Meconella oregana Nutt.
white meconella (white fairypoppy)
Papaveraceae (Fumitory family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
white meconella (white fairypoppy)
Papaveraceae (Fumitory family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a slender taproot; stems ascending to erect, solitary, few-branched, smooth, blue-green, 2-10 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves spoon-shaped, simple, 3-18 mm long including the 1-10 mm stalk, entire, blue-green; stem leaves opposite, lanceolate to linear, unstalked, 5-9 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of solitary flowers on slender, erect, axillary or terminal stalks 2-4 cm long; petals usually 6, white, 2.5-4 mm long; sepals usually 3.
Fruits:
Capsules, linear, 10-22 mm long, slightly contorted.
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.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Vernally moist rocky or grassy slopes in the lowland zone; rare on SE Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands; S to CA.Status Information
| Origin Status | Provincial Status | BC List (Red Blue List) | COSEWIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native | S1S2 | Red | E (May 2005) |
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Meconella oregana var. denticulata (Greene) Jeps.
Similar Species
There are no look-alikes; however, as the plants are usually so minute, the white flowers which are only open in favourable weather, are the only clue in detecting the species. Superficially, similar white flowers in the early season in the same habitats are Draba verna, Montia linearis, and other small Montia and Claytonia species.
Source: British Columbia Conservation Data Centre |