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Home , Calylophus serrulatus, Camissonia, Camissonia breviflora, Chamaenerion, Chamaenerion latifolium, Circaea alpina

AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE OF ALBERTA

Compiled and written by Linda Kershaw & Lorna Allen

January 2020

© Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen

This key was compiled using information primarily from Moss (1983), Hitchcock et. al. (1955-69), Douglas et. al. (1999), Lesica 2012, and Gleason and Cronquist (1991). follows VASCAN (Brouillet, 2019). The main references are listed at the end of the key. Please let us know if there are ways in which the keys can be improved. The 2018 S-ranks of rare (S1; S1S2; S2; S2S3; SH; SU, according to ACIMS, 2018) are noted in superscript (S1;S2;SU) after the species names. For more details go to the ACIMS web site. Similarly, exotic species are followed by X, XX if noxious and XXX if prohibited noxious according to the Alberta Control Act (2016) in superscript (X; XX; XXX). Onagraceae Evening-primrose Key to Genera 01a parts in 2s; teardrop-shaped, 1-seeded capsules, (1)2 mm long, not splitting open, covered in hooked bristles; paired, egg- to heart-shaped, 2-5 cm long, usually toothed...... alpina 01b Flower parts in 4s ( 8); fruits many- seeded capsules (rarely nut-like with 1-4 ), >2 mm long, mostly splitting open, not covered with hooks; leaves alternate or paired, 1a mostly linear to lance-shaped, with or without teeth...... 02

2a 02a Fruits 1- to 4-seeded, not splitting open, hard, nut-like, 5-9 mm long; ± bilaterally symmetric, white or scarlet...... suffrutescens ...... [ coccinea] 02b Fruits many-seeded capsules, >9 mm long and/or not hardened, splitting open when mature; flowers mostly radially symmetric, white, pink, red, purple, or yellow. . . . .03 03a Branches very slender and hair-like; ovaries/ capsules 2-chambered, splitting lengthwise along 4 lines when mature; Waterton area...... racemosum S1 03b Branches not hair-like; ovaries/capsules 4-chambered, splitting open along 4 lines when mature...... 04 4a 04a Seeds tipped with a tuft of hairs. . . . . 05 3a 04b Seeds without a tuft of hairs...... 06 4b

2 5a 05a Leaves alternate (sometimes a few pairs at the base); >1 cm long, rounded at the tip, pink to rose-purple (rarely white); separate to the base; styles bent downwards; stigmas 4-lobed ...... . . . . .[ (in part); Chamerion] 05b Leaves mostly paired or whorled (sometimes alternate on the upper stem); petals <1 cm long, notched at the tip, white, pink or rose- purple; sepals joined at the base for up to 3/4 of their length; styles not bent downwards; stigmas not 4-lobed (except E. luteum, which 5b has yellow flowers). . . Epilobium (in part) 06a Young seeds with a tuft of hair, but this soon shed; calyx lobes erect at flowering time; petals white or rose, 3-5 mm long; Dry Mixedgrass in seAB...... Epilobium campestre S3 ...... [Boisduvalia glabella] 6a 06b Seeds hairless; calyx lobes spreading or bent back/down at flowering time; petals various.07

7a 07a Stigmas 4-lobed; in boreal, parkland and/or grassland habitats in AB. . . . .Oenothera 07b Stigmas spherical; rare, in Dry Mixedgrass habitats in sAB...... 08 08a without leafy stems; leaves lance- shaped, pinnately lobed, in a basal rosette ...... Taraxia breviflora S1 8a . [ breviflora; Oenothera breviflora] 08b Plants with leafy stems; leaves linear to narrowly spoon-shaped, smooth-edged, 8b alternate on the stem...... Neoholmgrenia andina S1 . .[Camissonia andina, Oenothera andina]

------Chaemnerion Fireweed 1a 01a Plants (5)10-40(70) cm tall; leaves broadly lance-shaped to elliptic, 1-5.5(10) cm long, often slightly fleshy with a bluish coating and poorly defined veins; flower clusters short, leafy, with 1-7(15) flowers; petals 13-32 mm long; styles shorter than the stamens; seeds 1.3-2.4 mm long. . ...... [Epilobium latifolium; ...... Chamerion latifolium] 01b Plants 100-300 cm tall; leaves narrowly lance-shaped (2)10-15(2) cm long, green, membranous, veiny beneath; flower clusters elongated, with small bracts and many flowers; petals 10-20 mm long; styles longer than the stamens; seeds 1-1.3 mm long...... Chamaenerion angustifolium ...... [Epilobium angustifolium; ...... Chamerion angustifolium] 1b

