Oxytropis campestris var. spicata (L.) DC. Hook.
Nelson's oxytrope (field locoweed; Silky Locoweed)
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #20025)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Oxytropis campestris var. spicata
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a taproot and stout, branching stem-base, hairy throughout; tufted or matted, 5-40 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal, odd-pinnately compound, 6-23 cm long; leaflets 17 to 33, linear-oblong to narrowly egg-shaped, 5-25 mm long, appressed silky-hairy on both surfaces; stipules membranous, 5-15 mm long, loosely soft-hairy to nearly glabrous.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a spike-like raceme, on a stalk (10) 15-40 cm long, of 10 to 30 pea-like flowers; corollas white or yellowish white, occasionally bluish, 12-17 mm long, calyces appressed long-soft-hairy, often with black hairs.
Fruits:
Pods, oblong-egg-shaped, 1-2.5 cm long, papery-membranous, black- and white-hairy, nearly 2-chambered.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Oxytropis campestris var. spicata

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)
1369 225 2360
Slope Gradient (%)
22 0 72

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

215 1 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 5
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
66
Modal BEC Zone Class
PP

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

AT(7), BG(3), ESSF(16), ICH(1), IDF(9), MS(7), PP(18)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry meadows, grassy slopes, sandy or gravelly riverbanks and terraces, and forest openings from the lowland and steppe to alpine zones; locally frequent in SW and SC BC; E to MB and S to CO and WA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Oxytropis campestris var. columbiana (H. St. John) Barneby
Oxytropis macounii (Greene) Rydb.
Oxytropis monticola A. Gray
Oxytropis monticola subsp. monticola
Oxytropis sericea subsp. spicata (Hook.) Cody
Oxytropis sericea var. spicata (Hook.) Barneby
Oxytropis spicata (Hook.) Standl.