Oxytropis splendens explained

Oxytropis splendens, commonly known as showy locoweed, is a flowering perennial in the legume family endemic to the east slope of the Rocky Mountains.[1] Growing in Canada, Alaska, several Great Plains states, and parts of the Mountain West, O. splendens grows well in harsh alpine ecosystems, allowing it to quickly colonize gravel and coal spoils.[2]

Description

This plant is tufted with silvery, silky-hairy, leafless stems. When in bloom, it grows dense spikes of rich lavender flowers, rising from among pinnately compound basal leaves.[3] It has a lifespan of 3-5 years, blooming every year from late-June to mid-August.[4] It produces small brown seeds.[5] The plant's flowers are favored by many varieties of bumblebees.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Widely distributed in the mountains and foothills in Alberta. Alaska, Yukon, District of Mackenzie, to Lake Superior, south to southeastern British Columbia, New Mexico, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and Colorado. It favors grassy slopes, open woods, clearings, gravelly river flats, banks, and roadsides. O. splendens is an early colonizer of disturbed gravel areas and unamended coal spoils. Its nitrogen fixing properties and quick colonizing of poor soils make it a favorable plant for revegetation.[7]

Toxicity

It is potentially toxic, as it contains toxic alkaloids and takes up selenium.

References

  1. Web site: Native Plant Network — Reforestation, Nurseries and Genetics Resources . 2024-02-15 . npn.rngr.net . 2024-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240215234805/https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=fabaceae-oxytropis-118&referer=wildflower . live .
  2. 511886-1. Oxytropis splendens.
  3. Web site: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin . 2023-08-26 . www.wildflower.org . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826005105/https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OXSP . live .
  4. Web site: Smreciu . A. . Wood . S. . Gould . K. . 2013-12-09 . Oxytropis splendens: showy crazyweed, showy locoweed, showy pointvetch . 2023-08-26 . ERA . en . 10.7939/r3p843x4m . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826005107/https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/9c91fc72-14a4-4c51-a2ff-d0a418f4014f . live .
  5. Web site: USDA Plants Database . 2023-08-26 . plants.usda.gov . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826010019/https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=OXSP . live .
  6. Web site: Ratz . David . Showy Locoweed - Montana Field Guide . 2023-08-26 . fieldguide.mt.gov . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826010017/https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=PDFAB2X0P0 . live .
  7. Book: Pahl, M. D. . Growing native plants of western Canada : common grasses & wildflowers . Pahl . M. D. . Smreciu . Elizabeth Ann . Alberta . Council . Alberta Research . 1999 . Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development . 978-0-7732-6138-9 . Edmonton . 2023-08-26 . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826005105/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/104499 . live .

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