the occurrence of this species in
Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Labrador and Minnesota, mainly on the
shores of seas, rivers and lakes. The known range can now be
extended to NE Alberta on the basis of collections during 2005
and 2006 (samples identified by Ernst Vitek of the Vienna
Natural History Museum). Whether this species is a longstanding
resident of NE Alberta or has recently spread here as a result
of industrial activity is uncertain, because we have no
historical data for the districts where it occurs. It is now a
common plant NW of Conklin, where it is found on roadsides,
cutlines, well pads and other disturbed ground. I also found it
in ditches along Secondary Highway 881 south of Conklin.
The following key is offered for distinguishing the three
species of Euphrasia so far reported for Alberta:
Introduced populations of Euphrasia with large flowers found in
Central and Western Alberta have been recorded under the names
E. arctica Lange ex Rostrup subsp. borealis (Townsend)
Wettst. (Griffiths 2002) and E. nemorosa (Pers.) Wallr. (Ford
et al. 2003). These taxa were distinguished by Sell & Yeo
(1970), who recorded both as introduced to Western Canada.
Subsequently Downie et al. (1988) concluded that these taxa are
not distinct in Eastern North America, but there remain
unanswered questions since they omitted to publish their data
matrix (see Griffiths 2002). Until further studies are
undertaken, it is unclear whether more than one large-flowered
introduced species should be recognized in Western Canada. The
prior name, if all such introduced populations are referred to a
single species, is E. nemorosa (Pers.) Wallr. (s. l.). I am
aware of such populations in Alberta in Elk Island National Park
(Griffiths 2002), Lacombe and Gadsby Lake (Ford et al. 2003),
West of Hinton (Transmountain Pipeline right-ofway at 448149E
5901535N, NHMW) and 27 km South of Jasper (ALTA).
Euphrasia subarctica Raup is the taxon treated in the Flora
of Alberta (Moss & Packer 1983) under the name E. arctica
Lange ex Rostrup var. disjuncta (Fern. & Wieg.) Cronq., but
this nomenclature does not accord with Sell & Yeo's (1970)
findings. Raup's species was described from Shield rocks on the
shore of Lake Athabasca, but its main distribution in Alberta is
along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, where it is
common along trails, cutlines and other disturbed ground. It is
not present at the sites in NE Alberta where I have found E.
hudsoniana.
Thor (1987, 1988) concluded that bladderworts generally called
Utricularia ochroleuca in Europe actually consisted of two
species, the true U. ochroleuca R. Hartm. and a new species he
described as U. stygia (described in Swedish in his 1987
paper, validated by a Latin description in 1988). While Thor did
not undertake a comprehensive review of North American material,
he gave a few records of both species. He accepted the synonymy
of U. occidentalis Gray (described from the Falcon Valley,
Washington) with the true U. ochroleuca, as originally
suggested by Ceska & Bell (1973). And in his list of collections
of his new U. stygia he includes (Thor 1988): "Nova Scotia,
St. Paul Island, Lena Lake, 23 July 1929 Perry & Roscoe 351a
(GH); 10 Aug 1929 n 351 (GH); Northwest territories, Mackenzie
River delta, south end of Richards island, 22 Jul 1934 Porsild
7076 (GH). Alaska, Kuskokwim river drainage basin, near Farewell
lake, 62E 33?N 153E 37?W, 2 Aug 1949 Drury 2377 (GH)."
Last summer I discovered the first Alberta population of
Utricularia stygia at a site near Janvier (512692E 6207100N
NAD 83 Zone 12V, June 7-8, 2006) during field work for Matrix
Solutions Inc. Plants were found in pools between sphagnum
mounds in rich shrubby mossy fen (Betula pumila var.
glandulifera dominant, with Salix candida, Andromeda
polifolia, Oxycoccus oxycoccos, Potentilla palustris,
Menyanthes trifoliata, Caltha palustris, Carex diandra,
C. aquatilis, C. limosa and Trichophorum alpinum). No
other species of Utricularia was found at the site. The
identification of U. stygia was made by the original author,
Goran Thor, in an email dated September 4, 2006. This species
should be added to the Alberta Tracking List, and its status
in Canada as a whole needs to be reviewed.
Among the species of Utricularia previously reported for
Alberta, U. stygia most closely resembles U. intermedia
Hayne on account of its flat leaf segments. The distinction
between the three species with leaves of this type known in
North America (two in Alberta) is as follows:
Important discussion on variation in Utricularia stygia
and U. ochroleuca in California and Oregon is given by
Schlosser (2003). It is evident that information on the
distribution of both species in North America is far from
complete, but both appear to be rare. Flowers of U. stygia
were not found at the Alberta site. Their future discovery
will assist in comparison with populations from other
areas.
Though spotted owls and many other birds and mammals depend
on trees, they don't actually grow on them. Lichens, of course,
are different.
In recent years we have become fascinated by the epiphytic
crustose lichens of our region. To date, we have passed more
than 30,000 specimens under our collective microscopes. So far
we have documented some 550 species - a number that grows larger
by the day. Included in this count are scores of species that
still appear to have no names. During the same period, we have
undertaken floristic studies in three of British Columbia's
forest regions and one national forest in Montana. In each
study, the resulting list of epiphytic lichens has exceeded 275
species. Rather astonishingly, we found that epiphytic lichen
species (especially crustose lichens) often far outnumber
vascular plants and bryophytes combined!
