Flora of North America species comparison

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Draba corymbosa

Draba verna

Baffin bay Draba, Baffin bay whitlow-grass, flat-top Draba

common Draba, common whitlow-grass, early witlow grass, nailwort, shadflower, spring Draba, spring whitlow-grass, spring whitlow-mustard, vernal whitlow grass, whitlow grass, whitlow wort
Habit Perennials; (cespitose); caudex branched (with persistent leaves or leaf remains, branches sometimes terminating in sterile rosettes); scapose. Annuals; scapose.
Stems

unbranched, (0.05–)0.2–0.8(–1.5) dm, pubescent throughout, trichomes simple and 2-rayed, 0.4–1 mm, with 3–5-rayed ones, 0.05–0.4 mm, (sometimes trichomes mostly simple).

(few to many from base), unbranched, (0.2–)0.5–2(–3) dm, pubescent proximally, glabrous distally, trichomes simple and 2(–4)-rayed, 0.1–0.4 mm.
Basal leaves

rosulate; petiolate;

petiole base and margin ciliate, (trichomes often course, simple, 0.4–1.3 mm);

blade oblanceolate to obovate, 0.6–1.8 cm × 1.5–5 mm, margins entire, surfaces pubescent, abaxially with stalked, 2–6-rayed trichomes, 0.2–0.6 mm, adaxially with primarily simple and stalked, 2-rayed trichomes, to 1.1 mm, with 3–5-rayed ones, 0.2–0.4 mm.

rosulate; petiolate;

blade obovate, spatulate, oblanceolate, lanceolate, oblong, or, rarely, linear, 0.2–1.8(–3) cm × (0.5–)1–5(–10) mm, margins entire or 1–5-toothed on each side, surfaces pubescent with simple or stalked, 2–4-rayed trichomes, 0.1–0.5 mm.
Cauline leaves

0.

0.
Racemes

2–9(–12)-flowered, ebracteate, (corymbose), slightly elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, pubescent as stem.

4–20(–30)-flowered, ebracteate, usually considerably elongated in fruit;

rachis usually flexuous, glabrous.
Flowers

sepals (grayish green), broadly ovate, 2.2–3 mm, pubescent, (trichomes simple, to 1 mm, sometimes with stalked, smaller, 2–4-rayed ones);

petals (broadly patent), yellow, obovate, 4–6 × 3–5 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.3–0.4 mm.

sepals (green or purplish), oblong, 1–2.5 mm, glabrescent or pubescent, (trichomes simple or 2-rayed);

petals white, deeply 2-fid, (1.5–)2–4.5(–6) × 1–2 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.2–0.4 mm.
Fruiting pedicels

divaricate-ascending, straight or slightly curved upward, 4–11(–16) mm, pubescent, trichomes simple and 2–4-rayed.

divaricate to ascending, straight or slightly curved upward, (2–)5–20(–35) mm, glabrous.
Fruits

oblong or ovate, plane, flattened, 6–12 × 3.5–5.5 mm;

valves pubescent or puberulent, trichomes simple, 0.1–0.4 mm, (sometimes with short-stalked, 2- or 3-rayed ones);

ovules 12–24 per ovary;

style 0.6–1 mm (stigma distinctly wider than style).

obovate, oblanceolate, lanceolate, elliptic, oblong, or linear, plane, flattened, (2.5–)4–9(–12) × 1.5–2.5(–3.5) mm;

valves glabrous;

ovules (20–)32–70(–84) per ovary;

style 0.02–0.2 mm.
Seeds

(brown), ovoid, 1–1.3 × 0.6–0.9 mm.

ovoid (slightly flattened), 0.3–0.6(–0.8) × 0.2–0.4 mm.
2n

= 128, 144.

= 14, 16, 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 52, 54, 58, 60, 64.

Draba corymbosa

Draba verna
Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Feb–May.
Habitat Moist tundra, among calcareous or dolomitic rocks, gravel beaches, silt and clay terraces Cedar glades, lawns, fields, pastures, waste places, grassy hillsides, disturbed sites, roadsides
Elevation 0-1700 m (0-5600 ft) 0-2500 m (0-8200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; BC; NT; NU; YT; Greenland; Europe (Norway, n Russia); e Asia (Russian Far East, Siberia)
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; CA; CT; DC; DE; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; MS; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NV; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; UT; VA; VT; WA; WV; WY; AB; BC; NB; ON; QC; Europe; Asia; nw Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Central America, South America, Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Draba corymbosa, which is 16-ploid or 18-ploid with x = 8, is an extremely variable species of polyphyletic, allopolyploid origin. Most individuals appear to have decaploid D. alpina (2n = 80) in their parentage, but the other genomes are provided by hexaploid (2n = 48) and octoploid (2n = 64) species (C. Brochmann et al. 1993). O. E. Schulz reduced D. corymbosa to a variety of D. alpina; R. C. Rollins (1993) treated it as a distinct species. Draba corymbosa is distinguished from D. alpina by having pubescent or puberulent (versus glabrous or glabrescent) fruits, corymbose (versus usually elongated) fruiting racemes, and abaxial leaf blade surfaces always lacking (versus usually with some) simple trichomes.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Draba verna represents a highly variable and taxonomically difficult complex within which species, subspecies, varieties, and forms have been named (O. E. Schulz 1927); only those synonyms pertaining to North America are listed above. Most of the taxonomic difficulties are the results of disploidy, autogamy, and hybridization. The morphological extremes are connected by intermediate forms in every conceivable character. Furthermore, there appears to be no correlation between morphology, cytology, geography, and ecology to support the division of this complex into meaningful taxa. A complex cytological picture was presented by Ø. Winge (1940), including the highest count of 2n = 94, which has not been confirmed by subsequent botanists.

