Silene involucrata subsp. involucrata
Plants: taproot thick, with dense tufts of basal rosettes of leaves. Flowering-stems simple or sparingly branched, sturdy, 10–20 (–30) cm, usually with 2–3 pairs of lanceolate leaves, internodes equaling or shorter than leaves. Pedicels variable in length, ranging from much shorter than calyx to greatly exceeding it. Flowers 8–16 mm diam.; calyx campanulate to ovoid, 10–20 mm in fruit, 1–11/2 times longer than broad. 2n = 24 (Siberia), 48.
Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Arctic tundra, gravelly and grassy places
Elevation: 0-2000 m
Distribution
Greenland, B.C., Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Labr.), N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon, Alaska, Asia (Russian Far East), Asia (Siberia)
Discussion
Subspecies involucrata, a circumpolar and panarctic taxon, is quite variable. In the western arctic there is a tendency towards larger, almost glabrous, leafier plants that have a markedly ovoid mature calyx to 20 mm. These plants often lack purple pigment and have been named subsp. elatior, but they probably do not warrant taxonomic recognition.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
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