Lagotis glauca : Weasel Snout

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

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

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Genera: Lagotis (Lagotis) (Gk. lagos = hare + otos = ear; possibly referring to the shape of the leaves of some species.)

Species: glauca (Lat. glaucus=blueish-grey)

Synonym(s): L. stelleri

English Name(s):

Weasel Snout, Lagotis

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Plant herbaceous (non-woody) somewhat fleshy, glabrous (hairless).
• From stout ascending rhizomes (rootstock).
• Stems 1 to several, 15-20cm high, simple (unbranched), thick.

Leaves:

• Basal leaves simple, petiolate (stalked), 4-26cm long, lanceolate-oblanceolate in shape, margins crenate-dentate.
• Stem leaves simple, sessile (not stalked), progressively smaller upwards, merging with bracts, margins somewhat dentate to entire (smooth).

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower cluster) a leafy bracted ovate to cylindrical terminal spike.
• Flowers perfect (bisexual), irregular in symetry.
• Bracts somewhat toothed or entire, purplish or blue.
• Calyx (sepals) 6-11mm long, 2-lobed, lobes ciliate (margin hairs).
• Corolla (petals) 9-14mm long, 2-lipped, violet-purple to blue.
• Stamens (male parts) 2, filaments (stalk) attached to the top of the corolla tube, short or absent. Anther (top part) sacs equal.

Seed:

• fruit is a capsule.
• Seed capsule ovate, flattened sideways, 2-lobed, 2 seeded.
• Corolla enlarges to enclose the capsule at maturity.
• Seeds 2 per capsule, 2-3mm long.

Not to Be Confused With:

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Plant deciduous (dieing back).
• Mostly gone to seed by mid-July.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Tundra, alpine herbmats, stony slopes, and seepage channels.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

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Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

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