Braya pilosa
hairy braya
simple or few to several from base, erect to ascending, (branched or unbranched), 0.4–1.1(–1.3) dm.
blade linear-spatulate, 0.7–2(–3) cm × 0.7–2.5(–3.5) mm, base (membranous), broadly expanded near point of attachment, margins entire, (ciliate, trichomes long, simple), apex obtuse, often with tuft of hairs.
0 or 1 (or a leaflike bract subtending proximalmost pedicel).
sepals 2.8–3.5 × (1.3–)1.6–2.5 mm;
petals white, (obovate), 4.7–6.6 × 3–5.1 mm, (claw short, apex rounded);
filaments 2–3 mm;
anthers ovoid, 0.4–0.6 mm.
divaricate to erect, (1–)2.5–6 mm.
ovoid or globose, not torulose, (0.4–)0.5–0.6 cm × (2.5–)3–4 mm;
valves densely to moderately pubescent, trichomes relatively short, simple and 2-forked;
septum margin not expanded, or not basally;
ovules 14–20 per ovary;
style 1.2–2(–2.5) mm;
stigma (broadly expanded), strongly or weakly 2-lobed.
biseriate, oblong, 0.7–0.9 × 0.4–0.6 mm.
Braya pilosa
Of conservation concern.
Braya pilosa is distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of large flowers, broad fruits, and exceptionally long styles. This striking Braya was known from only three pre-1850 collections until the type locality near Cape Bathurst in the Northwest Territories was rediscovered in 2004. The species is apparently restricted to the type locality, where it is found on bare patches of soil disturbed by caribou hooves. Preliminary DNA sequence analyses indicate that it is most closely related to B. thorild-wulffii.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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