610201a Betula pendula var. lapponica (Lindq.) Hämet-Ahti
Distribution
Yamal - Gydan: Present only in the Borderline Arctic
Shrub Tundra: Present only in the Borderline Arctic
Bordering boreal or alpine areas: Frequent
- Hämet-Ahti, Mem. Soc. Fauna Fl. Fenn. 65, 1: 9 (1989). - Betula verrucosa Ehrh. var. lapponica Lindq., Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 41: 62 (1947). Described from northern Europe and western Siberia: "Habitat in Suecia, Norvegia et Fennia septentrionalis, versimiliter in Russia septentrionalis et Siberia occidentalis". No type indicated but an illustrated specimen (Sweden: Lappland, Kengis, 1856, leg. L.L. Laestadius, S) would be a suitable lectotype.
Geography: European (N) - Asian (W): (SIB).
Notes: Shemberg (1992) mapped Betula pendula at the arctic boundary along the lower Ob River in northwestern Siberia.
Lindquist (1947) described a northeastern Fennoscandian race, var. lapponica, separable from the more southern var. verrucosa (= var. pendula) in 6-7 characters. However, the majority of these characters concern bark, branching pattern, and floral scale and fruit characters not usually available in herbarium specimens, and a revision of existing material is very difficult. The variety seems to be the exclusive race in the northern and northeastern parts of the range of the species. Hämet-Ahti et al. (1998) accepted it but Jonsell (2003c) only discussed it. We consider it a recognizable race.
Higher Taxa
- Betula pendula [610201,species]