Draba norvegica

Draba norvegica is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) know by the common names Norwegian draba and Norwegian whitlow grass.

Draba norvegica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Draba
Species:	D. norvegica
Binomial name
Draba norvegica Gunnerus
Synonyms[1]
List Draba clivicola Fernald Draba furcata E.Ekman Draba hirta Gunnerus Draba hirta f. rupestris (R.Br.) Ostenf. Draba hirta var. norvegica (Gunnerus) Lilj. Draba inferalpina E.Ekman Draba laxa Lindblom Draba norvegica var. berlinii O.E.Schulz Draba norvegica var. clivicola (Fernald) B.Boivin Draba norvegica var. glabrata (Lindblom) O.E.Schulz Draba norvegica var. hebecarpa (Lindblom) O.E.Schulz Draba norvegica var. intermedia (Lindblom) O.E.Schulz Draba norvegica var. laxa (Lindblom) O.E.Schulz Draba norvegica var. norvegica Draba norvegica var. pleiophylla Fernald Draba norvegica var. sornborgeri (Fernald) B.Boivin Draba proxima E.Ekman Draba rupestris R.Br. Draba rupestris f. glabriuscula Pohle Draba rupestris f. stellatopilosa Pohle Draba scandinavica Lindblom Draba scandinavica var. hebecarpa Lindblom Draba sornborgeri Fernald Draba trichella Fr.

Description

Draba norvegica is a small cespitose (forming dense clumps or tufts), herbaceous perennial plant with a rosette of leaves from which a simple unbranched or branched, (0.2-)0.4-1.4(-2) dm tall, flowering stem arises. The basal leaves are simple, with hispid hairs, and narrowly oblanceolate in shape. The stem leaves are also covered in hispid hairs. The flowers are arranged into a raceme inflorescence with 5-23-flowers. The flowers have 2 to 4 rays and are white in color. The fruits (siliques) in contrast to the foliage are hairless or nearly so.[2][3]

Distribution and habitat

Draba norvegica occurs along the Atlantic coast of eastern North America and northwestern Europe with disjunct inland populations. In Canada it is found in arctic and subarctic areas growing on gravelly shorelines, ledges, cliffs, and stone barrens. There is one small population in the USA state of Minnesota found growing on the rocky shores of Susie island in lake superior which has an arctic-like environment.[2] In Minnesota it is listed as an endangered species, with around 50 plants counted in 1998.[4]

References

1. "Draba norvegica Gunnerus". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
2. Barbara Coffin; Lee Pfannmuller (1988). Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. U of Minnesota Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-8166-1689-3.
3. "Draba norvegica in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
4. "Draba norvegica : Norwegian Whitlow Grass | Rare Species Guide". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2020-12-14.