Oxyria digyna

(Linnaeus) Hill

Hort. Kew., 158. 1768.

Common names: Alpine mountain-sorrel oxyrie de montagne
Illustrated
Basionym: Rumex digynus Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 337. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 533. Mentioned on page 503.

Plants (3–)5–50 cm. Stems 1–4(–8), often reddish, simple or branched distally. Leaves rarely 1–2 on stems, somewhat fleshy; ocrea hyaline or brownish hyaline, 2.5–10 mm, glabrous; petiole 1–15 cm; blade palmately veined with (5–)7(–9) basal veins, 0.5–6.5 × 0.5–6 cm, base cordate, apex rounded. Inflorescences (1–)2–20 cm; peduncle 1–17 cm. Pedicels spreading or reflexed, jointed proximal to middle, (1–)3–5 mm. Flowers 2–6 per ocreate fascicle; perianth 1–2.5 mm; outer 2 tepals spreading in fruit, navicular, 1.2–1.7 × 0.5–1 mm, inner 2 tepals appressed in fruit, broadly elliptic to orbiculate or obovate, 1.4–2.5 × 0.7–1.6 mm; stamens 1.5–2 mm; anthers 0.3–0.8(–1.1) mm; stigmas conspicuously exserted at anthesis, red. Achenes 3–4.5 × 2.5–5 mm including 2 wings, apex notched; wings reddish or pinkish, veiny. 2n = 14.


Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep, fruiting Jul–Oct.
Habitat: Early melting snowbeds and zones of snow accumulation, gravel bars, mudflats, tundra, scree slopes, crevices in rock outcrops, talus slopes
Elevation: 0-4200 m

Distribution

V5 1091-distribution-map.gif

Greenland, Alta., B.C., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Que., Yukon, Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.H., N.Mex., Oreg., S.Dak., Utah, Wash., Wyo., Europe, Asia.

Discussion

Morphological and physiological differences between arctic and alpine populations of Oxyria in North America have been documented (H. A. Mooney and W. D. Billings 1961). Arctic plants (Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland) taken from the field and grown in controlled environments tend to bear inflorescences with more branches, leaves with blades that are wider, and flowers with a more stable number of stamens as compared to alpine plants from populations in the south (California, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming). Northern plants also have a greater tendency to reproduce asexually, often producing rhizomes and exhibiting relatively lower seed production.

Inuits consume the raw or cooked leaves and stems as a green or mixed with seal blubber or seal oil. Native American tribes in the Rocky Mountains also are reported to use the leaves as a salad (D. E. Moerman 1998). Caribou, muskoxen, and geese are reported to eat the leaves and stems, and arctic hares and lemmings consume the fleshy rhizomes (A. E. Porsild 1957).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Oxyria digyna"
Craig C. Freeman +  and John G. Packer +
(Linnaeus) Hill +
Rumex digynus +
Alpine mountain-sorrel +  and oxyrie de montagne +
Greenland +, Alta. +, B.C. +, Nfld. and Labr. +, N.W.T. +, N.S. +, Nunavut +, Que. +, Yukon +, Alaska +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, N.H. +, N.Mex. +, Oreg. +, S.Dak. +, Utah +, Wash. +, Wyo. +, Europe +  and Asia. +
0-4200 m +
Early melting snowbeds and zones of snow accumulation, gravel bars, mudflats, tundra, scree slopes, crevices in rock outcrops, talus slopes +
Flowering Jun–Sep, fruiting Jul–Oct. +
Hort. Kew., +
Illustrated +
Oxyria digyna +
species +