STRAW-COLORED CAPSULES OF SAND DUNE LONG-STALKED-CHICKWEED, STELLARIA-LONGIPES SUBSPECIES ARENICOLA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE), IN THE SAND DUNES OFLAKE ATHABASCA, SASKATCHEWAN

Long-stalked Chickweed, Stellaria longipes is a circumpolar species wi th a wide range of morphological variation and phenotypic plasticity. Most populations of S. longipes have black or dark brown capsules. How ever, the populations in the sand dune system of Lake Athabasca, S. lo ngipes subsp. arenicola, posses straw-colored capsules. The present st udy was carried out to investigate the anthocyanidin pigment patterns of the black. brown, and straw-colored capsules. Differences in pigmen t patterns were evident for the three capsule colors. It is hypothesiz ed that plants with straw-colored capsules are being selected in the s and dune habitat.