Hedysarum alpinum L. var. alpinum
Liquorice-root.
Sp. Pl. 750. 1753.
Non H. alpinum 377,U 378on 1823 (= H. boreale)
Type: "Habitat in Siberia" LINN 921.54 cited as possible lectotype by Welsh.
Hedysarum sibiricum Ledeb. Flora Rossica 1: 707. 1842.
Plants with leaves or spreading stems arising from a caudex (that is scaly); (10–)15–25 cm high (to 60 cm high further south, e.g. in the Mackenzie Delta). Aerial stems erect; sparsely hairy, or densely hairy. Leaves distributed along the stems; alternate (sometimes almost opposite near the inflorescences). Stipules scale-like; sheathing; brown. Petioles 10–25 mm long. Blades 3.5–8(–10) cm long; 20–40(–60) mm wide; with pinnate veins; glabrous (to the naked eye), or hairy; with hairs on the abaxial surface only (a few fine hairs at the midrib that are seen at 10X). Leaflet arrangement pinnate; leaflets (7–)9–13; leaflets 10–20(–40) mm long; leaflets ovate, or lanceolate; veins conspicuous.
Flowering stems 5–10(–13) cm long (straight); without leaves; hairy (with fine white hairs seen at 10X), or glabrous (to the naked eye). Inflorescence racemose; 3–6 cm long. Flowers per inflorescence 10–15; medium-sized, 5–15 mm in diameter or length. Calyx green, or brown (darker on the triangular shaped tips of the sepals); tubular; 5-lobed. Calyx teeth equal or nearly so ("calyx teeth deltoid" Porsild, 1964). Petals 5; pink, or purple (pale); unlobed (four petals), or 2-lobed (banner petal); 10–20 mm long. Corolla papilionaceous. Wing auricles united, linear, nearly equal to the claw. Stamens 10. Stigmas per style 1. Ovules 2–3. Fruit with calyx persisting; a loment; elongate-cylindrical; not distinctly flattened, or distinctly flattened; 20–30 mm long; 4–6 mm wide; indehiscent; yellowish; glabrous (with conspicuous net-like veins). Loment margins winged with auricles. Seeds 1–3; 1.5–2(–2.5) mm long (i.e., the longest dimension); brown.
Chromosome information. 2n = 14, 28.
Distribution. Low arctic (Asia and America, arctic-alpine). Range in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago limited. Arctic Islands: Banks, Victoria.
Ecology and habitat. Substrate river terraces, lake shores (beaches), tundra, cliffs; imperfectly drained, or moderately well drained; calcareous; sand, silt, till. This species is most commonly found in sands and gravels on river-banks and by sheltered lake shores.
Taxon as an environmental indicator. The northernmost record is from Banks Island, 2 miles west of Sachs Harbour, 71° 59'N.
Indigeneous knowledge. The fleshy roots, which in mature plants may be half an inch thick, are edible and when cooked taste somewhat like young carrots. The roots are best in August but may be dug even in the spring.
Notes. A relatively well defined species in the Arctic Archipelago. Further south H. alpinum var. americanum Michx has been distinguished. Porsild and Cody (1980) commented that ‘the transitional differences between the arctic and more temperate plants appear to be quite gradual and to be merely an expression of climatic differences’.
We have found no Arctic Island specimens with the fruiting stages collected. The data on fruits is based on material collected in continental North America.
Illustrations. • Plant in habitat. Plants growing on slumping silt banks near Rankin Inlet, at Pedung Creek, Kaminak Lake, between Esquimo Point and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, 22 July 1973, elevation 173 ft., J.M. Gillett 16149. CAN. • Close-up of inflorescence. Inflorescence with purple flowers growing near Rankin Inlet, at Pedung Creek, Kaminak Lake, between Esquimo Point and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, 22 July 1973, elevation 173 ft., J.M. Gillett 16149. CAN. • Plant with developing legumes. Plant with developing loments growing near Rankin Inlet, at Pedung Creek, Kaminak Lake, between Esquimo Point and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, elevation 173 ft., 22 July 1973, J.M. Gillett 16149. CAN. • Arctic Island distribution.
Cite this publication as: J.M. Gillett, L.L. Consaul, S.G. Aiken and M.J. Dallwitz (1999 onwards). ‘Fabaceae of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval.’ Version: 15th November 2000. http://http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/. Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993, 1995, 2000) should also be cited (see References).
