Flora of North America species comparison

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Draba oligosperma

Draba subumbellata

few-seed Draba, few-seed Draba whitlow-grass, few-seed whitlow-grass

mound Draba, parasol Draba
Habit Perennials; (cespitose, densely pulvinate); caudex branched (with persistent leaf bases, branches congested or somewhat creeping, sometimes terminating in sterile rosettes); scapose. Perennials; (cespitose, densely pulvinate); caudex branched (densely covered with persistent leaves and remains, branches tightly grouped, sometimes terminating in sterile rosettes); scapose.
Stems

unbranched, (0.1–)0.2–0.6(–1) dm, glabrous throughout or pubescent, trichomes sessile, pectinate, 0.1–0.3 mm, (their length parallel to long axis of stem).

unbranched, (0.05–)0.1–0.25 dm, densely pubescent throughout, trichomes (grayish), stalked, dendritic, 5–12-rayed, 0.1–0.25 mm.
Basal leaves

rosulate;

sessile;

blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, (0.2–)0.4–1.1(–1.5) cm × 0.4–1.5(–1.8) mm, margins entire, (not or, rarely, ciliate, trichomes simple, 0.2–0.4 mm), surfaces pubescent with sessile, pectinate trichomes, 0.1–0.4 mm, (their long axis parallel to prominent abaxial midvein), sometimes glabrous adaxially.

(densely imbricate); rosulate;

sessile;

blade obovate to broadly oblong, 0.2–0.4 cm × 0.6–1.5 mm, margins entire, (not ciliate), surfaces densely pubescent, trichomes (grayish), stalked, dendritic, 5–12-rayed, 0.1–0.3 mm, (sometimes with long-stalked and spurred trichomes adaxially).
Cauline leaves

0.

0.
Racemes

4–12(–17)-flowered, ebracteate, elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, glabrous or pubescent as stem.

2–5(–10)-flowered, ebracteate, subumbellate or slightly elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, pubescent as stem.
Flowers

sepals ovate, 1.5–3 mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, (trichomes pectinate, 2-rayed, or simple);

petals usually yellow, rarely creamy white, obovate, 2.5–4 × 1.5–3 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.4–0.5 mm, (not producing pollen).

sepals broadly oblong, 1.8–2.8 mm, pubescent, (trichomes dendritic);

petals yellow, spatulate, 2.8–4 × 1–1.5 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.3–0.4 mm.
Fruiting pedicels

divaricate-ascending, straight, (2–)3–10(–13) mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, trichomes pectinate.

divaricate-ascending, straight, 1.5–3(–6) mm, glabrous or pubescent as stem.
Fruits

ovoid to lanceolate, plane, inflated at least basally, sometimes slightly flattened distally, 3–6(–7) × 2–3.5(–4) mm;

valves usually puberulent, rarely glabrous, trichomes simple and sessile, often unequally 2-rayed, 0.07–0.35 mm;

ovules 6–12 per ovary;

style 0.1–0.8(–1.1) mm.

ovoid to ovoid-lanceolate, plane, inflated and sometimes subgibbous basally, flattened distally, 2–5 × 2–3 mm;

valves pubescent, trichomes short-stalked, dendritic, 4–12-rayed, (sometimes spurred), 0.05–0.2 mm;

ovules 6–12 per ovary;

style 0.2–0.6 mm.
Seeds

ovoid, 1.1–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm.

oblong, 1–1.2 × 0.5–0.7 mm.
2n

= 32, 64.

Draba oligosperma

Draba subumbellata
Phenology Flowering May–Jul. Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat Rock outcrops, talus, gravel benches, tundra Wind-eroded areas, alpine fellfields, rock crevices
Elevation 200-3900 m (700-12800 ft) 3300-4100 m (10800-13500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; WY; AB; BC; NT; NU; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Draba oligosperma is a highly variable and widespread species that has been shown to be apomictic (G. A. Mulligan and J. N. Findlay 1970; Mulligan 1972). It has been divided into species and infraspecific taxa by previous authors; the variation is continuous in every character; there are no clear geographical and morphological patterns that support its division. For characteristics separating D. oligosperma from the closely related D. pectinipila, see 80. D. pectinipila.

Draba andina (Nuttall) A. Nelson (1899), not Philippi (1858) is an illegitimate name, sometimes found in synonymy under D. oligosperma.

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

Draba subumbellata is similar to, and sympatric with, D. oligosperma. It is distinguished from the latter by having stalked, stellate to dendritic leaf trichomes, subumbellate racemes, fruiting pedicels 1.5–3.0(–6.0) mm, fruits pubescent with mostly 4–12-rayed trichomes, and well-formed anthers and pollen. By contrast, D. oligosperma has sessile or subsessile, pectinately-branched leaf trichomes, elongated racemes, fruiting pedicels (2–)3–10(–13) mm, fruits glabrous or pubescent with simple and 2-rayed trichomes, and abortive anthers and/or pollen. Draba subumbellata is restricted to the White Mountains (Esmeralda County, Nevada, and Mono County, California) and to Coyote Ridge in the Sierra Nevada (Inyo County, California).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 7, p. 324. FNA vol. 7, p. 343.
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. 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. 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. trichocarpa, D. ventosa, D. verna, D. viridis, D. weberi, D. yukonensis, D. zionensis
Synonyms D. calcifuga, D. oligosperma var. andina, D. oligosperma var. leiocarpa, D. oligosperma var. microcarpa, D. oligosperma var. saximontana, D. oligosperma subsp. subsessilis, D. oligosperma var. subsessilis, D. saximontana, D. subsessilis
Name authority Hooker: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 51. (1830) Rollins & R. A. Price: Aliso 12: 25, figs. 1k–n, 4. (1988)
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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