Trientalis europaea L.
Arctic Starflower (northern starflower)
Myrsinaceae (Myrsine family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Arctic Starflower (northern starflower)
Myrsinaceae (Myrsine family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Trientalis europaea ssp. arctica
Species Information
General:
Plants from a slender rhizome and a short, scarcely enlarged, horizontal tuber.
Leaves:
Leaves mostly whorled or densely crowded near the stem apex; primary leaves 3-8, lanceolate to oblanceolate or spatulate, widest at or above the midpoint, apices acute to rounded, 2-6 cm; stem leaves reduced in size, alternate, 0.2-2 cm
Flowers:
Flowers 1-2 per plant; corollas usually white (sometimes faintly pink-tinged), 5-9 mm wide; corolla lobes ovate to lanceolate, apices acute to acuminate; pedicels equalling or longer than the leaves, sparsely to densely glandular, 1.5-5.5 cm. Flowering (Apr) May-Jul (Aug)
Fruits:
Fruits globose capsules, valvate; seeds black to reddish-brown, with a deciduous, white, net-like coating.
Stems:
Stems 5-20 cm tall.
Source: The Vascular Flora of British Columbia, draft 2014.
Author: Jamie Fenneman
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Trientalis europaea
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)
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) |
778 | 9 | 1820 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
9 | 0 | 75 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
292 | 8 | 353 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
5 | 1 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
C | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
119 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CWH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BWBS(3), CWH(41), ESSF(7), ICH(17), IDF(2), MH(4), MS(1), SBS(34) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to wet bogs, swamps, streambanks, meadows, and coniferous forests in the lowland, montane, and subalpine zones. Frequent in coastal, nw, and se BC; AK east to NWT, south to CA, ID; Eurasia.Source: The Vascular Flora of British Columbia, draft 2014.
Author: Jamie Fenneman
Taxonomic Notes
Trientalis europaea is somewhat variable throughout its circumboreal distribution, with minor variants able to persist at the population level through rhizomatous apomixis. Although this variation occurs throughout the range of the species, the species has generally been recognized as comprising two subspecies: a primarily Eurasian ssp. europaea (which apparently ranges into central Alaska) and a primarily North American ssp. arctica (Elven et al. 2013). Although the characteristics that separate these subspecies (leaf shape, leaf number, pedicel glands) are relatively minor, it is the best and most widely accepted approach for representing the variation in this species.
Source: The Vascular Flora of British Columbia, draft 2014 |