Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass
Draba subcapitata
Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass is a small, cushion-forming perennial herb endemic to the Canadian Arctic archipelago, characterized by tiny white four-petaled flowers and densely clustered basal leaves adapted to extreme cold. This diminutive Arctic specialist plays a crucial role in stabilizing soil and providing early-season nectar resources in one of Earth's most challenging environments.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Draba
Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass belongs to the family Brassicaceae, order Brassicales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass is a small, cushion-forming perennial herb endemic to the Canadian Arctic archipelago, characterized by tiny white four-petaled flowers and densely clustered basal leaves adapted to extreme cold. This diminutive Arctic specialist plays a crucial role in stabilizing soil and providing early-season nectar resources in one of Earth's most challenging environments.
Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass faces severe threats from climate change, which is rapidly altering its Arctic habitat through warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. The species' extremely limited range on Ellesmere Island makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and environmental changes, with small population sizes increasing extinction risk from stochastic events.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits exposed rocky slopes, gravelly ridges, and sparse tundra communities in the High Arctic, typically growing in well-drained calcareous soils at elevations where harsh winds and extreme temperature fluctuations create specialized microhabitats.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass faces severe threats from climate change, which is rapidly altering its Arctic habitat through warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. The species' extremely limited range on Ellesmere Island makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and environmental changes, with small population sizes increasing extinction risk from stochastic events.
Climate change and warming temperatures
Extremely small population size
Habitat loss and degradation
Limited geographic range
Changes in precipitation patterns
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Ellesmere Island whitlow-grass (Draba subcapitata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/ellesmere-island-whitlow-grass