630643 Oxytropis borealis DC.
Distribution
South Chukotka: Rare
East Chukotka: Frequent
Western Alaska: Frequent
Northern Alaska - Yukon: Frequent
Central Canada: Presence uncertain
Southern Arcti Tundra: Rare
Shrub Tundra: Frequent
Bordering boreal or alpine areas: Scattered
- DC., Prodr. 2: 275 (1825). Holotype (G-DC): Russian Far East: East Chukotka, "e sinu S. Laurentii in terra Tschuktschorum septentrionem versus a fretus Beringii", 1825, leg. Fischer.
- Oxytropis borealis var. borealis sensu S.L. Welsh (1991) and Gillett et al. (1999).
- Oxytropis leucantha auct., non (Pall.) Bunge (1874).
2n=
48 (6x). - Far East (N), Alaska. - At least four reports.
Geography: Amphi-Beringian (E): RFE ALA CAN?
Notes: Yurtsev: In East Chukotka a non typical form.
Elven and Solstad: As the type of Oxytropis borealis is from East Chukotka, not all plants from here can be of a "non typical form". We studied the plant in East Chukotka in 2005 and found it quite "typical" compared with the western Alaskan one.
Elven: According to Welsh (1991), O. borealis is a widespread species with several intergrading varieties. Oxytropis borealis s. str., O. glutinosa, O. hudsonica, and O. viscida fall within his extended O. borealis. There might be ploidy differences supporting specific rank and we have not yet seen evidence that they really intergrade. We agree with Yurtsev (see below) that O. borealis, O. viscida, and O. glutinosa should be kept apart as species. Oxytropis borealis (Welsh' var. borealis) is distinguished from O. viscida (Welsh' var. viscida) and var. sulphurea by corolla wings strongly dilated distally and 3.5-5 mm wide, inflorescence capitate and elongating only moderately in fruit stage and not becoming interrupted, corolla purplish blue (rarely cream-white), calyx (and legume) predominantly with black hairs, and leaflets not semi-verticillate and mostly less than 25.
Yurtsev: Oxytropis borealis with 2n = 48 should not be merged with O. glutinosa with 2n = 16 but see below, lax racemes, long teeth, etc. It is closer to O. hudsonica. But I would prefer to keep them both as closely related species of an O. borealis aggregate s. str. The demarcation of O. borealis from O. glutinosa should, however, be specified. This is contrary to his previous statement that [O. glutinosa "hardly belongs to O. borealis aggregate".]
Higher Taxa
- Oxytropis [6306,genus]