Broom Crowberry NS General Status Rank: Secure NS General Status Rank: Sensitive Water-willow opulation Range opulation P 49 Corema conradii SHRUBS : WOODY PLANTS SHRUBS : WOODY PLANTS Decodon verticillatus 50 POPULATION POPULATION RANGE RANGE Distribution: NS, NB, PE, QC Distribution: NS, NB, PE, QC, ON Flowering: March - May Flowering: July - August SIZE: Up to 50 cm tall and 2 m wide. SIZE: 1-3 m tall. LEAVES: Long and narrow (linear), LEAVES: Lance-shaped, 5-15 cm long no clear middle line on the undersides, and 1-4 cm wide with smooth edges and 3-6 mm long. They turn reddish and short pinkish-purple stalks. They brown in the winter. are paired on the stem (opposite) or in STEM: Brown, woody, branched, and groups of 3-4 in a circle around the slender. The branching pattern is stem (whorled). Leaves are bright distinctive, with many branches green, gradually turning red in late coming off near the same point summer and fall. creating a multiple circular (whorled) STEM: Slender with lengthwise ridges appearance. and somewhat woody near the base. FLOWERS: In clusters at the ends of The base is underwater or in saturated branches. Petals are absent. Male soil and is distinctly spongy. Stems are flowers are purplish and have 3-4 highly flexible, typically strongly © MEGAN CROWLEY anthers with long stalks (filaments). arching and will often root at the tips. Female flowers are small, brownish red They are yellowish or greenish-brown and with 2-9 protruding stigmas. gradually turning red later in late FRUITS: Dry, 3-seeded fleshy berry- summer. like fruits (drupes), 1.5 mm wide. FLOWERS: Pinkish-purple, in NOTES: This species is dioecious, clusters, and with conspicuous 10-15 which means that is has only male or mm long petals. Clusters are located only female flowers on an individual where the leaves meet the stem (axil). Late summer colours and arching stems © ALAIN BELLIVEAU plant. It is a low growing, heather-like FRUITS: Round pink capsules shrub. approximately 5 mm in length. © DAVID PATRIQUIN © DAVID PATRIQUIN Flowers Female flowers Flower bud NOTES: Also known as Swamp Loosestrife. Fruit capsule © BRITTON AND BROWN (1913) Flowers © ALAIN BELLIVEAU Woody branches © MEGAN CROWLEY Fruit © DAVID PATRIQUIN Anther Stigma Habitat: Dry barrens on sandy or rocky soils; often on rock outcrops along lakeshores. Interesting point: This species is linked to habitats historically associated with fire. Flower Similar species: Golden Heather (Hudsonia ericoides, page 52) has solitary yellow cluster flowers and soft hairs on the stem and leaves. Black Crowberry ( ) has Empetrum nigrum Male flowers Female flower spreading stems up to 40 cm long, needle-like leaves with a deep middle line underneath, Regrowth after ice scour © ALAIN BELLIVEAU purplish flowers where the leaf attaches to the stem, and dark black fruits. Spent flowers © ALAIN BELLIVEAU © BRITTON AND BROWN (1913) Habitat: Wet boggy or rocky lakeshores and stream margins. Interesting point: Despite its name, this plant does not belong to the Willow family but to the Loosestrife family. Similar species: None. © ALAIN BELLIVEAU © SEAN BLANEY Black Crowberry © SEAN BLANEY Male flowers © DAVID PATRIQUIN Circularly arranged leaves Flower clusters in leaf axils.