3 Epilobium Willowherb Epilobium species are often difficult to distinguish. Many hybridize freely and/or appear similar in the field; most traits can vary with environment. Microscopic coat characteristics are the 2a most reliable feature for identifying species. 01a Plants annual from weak taproots; stem bases with peeling (exfoliating) outer layers; usually on dry sites in sAB...... 02 01a Plants perennial from well-developed roots, often spreading via stolons, rootstocks, suckers (soboles) or basal bulblets (turions); stem bases not peeling; usually on moist sites in the mountains and cAB to nAB; seeds narrowly egg-shaped, 0.3-0.8 mm wide. . 03 02a Mature seeds without a tuft of hairs (young seeds tufted but hairs soon shed); capsules stalkless, 4.5-8 mm long; leaves mostly alternate, paired near the base only; seeds spindle-shaped, 1.0-1.3 x 0.4-0.6 mm ...... Epilobium campestre S3 [Boisduvalia glabella; ] 02b Mature seeds tipped with a tuft of hairs; capsules stalked, 15-32 mm long; leaves all 2b or mostly paired, sometimes alternate on the upper stem; seeds egg-shaped, 1.5-2.7 x 0.8- 1.3 mm. . . . . ...... [Epilobium paniculatum] 03a Petals yellow or cream, (4)8-26 mm long; stigmas 4-lobed, usually projecting beyond the anthers; by subalpine streams...... Epilobium luteum S1 03b Petals white, pink or rose-purple, 1.6-10(14) mm long; stigmas club- or head-shaped, usually surrounded by the anthers; various habitats...... 04 04a Plantsgrey with dense, short, flat-lying hairs 3a (at least in flower clusters); stem leaves linear (<3 mm wide), with smooth, often down-rolled edges; bases with thread-like stolons ending in compact, fleshy bulblets (turions). 05 04b Plants not grey with flat-lying hairs, usually ± hairless or glandular-hairy; stem leaves either toothed and linear or smooth-edged and not 5b linear, not down-rolled; stolons absent. . . 06 05a Leaves linear to lance-shaped or oblong; nearly hairless on the upper surface, with 5a short, flat-lying hairs on the midrib and edges only; flower clusters often nodding in bud...... 05b Leaves linear, rarely wider, uniformly grey with dense, small, stiff, flat-lying hairs above; flower clusters ± erect in bud...... ...... [Epilobium palustre (in part)]

4 06a Plants with small-leafed, creeping stems above- or below-ground; flowering stems ascending (rarely erect), rarely with basal scales, in clumps or mats...... 07 06a Plants usually with leafy basal rosettes or below-ground wintering buds; flowering stems erect, with dark basal scales, usually not clumped ...... 7a 11 07a Stem hairless, usually with a pale, bluish-white coating (above) and without raised lines of hairs; leaves ± stalkless and clasping; seeds 0.7-1.0(1.3) mm long, with dense, tiny pimples [papillae] in lengthwise rows...... S1 07b Stems densely hairy to ± hairless, without a pale coating, with hairy, elevated lines extending down the stem from the -bases; leaves with or without stalks, not clasping; seeds 0.7- 2.1 mm long, net-veined or pimply. . . . 08 08a Stems 10-50 cm; leaf blades with small teeth, 1.5-6.2 x 0.7-2.9 cm; capsules 35-100 mm. .09 08b Stems 3-20(25) cm; leaf blades smooth-edged 9a or with few small teeth; (0.5)0.7-2.8 x 0.3-1.6 cm; capsules 17-40(55) mm...... 10 09a Petals pink to rose-purple (rarely white); capsules 35-65 mm long, on 5-15 mm stalks; leaf stalks not winged; seeds usually pimply (sometimes net-veined) ...... Epilobium hornemannii ...... [Epilobium alpinum (in part)] 09b Petals white (rarely red-veined or fading pink); 9b capsules 50-100 mm long on 15-45 mm stalks; leaf stalks sometimes winged; seeds net- 10a veined (sometimes barely wrinkled)...... ...... [Epilobium alpinum (in part)] 10a Plants with thin, leafy, creeping stems; flowering stems densely clumped or matted, nodding in bud, usually ± hairless near the base; capsules cylindrical, 1 mm wide, on 5-35(68) mm stalks; seeds 0.7-1.4 mm long, with a persistent tuft of hairs...... Epilobium anagallidifolium ...... [Epilobium alpinum (in part)] 10b Plants with wiry, scaly, creeping stems and extended, semi-woody rootstocks; flowering stems clumped, erect, densely hairy near the base; capsules ± club-shaped, 2-3 mm wide, on 2-21 mm stalks; seeds (1.3)1.5-2.1 mm long, with an easily detached tuft of white hairs...... ...... [Epilobium alpinum (in part)] 10b 11a Plants ± glandless; stems 7-30 cm tall. . .12 11b Plants glandular hairy (at least in flower clusters); stems (2)30-120 cm tall...... 13

