Survey of the vascular plants of Alert (Ellesmere Island, Canada), a polar desert at the northern tip of the Americas Author Desjardins, Émilie Author Lai, Sandra Author Payette, Serge Author Dubé, Martin Author Sokoloff, Paul C. Author St-Louis, Annie Author Poulin, Marie-Pier Author Legros, Jade Author Sirois, Luc Author Vézina, François Author Tam, Andrew Author Berteaux, Dominique text Check List 2021 2021-02-09 17 1 181 225 http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/17.1.181 journal article 10.15560/17.1.181 1809-127X Cochlearia groenlandica Linnaeus Figure 5C Materials examined. CANADA – Nunavut • Ellesmere Island, CFS Alert; 82°29′56″N , 062°19′19″W ; 48 m a.s.l.; 8 Aug. 2019 ; habitat: xeric near the sewage outlet, with till and rocks as substrates, and sparse dominance of Puccinellia angustata (R. Brown) E . L . Rand & Redfield and Cochlearia groenlandica ; QFA 0635554 • same locality; 82°31′13″N , 062°25′46″W ; 44 m a.s.l.; 27 Jul. 2019 ; habitat: mesic, with polygonal patterned ground made of till, dominated by Alopecurus magellanicus Figure 5. Brassicaceae . A. Braya purpurascens (R. Brown) Bunge ex Ledebour habit. B. Braya thorild-wulffii Ostenfeld subsp. thorild-wulffii habit C. Cochlearia groenlandica Linnaeus habit. D. Draba corymbosa R. Brown ex de Candolle sepals and open flowers, and E. habit. F. Draba subcapitata Simmons fruit-forming. Photos A by Jacob Caron Carrier, B, D, E, F by Émilie Desjardins, and C by Charline Couchoux. Lamarck and Saxifraga oppositifolia ; QFA 0635555. Identification. Plants 2.5–6.0 cm high; herbaceous; caespitose. Taproots present. Stems 1.0– 4.5 cm long; erect, ascending, or decumbent; glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; heterophyllous; alternate; long-petiolate (basal leaves), short-petiolate (lower cauline leaves), and sessile (upper cauline leaves). Basal leaf petioles 8–13 mm long; not winged; glabrous. Basal leaf blades 4–6 mm long, 5–7 mm wide; ovate or deltate; bases truncate or subcordate; abaxial and adaxial surfaces both glabrous; margins glabrous; apices rounded or obtuse. Cauline leaf blades 3.6–9.0 mm long, 1.2–2.9 mm wide; oblanceolate; unlobed or lobed, with 1–2 triangular acute lobes on each side; bases cuneate. Inflorescence a raceme, with 5–12 flowers; elongating as the fruit matures. Pedi- cels glabrous. Sepals 4; 0.8–1.8 mm long, 0.4–0.8 mm wide; ovate or oblong; pale brown or purple, with hyaline margins; surface glabrous; margins glabrous; apices rounded or obtuse. Petals 4; 1.1–2.4 mm long, 0.2–1.0 mm wide; obovate; unlobed; white and sometimes pinkish tinged. Androecium with 6 stamens and 0.2–0.3 mm long anthers. Gynoecium with 1 style and 1 stigma. Fruit a silique; 3.7–5.9 mm long, 2.2–3.2 mm wide; spherical or ovoid; yellowish green or greyish purple; glabrous. Styles persisting in fruit 0.2–0.4 mm long, 0.1–0.2 mm wide. Stigmas 0.2–0.4 mm wide; larger than the styles.