Publication: Syst. Nat. 2: 342. 1821.

Origin:

Herbarium search: CPNWH

Notes: Reported by Naas et al. (1990) from the North Cascades. However, not to be expected in WA based on range description in Rollins, 1993.

FNA7: "Draba borealis is highly variable in leaf and stem indumentum, leaf shape and margin, number of cauline leaves, and fruit shape, size, and twisting. North American plants yielded decaploid chromosome counts; octoploid populations were reported from the Russian Far East. This suggests that more than one taxon is present, and the species is much in need of detailed molecular, cytogenetic, and morphological study.

In the absence of flowers, Draba borealis is occasionally confused with some forms of D. aurea. The latter usually has proximally bracteate (versus ebracteate) racemes, generally longer styles [0.5-1.5 (-1.7) versus 0.2-0.6(-0.8) mm], and more ovules [28-38(-44) versus 16-28(-30)] per ovary. Draba borealis occasionally is confused with D. glabella, but the latter has pectinate-stellate trichomes on abaxial leaf blade surfaces. R. C. Rollins (1993) indicated that D. borealis occurs in Colorado, but we have not seen any material from the United States outside of Alaska."

Last updated 6/1/2010 by David Giblin.