5 12a Mature flower/ stalks 5-16 mm; seeds 1.7- 2.2 mm, net-veined to low-pimply; plants with underground overwintering buds only...... Epilobium mirabile . . . . [Epilobium glandulosum (in part)] 12b Mature flower/fruit stalks 15-38 mm; seeds 0.8-1.2 mm, pimply (papillose); plants with 12b underground overwintering buds and usually also with bulbils in the axils of lower to mid- stem leaves. . . . . Epilobium leptocarpum S2 . . . . [Epilobium glandulosum (in part)] 13a Stems (3)10-120(190) cm tall, with leafy basal rosettes or large, underground bulblets (turions); seeds with lengthwise ridges tiny 12a bumps/pimples; leaf blades (1)3-12(16) cm long; petals 2-14 long mm, white, pink, or rose purple...... . . . . [Epilobium glandulosum (in part)] 13b Stems 2-55(60) cm tall, without rosettes, with compact underground bulblets or sometimes thick, dark-scaled shoots; seeds pimply or wrinkled; leaf blades 0.5-5.5(6.5) cm long; petals 1.6-5.5(7) mm long, white, fading or rarely pink...... 14 14a Capsules erect to narrowly ascending, on (0)1-5 mm stalks; flower clusters usually erect; leaves conspicuously veined, often clasping 13a the stem; plants with fleshy wintering buds (turions) 2-15 mm long, usually also fleshy, scaly shoots; Banff NP and Jasper NP...... Epilobium saximontanum S2 . . . . [Epilobium glandulosum (in part)] 14b Capsules ascending, on 8-40 mm stalks; flower clusters usually nodding in bud; leaves inconspicuously veined, not clasping the stem; wintering buds compact, 3-6 mm long; Mixedwood habitats in cAB, n of Edmonton...... Epilobium hallianum S1 ...... [; . . . . Epilobium glandulosum (in part)] 14a

14b

6 Oenothera Evening-primrose 01a Capsules 1- to 4-seeded, hard, nut-like, not splitting open, 5-9 mm long; flowers ± bilaterally symmetric; petals scarlet or brick red (whitish at first); 4-7 mm long, spoon-shaped, abruptly narrowed to a slender, stalk-like base; stems often sprawling, from branched, woody bases...... ...... [Gaura coccinea] 01b Capsules many-seeded, >9 mm long, 1a splitting open when mature; flowers ± radially symmetric; petals yellow, white, pink, red, or purple, 10-35 mm long (except O. serrulata), gradually tapered to the base; stems mostly erect from unbranched bases...... 02 2a 02a , from branched, ± woody bases; stems usually several, slender; stigmas disc- shaped, with shallow (<2 mm) lobes; petals yellow, 7-10 mm longOenothera. serrulata S3 ...... [ serrulatus] 02b Herbaceous plants, from fleshy taproots, 4a usually with basal rosettes; stems 0-few; stigmas with 4 linear lobes ≥3 mm long. . 03 03a Plants <25 cm tall, stemless (‘stems’ are actually flower stalks); leaves all in basal rosettes...... 04 03a Plants >30 cm tall, with well-developed, leafy stems when flowering; leaves basal and on stems ...... 05 4b 04a Petals >2 cm long, white (aging to pink); sepals 10-30 mm long; capsules mostly bumpy, not winged ...... 04b Petals <2 cm long; yellow (aging to pink); sepals 6-12 mm long; capsules not bumpy, 5a distinctly winged. . . . Oenothera flava S3

05a Plants perennial, from persistent, thickened bases with fleshy roots; stems smooth, white, shredding with age, 40-60(100) cm tall; flowers white or pinkish, from nodding buds...... Oenothera nuttallii 05b Plants biennial, with leaf rosettes the 1st year (no flowers) and leafy, flowering stems the 2nd year; stems hairy, green or reddish, (30)50- 150(200) cm tall; flowers yellow, from erect buds...... 06 6a 06a Mature spikes dense, with overlapping capsules (internodes shorter than fruits); longest hairs without red blister-like bases; petals 10-25(30) mm long; sepals usually green or yellowish. . . . 06b Mature spikes ± open (internodes longer than fruits); longest hairs usually with red blister-like bases; petals 7-15(20) mm long; sepals often marked reddish. . . . . Oenothera villosa . . . [Oenothera biennis var. canescens] 6b

