Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry) - photos and description
Style and stamens do not protrude beyond corolla in this species.
Petals pulled off flower, style is glabrous.
General: A low, bushy shrub with leafy stems.
Flowers: Flowers pinkish-white, bell-shaped. We measured a flower at 5 mm long. Flowers grow in pairs, or in a raceme of 4-5. Styles and stamen do not extend out of corolla. Style glabrous.
Leaves: Leaves elliptical to ovate, opposite, are paler green below. The bottom of leaves pubescent, top of leaves hairless. We measured a leaf at 25 mm long by 15 mm wide.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 150 cm, we measured plants to 43 cm tall, most plants we observed were only 25 cm tall, in general plants grew only to height of your shin.
Habitat: Open woodland and slopes.
Abundance: Common, ranked as an S5 by the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre (uncommon in our experience, it took us years to find this plant).
Origin: Native.
Similar species: There are two species of Symphoricarpos native to Saskatchewan:
- Symphoricarpos
occidentalis has stamens and styles which protrude from the corolla, and
has a hairy style.
- Symphoricarpos albus has stamens and styles which do not protrude from
the corolla, and has a glabrous style.
When and where photographed: The above photos were taken on June 30th, prairie hillside, West block Cypress Hills, about 425 km southwest of our home in Regina, SK.