Erophila vulgaris de Candolle is an illegitimate name for Draba verna.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 7, p. 301. FNA vol. 7, p. 345.
Parent taxa Brassicaceae > tribe Arabideae > Draba Brassicaceae > tribe Arabideae > Draba
Sibling taxa
D. abajoensis, D. albertina, D. aleutica, D. alpina, D. aprica, D. arabisans, D. arctica, D. arctogena, D. argyrea, D. arida, D. asprella, D. asterophora, D. aurea, D. aureola, D. bifurcata, D. borealis, D. brachycarpa, D. brachystylis, D. breweri, D. burkei, D. californica, D. cana, D. carnosula, D. chamissonis, D. cinerea, D. corrugata, D. crassa, D. crassifolia, D. cruciata, D. cuneifolia, D. cusickii, D. cyclomorpha, D. daviesiae, D. densifolia, D. exunguiculata, D. fladnizensis, D. glabella, D. globosa, D. graminea, D. grandis, D. grayana, D. heilii, D. helleriana, D. hitchcockii, D. howellii, D. incana, D. incerta, D. incrassata, D. inexpectata, D. jaegeri, D. juvenilis, D. kassii, D. kluanei, D. lactea, D. lemmonii, D. lonchocarpa, D. longisquamosa, D. macounii, D. maguirei, D. malpighiacea, D. micropetala, D. mogollonica, D. monoensis, D. mulliganii, D. murrayi, D. nemorosa, D. nivalis, D. norvegica, D. novolympica, D. oblongata, D. ogilviensis, D. oligosperma, D. oreibata, D. oxycarpa, D. palanderiana, D. pauciflora, D. paucifructa, D. paysonii, D. pectinipila, D. pedicellata, D. pennellii, D. petrophila, D. pilosa, D. platycarpa, D. porsildii, D. praealta, D. pterosperma, D. ramosissima, D. ramulosa, D. rectifructa, D. reptans, D. ruaxes, D. santaquinensis, D. saxosa, D. scotteri, D. serpentina, D. sharsmithii, D. sibirica, D. sierrae, D. simmonsii, D. smithii, D. sobolifera, D. spectabilis, D. sphaerocarpa, D. sphaeroides, D. standleyi, D. stenoloba, D. stenopetala, D. streptobrachia, D. streptocarpa, D. subalpina, D. subcapitata, D. subumbellata, D. trichocarpa, D. ventosa, D. verna, D. viridis, D. weberi, D. yukonensis, D. zionensis
D. abajoensis, D. albertina, D. aleutica, D. alpina, D. aprica, D. arabisans, D. arctica, D. arctogena, D. argyrea, D. arida, D. asprella, D. asterophora, D. aurea, D. aureola, D. bifurcata, D. borealis, D. brachycarpa, D. brachystylis, D. breweri, D. burkei, D. californica, D. cana, D. carnosula, D. chamissonis, D. cinerea, D. corrugata, D. corymbosa, D. crassa, D. crassifolia, D. cruciata, D. cuneifolia, D. cusickii, D. cyclomorpha, D. daviesiae, D. densifolia, D. exunguiculata, D. fladnizensis, D. glabella, D. globosa, D. graminea, D. grandis, D. grayana, D. heilii, D. helleriana, D. hitchcockii, D. howellii, D. incana, D. incerta, D. incrassata, D. inexpectata, D. jaegeri, D. juvenilis, D. kassii, D. kluanei, D. lactea, D. lemmonii, D. lonchocarpa, D. longisquamosa, D. macounii, D. maguirei, D. malpighiacea, D. micropetala, D. mogollonica, D. monoensis, D. mulliganii, D. murrayi, D. nemorosa, D. nivalis, D. norvegica, D. novolympica, D. oblongata, D. ogilviensis, D. oligosperma, D. oreibata, D. oxycarpa, D. palanderiana, D. pauciflora, D. paucifructa, D. paysonii, D. pectinipila, D. pedicellata, D. pennellii, D. petrophila, D. pilosa, D. platycarpa, D. porsildii, D. praealta, D. pterosperma, D. ramosissima, D. ramulosa, D. rectifructa, D. reptans, D. ruaxes, D. santaquinensis, D. saxosa, D. scotteri, D. serpentina, D. sharsmithii, D. sibirica, D. sierrae, D. simmonsii, D. smithii, D. sobolifera, D. spectabilis, D. sphaerocarpa, D. sphaeroides, D. standleyi, D. stenoloba, D. stenopetala, D. streptobrachia, D. streptocarpa, D. subalpina, D. subcapitata, D. subumbellata, D. trichocarpa, D. ventosa, D. viridis, D. weberi, D. yukonensis, D. zionensis
Synonyms D. alpina var. bellii, D. alpina var. corymbosa, D. barbata, D. bellii, D. kjellmanii, D. macrocarpa, D. vestita D. boerhaavii, D. praecox, D. verna var. aestivalis, D. verna var. boerhaavii, Erophila boerhaavii, Erophila krockeri, Erophila praecox, Erophila verna, Erophila verna subsp. praecox
Name authority R. Brown ex de Candolle: Syst. Nat. 2: 343. (1821) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 642. (1753)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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