Regional Variation in Amelanchier in the Whitewood area of Southeastern Saskatchewan and the First Saskatchewan Records of Amelanchier sanguinea

Abstract

Based on measurements and evaluation of 111 specimens from 51 localities in the Whitewood area of southeastern Saskatchewan, most Amelanchier alnifolia from the prairie parkland is represented by short, stoloniferous shrubs, less than 2 m tall with 5 – 100+ stems. In the Moose Mountain area, A. alnifolia is represented by shrubs that are taller, sometimes to 7 m, not stoloniferous and usually having fewer than five stems. Although many of these plants have the inflorescence characteristics of A. alnifolia, some are referable to the eastern A. sanguinea, not previously reported from southeastern Saskatchewan. Such plants appear to be confined to the wooded environment of Moose Mountain. Amelanchier alnifolia is not as clearly differentiated by habit or leaf tip characteristics as the literature suggests. Inflorescence characteristics, habit and actual genetic variation may be associated with biogeographic patterns, especially historically wooded islands within the prairie ecozone. These patterns are an important consideration in classification studies and in protecting and utilizing Amelanchier germplasm.