7 References

Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS). 2018. List of all Taxa Confirmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - March 2018 in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet. 2015. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data. canadensys.net/vascan/ Budd, A. C., J. Looman, and K. F. Best. 2016. Budd’s flora of the Canadian prairie provinces. Volume 2. Dicots. Reprint edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, SC. Douglas, G. W., Straley, G.B., D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar. 1999. Illustrated flora of British Columbia. Volume 3. Dicotyledons (Diapensiaceae through Onagraceae). British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, British Columbia. Flora ID. 2017. Interactive plant keys for all native and naturalized vascular plants in the Pacific Northwest. Flora-id.org, Pendleton, Oregon. Accessed 2017. [email protected]. Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2 edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson. 1955-69. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington. Jepson Flora Project (eds.). 2018. Jepson eFlora. Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley, CA. Accessed 2018. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/. Keating, R. C., Peter C. Hoch, and P. H. Raven. 1982. Perennation in Epilobium (Onagraceae) and its relation to classification and ecology. Systematic 7:379-402. Kershaw, L., J. Gould, D. Johnson, and J. Lancaster, editors. 2001. Rare vascular plants of Alberta. University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta. Lesica, P. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas. Moss, E. H. 1983. Flora of Alberta. 2nd edition. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario. Province of Alberta. 2016. Act, Office Consolidation. Alberta Regulation 19/2010 with amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 125/2016. Alberta Queen’s Printer, Edmonton, AB. Accessed 2018. www.qp.alberta.ca. University of Alberta Herbarium. 2018. Online Vascular Plant Herbarium. University of Alberta Museums, Edmonton, AB. Accessed 2019 09. http://vascularplant. museums.ualberta.ca/.

8 List of Species and Illustration Sources Illus. Scientific Name Source Chamaenerion angustifolium H&C Chamaenerion latifolium H&C H&C Epilobium anagallidifolium H&C; LK Epilobium brachycarpum H&C; LK Epilobium campestre H&C Epilobium ciliatum H&C Epilobium clavatum H&C; LK Epilobium glaberrimum H&C; LK Epilobium hallianum H&C Epilobium hornemannii H&C; LK Epilobium lactiflorum H&C; LK Epilobium leptocarpum BC Epilobium leptophyllum BC Epilobium luteum H&C Epilobium mirabile BC Epilobium palustre H&C Epilobium saximontanum BC; LK Gayophytum racemosum H&C Neoholmgrenia andina H&C Oenothera biennis H&C; JM Oenothera cespitosa H&C Oenothera flava H&C Oenothera nuttallii H&C Oenothera serrulata H&C Oenothera suffrutescens H&C; JM Oenothera villosa BC Taraxia breviflora H&C Key to Illustration Sources BC = illustrations from Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas et. al.), courtesy of the Province of British Columbia H&C = Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson (1955-69) JM = John Maywood. LK - Linda Kershaw

9 Index Neoholmgrenia Boisduvalia andina 3 glabella. See Epilobium campestre Oenothera 7 Calylophus andina. See Neoholmgrenia andina serrulatus. See Oenothera serrulata biennis 7 Camissonia var. canescens. See Oenothera villosa andina. See Neoholmgrenia andina breviflora. See Taraxia breviflora . See Taraxia caespitosa 7 breviflora flava 7 Chaemnerion 3 nuttallii 7 Chamaenerion 3 serrulata 7 angustifolium 3 suffrutescens 2, 7 latifolium 3 villosa 7 Chamerion. See Chamaenerion Onagraceae 2 angustifolium. See Chamaenerion Taraxia angustifolium breviflora 3 latifolium. See Chamaenerion latifolium

Circaea alpina 2 Epilobium 4. See also Chamaenerion alpinum. See also Epilobium clavatum; See also Epilobium anagallidifolium; See also Epilobium lactiflorum; See also Epilobium hornemanni angustifolium. See Chamaenerion angustifolium campestre 3 glandulosum. See also Epilobium mirabile; See also Epilobium leptocarpum; See also Epilobium saximontanum; See also Epilobium hallianum; See also Epilobium ciliatum halleanum. See Epilobium hallianum latifolium. See Chamaenerion latifolium palustre. See also Epilobium leptophyllum paniculatum. See Epilobium brachycarpum pygmaeum. See Epilobium campestre Gaura coccinea. See Oenothera suffrutescens Gayophytum racemosum 2

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