Micranthes gaspensis
Micranthes calycina
Gaspé saxifrage, saxifrage de gaspésie
basal;
petiole flattened, 0.7–2.5 cm;
blade obtrullate or obovate to ovate, 0.8–2.5 cm, ± coriaceous, base attenuate to ± cuneate, margins serrate to dentate on distal 2/3, ciliate, surfaces tangled, reddish brown-hairy abaxially, glabrous or glabrate adaxially.
basal;
petiole ± distinct, flattened, (0.5–)1–3.5 cm;
blade rhombic or fan-shaped, sometimes nearly round, (1–)1.5–3.5 cm, ± fleshy, base attenuate to ± cuneate, margins 7–11-toothed in distal 1/2–2/3 (teeth 1–3 mm), sparsely ciliate, surfaces glabrous.
3–10-flowered, subcapitate to spicate cymes or thyrses, 2–10(–15) cm, glabrate to sparsely hairy proximally, ± densely purple-tipped stipitate-glandular distally.
3–15-flowered, usually racemiform, sometimes paniculiform thyrses, 3–15 cm, axis glabrous or sparsely long-hairy, branches ± densely (rarely sparsely) long tangled-hairy; (bracts reduced).
sepals erect, reflexed in fruit, triangular to deltate;
petals white, not spotted, obovate, clawed, 1.5–2 mm, ± equaling sepals;
filaments linear, flattened;
pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths;
ovary 1/2 inferior, appearing more superior in fruit.
sepals reflexed, lanceolate to ovate;
petals white to cream, sometimes purplish, not spotted, linear to narrowly elliptic, not clawed, 2–4 mm, longer than sepals;
filaments linear, flattened;
pistils connate 1/2+ their lengths, (conic);
ovary ± 1/2 inferior.
green, becoming reddish or purplish, folliclelike.
purple-black, valvate.
= 40.
= 24.
Micranthes gaspensis
Micranthes calycina
Of conservation concern.
Micranthes gaspensis appears to be the stabilized hybrid derivative of M. nivalis and M. tenuis (C. Gervais et al. 1995), known only from the Shickshock Mountains of the Gaspé Peninsula; the chromosome number is intermediate between that of the parents (2n = 60 and 20, respectively), and seeds are fertile. Neither parent occurs any longer in the Gaspé Peninsula, and the plants appear to self-perpetuate.
F1 hybrids of the two parent species (also 2n = 40) occur in Yukon (D. L. Krause and K. I. Beamish 1973) and possibly at other locations throughout their range of sympatry, such as northern Quebec and Labrador; such hybrids will key out with Micranthes gaspensis. Individuals called Saxifraga rufopilosa (Hultén) A. E. Porsild [S. nivalis (Linnaeus) Small var. rufopilosa Hultén] from Yukon and Alaska (W. J. Cody 2000) also will key out here. These may represent either the F1 hybrids mentioned above or stabilized hybrid populations such as those in the Gaspé. It is possible that such stabilized populations would fit under the name M. gaspensis. A systematic study is needed before a taxonomic conclusion can be reached concerning their status.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Micranthes calycina is found mostly in western Alaska, in the north from the Seward Peninsula to the Brooks Range west of Atigun Pass, and in the south from Unimak Island and the Ahklum Mountains to the Saint Elias Mountains. It is also present on the main Bering Sea islands, but apparently not on the Aleutians west of Unimak. Plants of this species sometimes have been misidentified as M. davurica (Willdenow) Small, a species restricted to eastern Siberia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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