Adoxa moschatellina : Moschatel

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Adoxaceae (moschatel Family)

Genera: Adoxa (moschatel) (Gk. inglorious from: a=without + doxa=praise; referring to its humble growth.)

Species: moschatellina (Italian moscato=musk; referring to the musky smell of these plants)

English Name(s):

Moschatel, Muskroot

First Nation Names:

Description:

Natural History:

One genus world wide.

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 1

Species: ?

North America:

Genera: 1

Species: ?

Yukon:

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Structure:

• 1-3 basal leaves.
• 10-15 cm tall from a scaly white rhizome (rootstalk).
• Delicate herbaceous plants
• Stems erect with a pair of opposite leaves.

Leaves:

• All leaves petioled (on stalk). Basal leaves very long petioled, stem ones much shorter.
• Basal leaves ternately (3-leaflets) compound.
• Stem leaves palmately lobed.

Reproductive Parts:

• Anthers (male parts) 8 on the inner flowers, 10 on the outer ones.
• Flowers sessile (not stalked), in small heads of 3 or more flowers. Inconspicuous.
• Petals 4 or 5, yellowish green, 1-2 mm long.
• Sepals 2 or 3, green, 1.0-1.5 mm long.

Seed:

• Fruit is a small, dry, greenish drupe with 4-5 seeds.

Not to Be Confused With:

• This plant is easily overlooked, but does not look too simmilar to other plants.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Blooms early in the spring.
• Female flowers mature first, male ones second. This is to ensure the best chance for cross pollenation. However the stamens will continue to grow and will self-pollenate the stigma if it has not already been cross pollenated.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Found mostly in calcareous soils but may be found in rich leaf-mould in moist, partly-shaded sites.
• The peculiar, spotty distribution of this plant may be due to special light, soil, and moisture requirements.
• Thickets, woods, meadows, and tundra turf.

Modern:

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Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

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Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: