Stellaria alsine Grimm (Caryophyllaceae), three
morphs from Finland (on the left: Lohja, Veijola, 1987; in the middle: Lohja,
Lieviö, 1987; on the right: Lappeenranta, Huhtiniemi, 1991).
– Image: Harri
Harmaja (scanned from dried specimens).
– The left plant is apparently the
"main" morph and the middle one represents f. heterophylla Norman.
The latter differs in several respects: (i) the growth habit is somewhat
procumbent, with some nodes rooting (vs. rather erect or slightly procumbent), (ii)
the sterile branches are usually more abundant and longer, (iii) the leaves of the apical growth and
the sterile branches of
the stem are broader and more distinctly petiolate than those of the main part of the primary stem
(vs. fairly similar), and (iv)
the overall colour is grass-green (vs. greyish green). The reproductive organs
and leaf anatomy displayed additional small differences between the stands from Veijola and Lieviö. The f. heterophylla seems to develop more extensive
and denser stands. In addition, it may be more competitive within a
continuous plant cover, and under less direct influence of spring-water. In
Veijola, S. alsine was accompanied e.g. by Rubus arcticus (and
quite near-by in rather moist woods Carex pediformis ssp. rhizodes!).
My microscopic observations suggest that the greyish tinge of the main morph
is due to a denser covering of cuticular wax particles; the leaves consequently
were difficult to wet with water.
The stand from Lappeenranta grew in a deviating
habitat: the sandy shore of the big lake Saimaa (with no influence of
spring-water), accompanied by Myosoton aquaticum. The leaves were broad,
and curiously appeared somewhat fleshy.
I have noticed apparent f. heterophylla also elsewhere
in southern Finland. The variability observed in Finnish S. alsine may
well partly be taxonomically irrelevant or even comprise non-genetic
modifications only, i.e. result from differences in habitat and so on. Anyway,
the variability of the species apparently needs a thorough analysis.
Created August 29, 2004.