Boschniakia rossica : Ground-cone

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

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

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:

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

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:

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.

Animal Uses:

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

Habitat:

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

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: