Draba cana Rydb.
lance-leaved draba (hoary draba; lance-leaved whitlow-grass)
Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #25571)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Draba cana
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Loosely tufted perennial herb from a taproot and a simple or branched stem-base; stems branched, erect or decumbent at base, 5-25 cm tall, densely hairy with simple and starlike hairs.
Leaves:
Basal leaves oblanceolate, 1-4 cm long, 1-4 mm wide, usually toothed; stem leaves (3) 5-8 (12), lanceolate, commonly toothed; densely hairy with simple or branched hairs, generally starlike with branches again branched.
Flowers:
Racemes several- to many-flowered, less than 60, usually some in leaf axils; flower stalks 2-9 mm long, appressed, erect, hairy, lower ones often bracted and less than 3 mm; petals white, 3-5 mm long; sepals 1.5-2 mm long, sparsely soft-hairy.
Fruits:
Silicles, 4-12 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, lanceolate to oblong, commonly twisted; usually densely soft-hairy, the hairs less than 3-branched and also starlike; styles 0.2-0.8 mm long; fruiting racemes usually occupying the top half of the stems.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Draba cana

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
2034 1685 2610
Slope Gradient (%)
34 3 80

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

74 20 270
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
7
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(1), ESSF(3)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry meadows, cliffs, rocky slopes and river terraces in the subalpine and alpine zones; frequent in N BC, less frequent southward E of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; circumpolar, N to AK, YT and NT, E to PQ and S to CO, VT and NV; Eurasia, Greenland.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia