Flora of North America species comparison

The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

Draba graminea

Draba lonchocarpa

Rocky Mountain Draba

lance-fruit Draba, lance-fruit whitlow-grass, lance-pod Draba, lance-pod whitlow-grass, lancefruit Draba whitlow-wort, spear-fruit Draba
Habit Perennials; (cespitose); caudex simple or branched (with persistent leaf bases); not scapose. Perennials; (cespitose, sometimes forming mats); caudex branched (covered with persistent leaf bases); often scapose.
Stems

unbranched, 0.1–0.5(–0.8) dm, usually pubescent throughout, rarely glabrous, trichomes simple or subsessile, 2-rayed or spurred, (crisped), 0.1–0.5 mm.

unbranched, (0.1–)0.3–1.1 dm, glabrous throughout or pubescent proximally or throughout, trichomes minutely stalked, 8–12-rayed, (non-crisped), 0.08–0.3 mm.
Basal leaves

rosulate; petiolate;

petiole ciliate, (trichomes usually straight and simple, rarely also 2-rayed, 0.2–0.6(–0.8) mm);

blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, (0.5–)1–4 cm × 0.3–2(–3) mm, margins entire (pubescent as petiole), surfaces glabrous.

rosulate; shortly petiolate;

petiole (obsolete), margin ciliate proximally, (trichomes soft, simple, 2-rayed, 0.2–0.6 mm);

blade oblanceolate to obovate, (0.2–)0.3–1.5 cm × 1–3(–5) mm, margins entire, surfaces pubescent abaxially with short-stalked, stellate, 8–12-rayed, (non-crisped) trichomes, 0.15–0.4 mm, (midvein obscure), adaxially glabrous basally or with simple and long-stalked, branched trichomes.
Cauline leaves

(1–)3–9(–12) (as bracts);

sessile;

blade linear to oblanceolate or lanceolate, margins entire, (ciliate proximally, similar to basal).

0 or 1(–4);

sessile;

blade ovate or oblong, margins entire, surfaces pubescent as basal.
Racemes

3–15-flowered, bracteate, elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, usually pubescent as stem, rarely glabrous.

3–9-flowered, usually ebracteate, rarely proximalmost 1(–4) flowers bracteate, elongated in fruit;

rachis often slightly flexuous (in fruit), glabrous or pubescent as stem.
Flowers

sepals ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous or pubescent, (trichomes simple and short-stalked, 2-rayed);

petals yellow, spatulate to obovate, 3–5 × 1.5–3 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm.

sepals ovate, 1.5–2 mm, pubescent, (trichomes simple and short-stalked, 2–5-rayed);

petals white, oblanceolate, 2–3.5 × 1–1.5 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.
Fruiting pedicels

divaricate-ascending, usually straight, rarely curved upward, 3–10(–15) mm, usually pubescent as stem, rarely glabrous.

ascending, usually straight, rarely curved upward, 2–9(–15) mm, glabrous or pubescent as stem.
Fruits

ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, slightly twisted or plane, flattened, 5–11 × 2.5–5 mm;

valves glabrous;

ovules 8–16 per ovary;

style 0.2–0.7 mm.

linear to narrowly lanceolate or narrowly oblong, slightly twisted or plane, flattened, 6–15(–18) × 1–2(–3) mm;

valves glabrous or sparsely puberulent, trichomes simple and minutely stalked, 2-rayed, 0.1–0.2 mm;

ovules 16–24(–28) per ovary;

style (0.05–)0.1–0.25(–0.35) mm.
Seeds

ovoid, 1.2–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm.

ovoid, 0.7–1 × 0.5–0.6 mm.
2n

= 18.

= 16.

Draba graminea

Draba lonchocarpa
Phenology Flowering Jul–Sep. Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat Rocky areas and ridges, alpine tundra, gravel bars in streams Rocky outcrops and ridges, loose talus, tundra
Elevation 3000-4100 m (9800-13500 ft) (300-)2800-4000 m ((1000-)9200-13100 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NT; YT; e Asia (Russian Far East, Siberia)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Draba graminea is occasionally confused with D. crassa, which occupies similar habitats and elevations. It is easily distinguished from the latter by having narrower [0.3–2(–3) versus 2.5–8(–10) mm wide] basal leaves and bracteate (versus ebracteate) racemes. It is known to us only from Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel counties.

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

Draba lonchocarpa is a highly variable species within which O. E. Schulz (1927), G. A. Mulligan (1974), and R. C. Rollins (1993) recognized three to five varieties. By contrast, C. L. Hitchcock (1941) united it with D. nivalis and recognized six varieties (see 68. D. nivalis for differences). Some of the infraspecific taxa of D. lonchocarpa are based on trivial characteristics and are listed in the synonymy above without further comment. The most problematic are briefly discussed below.

Authors recognizing var. vestita claim that it differs from var. lonchocarpa by having pubescent (versus glabrous) stems and pedicels, 1- or 2-leaved (versus 0 or 1-leaved) scapes, and fruits appressed (versus not appressed) to the rachises. These characteristics do not appear to be strongly correlated. A case in point is the holotype sheet of var. semitonsa, which includes plants with puberulent or glabrous fruits, as well as with pubescent and glabrous stems that are 0–4-leaved. Leafless and densely pubescent scapes are found in Trelease 3913 (MO), whereas completely glabrous, 0–2-leaved stems, and fully appressed fruits are found in Calder 5617a (DAO). Other exceptions can be cited, though the vast majority of the plants examined have leafless, glabrous scapes.

An examination of the type collections of var. thompsonii, Thompson 9512 (holotype, UC; isotypes, DS, GH, MO, NY, RSA, US), clearly shows that the taxon usually has oblong to lanceolate fruits 2–3.2 mm wide, as opposed to linear fruits less than 2 mm wide in var. lonchocarpa. Indeed, a casual observation would immediately justify the recognition of var. thompsonii. Both fruit types can be found in plants of the same population (e.g., the RSA isotype) or even on the same plant (e.g., Thompson 10816, MO). Furthermore, fruits to 2.5 mm wide occur sporadically in various parts of the species range. For these reasons, and in the absence of a comprehensive study of the species, we choose to not recognize var. thompsonii at present.

Draba lonchocarpa is found at elevations of 300–1200 m in Alaska.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 7, p. 309. FNA vol. 7, p. 317.
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. 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. 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. 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
Synonyms Braya graminea, D. chrysantha var. graminea, D. chrysantha var. hirticaulis D. nivalis var. elongata, D. lonchocarpa var. denudata, D. lonchocarpa var. exigua, D. lonchocarpa var. semitonsa, D. lonchocarpa var. thompsonii, D. lonchocarpa var. vestita, D. nivalis var. denudata, D. nivalis var. exigua, D. nivalis subsp. lonchocarpa, D. nivalis var. thompsonii
Name authority Greene: Pl. Baker. 3: 5. (1901) Rydberg: Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 1: 181. (1900)
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).



Type/paste one or more Latin names into the boxes above; matching taxa will show up below the box as you type. You can use the up/down arrow keys to move through the list.

(If the plant you're looking for doesn't show up in the auto-complete list, that means it either isn't described in Flora of North America yet, or it's listed under a synonym. And please note that Flora of North America is still missing several plant families, including Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, and Polemoniaceae.)

Choose a data source: Flora of North America, OregonFlora, UW Burke Herbarium

The species comparison tool is brought to you by:
Northwest Wildflowers