E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Zizia aptera (A. Gray) Fernald
heart-leaved Alexanders (meadow zizia)
Apiaceae

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jamie Fenneman  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #4068)

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Distribution of Zizia aptera
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SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Zizia aptera var. occidentalis

Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a short stem-base and a cluster of fleshy-fibrous roots; stems erect, clustered, 20-60 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves simple or 3-parted, long-stalked with heart-shaped, saw-toothed blades, the blades 2.5-10 cm long, 1.5-8 cm wide; stem leaves fewer, sharply toothed, shorter-stalked.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of compound umbels; flowers bright yellow; involucels absent.
Fruits:
Oblong to broadly elliptic, 2-4 mm long, glabrous; ribs prominent, somewhat flattened.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist to wet sites in the steppe and montane zones; locally frequent in the Peace River area of NE BC, rare southward along the Rocky Mountains; N to YT, E to PQ and S to AL, GA, MO, CO and NV.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Zizia aptera

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

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 1890 1890 1890
Slope Gradient (%) 3 3 3
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
320 319 320
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
5 5 5
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
E
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: ESSF(1)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Zizia aptera var. occidentalis Fernald
Zizia cordata W.D.J. Koch ex DC.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References