Boschniakia rossica : Ground-cone

Taxonomy

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Orobanchaceae (Broom-rape Family)

Genera: Boschniakia (Ground-cone) (Named for A.K. Boschniaki; a Russian amateur botanist.)

Species: rossica (of Russia)

English Name(s):

Ground-cone, Northern Ground-cone, Broomrape

First Nation Names:


Orobanchaceae (Broom-rape Family): Family Triats

Description:

Small herbaceous parasitic plants.

Lacking green foliage. Leaves reduced to alternate scales.

Flowers perfect (bisexual), irregular in symetry.

Petals united 5-lobed.

Stamens (male parts) 4, and appearing in pairs.

Ovary is positioned superior (above receptical) consisting of 2 united locules (chambers).

Natural History:

Plants in this family are parasitic on the roots of other plants. They completely lack chlorophyll so can not photosynthesize any of their own nutrition.

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 13

Species: 180

North America:

Genera: 4

Species: ?

Yukon:

Genera: 2

Species: 2

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1


Description

Structure:

  • Club-like stems, single or a few, from short and thick base by which attached to host plant.
  • Parasitic plants lacking chlorophyll.

Leaves:

  • Lacking green foliage.
  • Leaves reduced to alternating scales on the stem.
  • Scales yellowish to purpleish, drying brown.

Reproductive Parts:

  • Calyxes (sepals) irregularily lobed or toothed, 3-6 mm long,
  • Corolla (petals) 5-lobed, purpleish, 8-13 mm long, more or less 2-lipped, upper lip shalowly cleft (lobed), lower lip greatly shortened, 3-lobed.
  • Flowers perfect (bisexual) and irregular in symmetry.
  • Flowers numerous, with bracts (reduced leaves).
  • In spike-like racemes.
  • Pistil (female parts) one. Ovary superior (above recepticle).
  • Stamens (male parts) 4; 2 long and 2 short., extending out of flower.

Seed:

  • 300,000 or more seeds produced from one plant. Average weight of seeds is 0.001mg.
  • Capsule irregularily dehiscent (opening).
  • Deep cavities in the outer surface of the seeds causes them to retain air when in water, allowing them to float and thus be distributed by water in heavy rains.
  • Fruit is a many seeded capsule.
  • Seeds tiny and numerous.

Not to Be Confused With:


    Biology

    Physiology:

    • Specifically they are found usually on Alnus (alder), but have also been found attached to the roots of Betula (Birches), Vaccinium (Blueberry), Picea (Spruce), Salix (Willow), Chamaedaphne. (Cassandra).
    • These plants lack chlorophyll and so can not photosynthesize any of their own nutrition.
    • They gain thier nutrition by parasitizing on the roots of other plants.

    Life Cycle:

    • Perennial
    • Plant many take 4-5 years growing on the root completely underground before flowering stems emerge.

    Seasonal Cycle:

    • Flowers into July.

    Ecology

    Animal Uses:

    • Bears are said to enjoy the roots (tubers).

    Habitat:

    • Often parasitic on the roots of Alnus (Alder).
    • Thickets, woodlands, heath, tundra.

    Uses

    Modern:

    Industrial:

    Medicinal:

      Food:

        Traditional Gwich'in:

        Folklore:

          Industrial:

            Medicinal:

              Food:

                Traditional Other:

                Folklore:

                  Industrial:

                    Medicinal:

                      Food:

                        Images

                        Plant gone to seed


                        Flowers gone to seed


                        More flowers gone to seed


                        Illustration from: Illustrated Flora of BC


                        Range Maps

                        World Range: Amphi-berengian; in N.A. from AK east to NWT north slightly beyond limit of trees, south into northern BC and AB.

                        Prov/State Abrev. List


                        In Yukon: Found throughout the territory.

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