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Alaska Draba, Alaska whitlow-grass

mountain Draba

Habit Biennials or perennials; (short-lived, not cespitose); caudex simple (not fleshy); scapose. Annuals; not scapose.
Stems

often unbranched, (0.2–)0.4–3(–3.4) dm, pubescent proximally, usually glabrous distally, rarely sparsely pubescent, trichomes short-stalked, 2–4-rayed, 0.1–0.4(–0.5) mm.

(usually simple, rarely more, from base), unbranched or branched distally, (0.5–)0.7–3(–3.7) dm, pubescent, proximally trichomes simple and stalked, 2-rayed, 0.4–1.3 mm, with 3- or 4-rayed ones, 0.05–0.2 mm, distally trichomes stalked and 2–4-rayed.

Basal leaves

rosulate;

petiole (obscure), margin ciliate, (trichomes simple, 0.2–0.4 mm);

blade oblanceolate to obovate, 0.4–2.6(–3.1) cm × 1.5–7(–10) mm, margins entire or denticulate, (ciliate as petiole), surfaces pubescent, abaxially with short-stalked, 3- or 4-rayed trichomes, 0.1–0.5 mm, adaxially with simple and stalked, 2–4-rayed trichomes, 0.1–0.5 mm.

rosulate;

petiole (obscure), margin ciliate, (trichomes simple, to 1.5 mm);

blade oblanceolate to obovate, 1–2(–3) cm × 2–7(–10) mm, margins entire or subapically denticulate, surfaces pubescent, abaxially with simple, 0.6–1.3 mm, and stalked, 2–4-rayed trichomes, 0.1–0.8 mm, adaxially with simple and stalked, 2-rayed ones, 0.4–1.2 mm.

Cauline leaves

(0 or) 1 or 2 (3 or 4);

sessile;

blade elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, margins toothed, surfaces pubescent, abaxially with short-stalked 3- or 4-rayed trichomes, adaxially with simple and short-stalked, 2–4-rayed trichomes.

3–10(–17);

sessile;

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

Racemes

(2–)4–10(–15)-flowered, ebracteate, elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent.

(15–)20–51(–62)-flowered, ebracteate, elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, pubescent as stem.

Flowers

(chasmogamous, petaliferous);

sepals (green or purplish), oblong, 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous or pubescent, (trichomes simple);

petals yellow, oblanceolate, 2.5–3.5 × 0.6–1 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.25–0.4 mm.

(late-season ones petaliferous);

sepals oblong, 1.3–2 mm, pubescent, (trichomes simple);

petals yellow (sometimes fading white), oblanceolate, 1.5–3 × 0.5–1 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.

Fruiting pedicels

horizontal to divaricate-ascending, straight, 3–14(–19) mm (subequaling or shorter than fruit), usually glabrous, rarely pubescent, trichomes 2–4-rayed.

horizontal to divaricate-ascending, straight or curved upward, (2–)3–8(–10) mm, pubescent, trichomes simple and stalked, 2–4-rayed.

Fruits

linear or, rarely, linear-elliptic, plane, flattened, (8–)10–17(–20) × 1.5–2 mm;

valves usually glabrous, rarely sparsely puberulent, trichomes simple;

ovules 24–36 per ovary;

style 0.01–0.15 mm.

lanceolate, plane, flattened, 6–9(11) × 1.3–2.3 mm;

valves pubescent, trichomes simple, antrorse, 0.1–0.2 mm;

ovules 32–60 per ovary;

style 0.01–0.1 mm.

Seeds

ovoid, 0.9–1 × 0.5–0.6 mm.

ovoid, 0.5–0.7 × 0.4–0.5 mm.

2n

= 40.

= 24.

Draba stenoloba

Draba rectifructa

Phenology Flowering Jun–Jul. Flowering Apr–Aug.
Habitat Grassy knolls, glacial moraines and creek banks, mesic meadows, alpine thickets Open forests, meadows, gravelly knolls, disturbed sites
Elevation 600-2300 m (2000-7500 ft) 1800-3200 m (5900-10500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; OR; WA; AB; BC; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Draba stenoloba is occasionally confused with D. albertina, but is easily recognized by having exclusively 2–4-rayed (versus mostly simple) trichomes on stems proximally. It is rarely encountered and apparently confined to the Pacific Northwest. In contrast, D. albertina is common and widespread in the mountains of western North America.

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

Although O. E. Schulz (1927), C. L. Hitchcock (1941), and R. C. Rollins (1993) indicated that Draba montana was published in 1879; the name was first and validly published in 1878, with a reference to Rothrock’s description of a misapplied Linnaean name (D. nemorosa), which cited specimens that served as Watson’s type collection. Populations of D. rectifructa from northern Utah often grow with D. albertina and there is some evidence of hybridization. The only published chromosome count for D. rectifructa (M. D. Windham 2000) is identical to that of D. albertina and was derived from one of these mixed populations.

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

Source FNA vol. 7, p. 340. FNA vol. 7, p. 333.
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. 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. 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. 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 D. acinacis, D. hirta var. siliquosa, D. macouniana, D. nemorosa var. stenoloba, D. nitida var. praelonga, D. oligantha, D. stenoloba var. oligantha D. montana
Name authority Ledebour: Fl. Ross. 1: 154. (1841) C. L. Hitchcock: Revis. Drabas W. N. Amer., 110. (1941)
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