Hedysarum boreale (Northern Hedysarum) - photos and description
Calyx lobes are linear, about equal in length, and as long as the calyx tube
General: More or less erect plant, relying on nearby plants for support, often a bushy growth habit. Silvery-green to silvery foliage, covered with silky hairs.
Flowers: Flowers are pink to carmine coloured, flowers measured to 17 mm long, calyx lobes are linear, equal in length, and about as long as the calyx tub. The flowers grow in a spike like raceme, we measured a raceme at 6 cm long.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, pinnately divided up to 13 leaflets, leaflets elliptical in shape, typically 2 cm long and 7 mm wide.
Height: Height listed in Flora of Alberta to 60 cm, we measured plants to 41 cm tall.
Habitat: Prairie hillsides, and the sides of steep coulees.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
Similar species: Can be distinguished from the other Hedysarum that grows in Saskatchewan, Hedysarum alpinum, by its silvery foliage, and linear calyx lobes (shown in bottom photograph on this page). The foliage of H. alpinum is green, and its calyx lobes are unequal in length and more triangular in shape.
When and where photographed: Took the above photos May 29th, hillsides of the Qu'Appelle Valley, Crooked Lake provincial park, about 150 km east of Regina, SK, June 20th on the hillsides of the Souris River Valley, Buffalo Grass Eco Reserve, 200 km southeast of Regina, SK, June 20th prairie hillside Souris River Valley, 200 km southeast of Regina, SK, and June 24th on the hillsides of the Qu'Appelle River Valley, about 30 km north of our home in Regina, SK.