We've decided to formalize our project by announcing its main
objective: a flora of the epiphytic crustose lichens of British
Columbia. When published, this will constitute Part III of
Trevor Goward's Lichens of British Columbia series, and will
follow roughly the same format. As with earlier volumes, we hope
our work will be useful not just in British Columbia, but also
in adjacent states and provinces. And to hedge our bets, we
intend to incorporate several species known from surrounding
regions, though not yet specifically recorded from British
Columbia.
Funding for the flora project has yet to be secured. For the
time being, we are looking forward to additional field work of
the sort we have already undertaken. We hope our fellow
lichenologists in both Canada and the U.S. (and for that matter,
those in other countries who have worked in this region) will
support this project by: (1) sending along difficult or
otherwise interesting specimens; (2) letting us know of
opportunities for floristic research on epiphytic crusts; and
(3) joining us at workshops, one of which we will announce soon
for the coming summer.
Here's to fruitful collaboration in the years ahead to
lichenologists everywhere!
"Practical Plant Identification is an essential guide to
identifying flowering plant families (wild or cultivated) in the
northern hemisphere. Details of plant structure and terminology
accompany practical keys to identify 318 families into which
flowering plants are currently divided. Specifically designed
for practical use, the keys can easily be worked backwards for
checking identifications. Containing descriptions of families
and listings of the genera within, it also includes a section on
further identification to generic and specific levels."
"A successor to the author's bestselling The Identification of
Flowering Plant Families, this new guide is fully revised and
updated, and retains the same concise userfriendly approach.
Cullen skillfully leads the reader from restrictive disciplines
of older taxonomy, into an era of increasing numbers of plant
families defined by DNA analysis. Aimed primarily at students of
botany and horticulture, this is a perfect introduction to plant
identification for anyone interested in plant taxonomy."
"Illustrations and explanations of plant structure and the
associated terminology enable accurate identifications to be
made. Practical keys allow for accurate and precise
identification, and can easily be worked backwards for checking.
A helpful section explains the use of botanical literature for
further identification, and lists the more important general
texts."
Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Examining the plant: a
brief survey of plant structure and its associated terminology;
Using the keys; Keys; 'Spot' characters; Arrangement and
description of families; Further identification and annotated
bibliography; Glossary; Index.
1a. Leaflets thick, with embedded veins; terminal leaflet of
basal leaves normally not much larger than lateral leaflets;
leaflets on upper stem leaves narrowly wedge-shaped, not
borne on petiolules (petiolules evident at most on basal and
lower stem leaves). Alberta populations flowering readily
............ C. nymanii Gandoger [= C. pratensis L. var.
angustifolia Hook.]
1b. Leaflets thinner (veins not embedded); terminal leaflet of
basal leaves often much larger than lateral leaflets; all
leaflets borne on petiolules (including those on upper stem
leaves). Alberta populations reproducing mainly by
adventitious shoots arising from leaflets, rarely flowering
........... C. dentata Schult. [= C. pratensis L. subsp.
paludosa (Knaf) Celak.]
2. Euphrasia hudsoniana Fernald & Wiegand
1. Flowers relatively large and conspicuous; corolla length (to
tip of hood) 7-8 mm; lower lip of corolla strongly spreading
(fanshaped). Introduced populations
.................... E. nemorosa (Pers.) Wallr. sensu lato
1. Flowers smaller and less conspicuous; corolla length (to tip
of hood) 3-6 mm; lower lip of corolla rather narrow (not
strongly spreading). Native species.
2. Long-stipitate glands abundant on leaves and calyces (in
addition to teeth); upper cauline and lower floral leaves
suborbicular to broadly ovate, deltoid or subcordate;
corolla length (to tip of hood) 3-4 mm
.................................... E. subarctica Raup
2. Leaves and calyces hirsute (with long simple hairs) and
toothed, but lacking stipitate glands (the only glands
present being the sessile glands on the lower leaf surface
present in all species of Euphrasia); upper cauline and
lower floral leaves lanceolate to ovate, with strongly
cuneate (tapered) base; corolla length (to tip of hood)
4.5-6 mm
....................... E. hudsoniana Fernald & Wiegand
3. Utricularia stygia Thor
1. Green leaves entirely lacking bladders (all bladders borne on
separate colourless stems). Leaf segments usually obtuse
(rarely subulate). Spur as long as or almost as long as lower
lip. Quadrifid hairs (inside bladders) consisting of two,
almost parallel pairs of arms ........ U. intermedia Hayne
1. A few bladders on green leaves (in addition to bladders on
separate colourless stems). Leaf segments always subulate.
Spur half as long as lower lip. Quadrifid hairs (inside
bladders) with radiating arms.
2. Flowers yellow with slight reddish tinge. Lower lip flat
or with margin slightly curved upwards, 9-11 x 12- 15 mm.
Quadrifid hairs with angles between shorter arms (30-)52-
97(-140) degrees, between longer and shorter arms (80-)
106-139(-175) degrees (Thor 1988) ...... U. stygia Thor
2. Flowers light yellow. Lower lip at first almost flat,
later with deflexed margins, about 8 x 9 mm. Quadrifid
hairs with angles between shorter arms (117-)146-197(-228)
degrees, between longer and shorter arms (34-)60-93(-123)
degrees (Thor 1988) .......... U. ochroleuca R. Hartm.
Literature Cited
ANNOUNCING: THE BRITISH COLUMBIA EPIPHYTIC CRUSTOSE LICHEN FLORA PROJECT - CONNECTING THE DOTS.
From: Toby Spribille [tspribi@uni-goettingen.de], Curtis Bjork
[cbjork@onewest.net], Trevor Goward
[tgoward@interchange.ubc.ca] and Tor Tonsberg
[tor.tonsberg@bm.uib.no]
BOOK: PRACTICAL PLANT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
Contents
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