Draba lactea M.F. Adams
milky draba (milky whitlow-grass)
Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #21166)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

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

Species Information

General:
Tufted perennial herb from a taproot and a usually branched stem-base; stems erect, 5-10 cm tall, glabrous.
Leaves:
Usually all basal, linear-oblong, 0.5-2 cm long, 1-5 mm wide, hairy with at least some branched or starlike hairs concentrated toward apex; lower leaf surfaces mainly with 7- to many-branched hairs less than 0.25 mm wide or stalked, starlike hairs less than 0.2 mm in diameter with 9 or more rays; margins hairy-fringed with simple hairs and some branched or starlike hairs near apex, midribs persistent; stem leaves lacking or 1.
Flowers:
Racemes 3- to 7-flowered; flower stalks 1-8 mm long, glabrous or sometimes starlike short-hairy; petals creamy white, 2.5-4 mm long; sepals 1.5-2.2 mm long, sparsely soft-hairy.
Fruits:
Silicles, 6-8 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, lanceolate to egg-shaped, plane, glabrous; styles to 0.5 mm long.

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 lactea

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)
1690 1140 2020
Slope Gradient (%)
21 2 33

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

184 35 220
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 1 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3
Modal BEC Zone Class
AT

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

AT(1), SWB(1)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry meadows and cliffs in the subalpine and alpine zones; rare in N BC; circumboreal, N to AK, YT, and NT; Eurasia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Draba allenii Fernald
Draba fladnizensis var. heterotricha (Lindbl.) J. Ball