Oxytropis campestris var. varians
Oxytropis campestris var. roaldii
field locoweed
roald's locoweed
3–40 cm;
stipules usually ± pilose abaxially, sometimes glabrous, margins ciliate, with clavate processes;
leaflets (9–)15–45, scattered, subopposite, or fasciculate, blades 2–24 mm.
2–11 cm;
stipules glabrous or strigose abaxially, margins ± ciliate, apex often bristly;
leaflets 11–21, scattered or opposite, blades 4–8.5 mm.
(4–)10–25+-flowered.
usually 8–12(–14)-flowered, subcapitate or somewhat elongate.
3.5–35+ cm, axis 1.5–21 cm in fruit.
3–12 cm, axis 1.5–4.5 cm in fruit.
usually yellowish or whitish, rarely purplish in polychrome populations, sometimes fading purplish, keel tip sometimes maculate, usually 12–17(–19) mm.
lavender or pink-purple, sometimes polychrome, 13–16(–17) mm.
pilosulous, hairs black and pale, tube 4–7.5 mm, lobes (1.2–)1.5–3 mm.
tube (3.7–)4.5–5 mm, lobes (1–)1.2–2(–2.7) mm.
12–19(–24+) × 3.5–6 mm.
9–15 × 4–6 mm.
= 48, 96, 98.
= 64.
Oxytropis campestris var. varians
Oxytropis campestris var. roaldii
Variety varians is a highly variable entity, with numerous plants with differing morphological phases often growing together on the same gravel bar or hillside in portions of Alaska and Yukon. Alpine phases of the variety, especially in southeastern Alaska, northern British Columbia, and southwestern Yukon, closely simulate high altitude materials of var. cusickii at its northern limits in Alberta and southern British Columbia. Specimens of var. varians appear to intergrade with materials of var. jordalii in montane sites near Juneau. Certainly, this is the northern counterpart of var. spicata, from which it differs in characters that are altogether tenuous. Some specimens from eastern Alaska show evidence of intermediacy between var. varians and Oxytropis splendens. These form the basis of Oxytropis tananensis Jurtzev (B. A. Jurtzev 1993b), which the Pan-Arctic Flora (http://panarcticflora.org/) recognizes as a distinct species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Variety roaldii has flowers that are usually larger, calyx lobes that are usually longer, and other subtle differences aside from flower color that allow segregation from var. jordalii. However, there are intermediate specimens, and in some places, especially on gravel bars, flower color grades within populations. A similar pattern is to be noted between the partially sympatric vars. davisii and spicata in the mountains of Alberta, and between other varieties situated elsewhere. The Pan-Arctic Flora (http://panarcticflora.org/) recognizes Oxytropis roaldii as a distinct species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
BC
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
