Saxifraga aspera

Last updated

Saxifraga aspera
Saxifraga aspera Atlas Alpenflora.jpg
Saxifraga aspera from the Atlas der Alpenflora
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Saxifraga
Species:
S. aspera
Binomial name
Saxifraga aspera
L.

Saxifraga aspera is a species of saxifrage known by the common name of rough saxifrage. In German it is known as Rauhhaariger Steinbrech. It is placed in section Trachyphyllum of the genus Saxifraga. [1] There are two subspecies, Saxifraga aspera subsp. aspera and Saxifraga aspera subsp. micrantha. [2] It is a plant of the pan-Arctic tundra and is also found in Europe at moderately high altitudes in the Alps, Pyrenees and northern Apennines.

Contents

Description

Rough saxifrage is a perennial herb with short, tufted, basal rosettes growing in small, loose clumps to a height of about 5 centimetres (2.0 in). The margins of the linear lanceolate leaves are fringed with short bristly hairs giving the plant a rough appearance. The foliaceous buds in the axils of the leaves are only half as long as their protecting leaves, a fact that distinguishes this species from the rather similar mossy saxifrage, Saxifraga bryoides . [3] The flowers are up to 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter and are borne singly or in few-flowered spikes on long, erect stems clad with a few small leaves. Each flower has five calyx lobes and five, slightly overlapping, broad white or cream coloured petals with a yellow blotch near the base and sometimes a number of yellow spots. The ten stamens are in two whorls, one slightly longer than the other. The ovary is superior and the fruit is a two-celled capsule. [1] [3] Rough saxifrage flowers in June and July. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Rough saxifrage is predominately a plant of the Arctic tundra. It is one of only two species in the Saxifraga section Trachyphyllum (the other being Saxifraga bryoides) to extend is range into Western Europe where it is found at altitudes of between 1,400 and 3,000 metres (4,600 and 9,800 ft) in the Alps, Pyrenees and northern Apennines. The plant typically grows on damp rocks and gravel on the banks of streams but it is sometimes found growing in turf. It prefers acid conditions and avoids calcareous soils. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Saxifraga</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae (saxifrages)

Saxifraga is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 440 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word saxifraga means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin saxum + frangere. It is usually thought to indicate a medicinal use for treatment of urinary calculi, rather than breaking rocks apart.

<i>Saxifraga cernua</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga cernua, the drooping saxifrage, nodding saxifrage or bulblet saxifrage, is a flower common all over the High Arctic. It stretches further south in mountainous areas of the Alps, Norway, Iceland, Siberia and Alaska.

<i>Saxifraga flagellaris</i> Species of saxifrage

Saxifraga flagellaris, the whiplash saxifrage or flagellate saxifrage, is a plant native all over the high arctic and some areas of northern Rocky Mountains, and Norway. It is not very common. It is also known as spider saxifrage or "spider plant", though the latter name more commonly refers to the unrelated Chlorophytum comosum (Agavaceae).

<i>Saxifraga oppositifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga oppositifolia, the purple saxifrage or purple mountain saxifrage, is a species of plant that is very common in the high Arctic and also some high mountainous areas further south, including northern Britain, the Alps and the Rocky Mountains.

There are 164 vascular plant species on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. This figure does not include algae, mosses, and lichens, which are non-vascular plants. For an island so far north, 164 species constitutes an astonishing variety of plant life. Because of the harsh climate and the short growing season, all the plants are slow growing. They seldom grow higher than 10 cm.

<i>Saxifraga cespitosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga cespitosa, the tufted alpine saxifrage or tufted saxifrage, is a flower common to many arctic heights. It appears further south in mountainous areas of the Alps, Norway, Scotland, Wales, Iceland, Siberia, western North America and Greenland.

<i>Saxifraga stellaris</i>

Saxifraga stellaris, the starry saxifrage or hairy kidney-wort, is an Arctic–alpine species of saxifrage. It produces panicles of 5–10 white flowers on a stem up to 20 cm (7.9 in) tall, rising from a basal leaf rosette. One subspecies is found from eastern Canada to Russia, including the British Isles, while another is found in the mountains of southern Europe.

<i>Leontodon pyrenaicus</i> Species of flowering plant

Leontodon pyrenaicus is a species of hawkbit found in the Alps, Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, northern Apennines and northern parts of the Balkan Peninsula. It grows in meadows and on stony slopes from the tree line to over 3000 m, usually on acidic soils. It is perennial, and flowers from June to August.

<i>Vaccinium uliginosum</i> Berry and plant

Vaccinium uliginosum is a Eurasian and North American flowering plant in the genus Vaccinium within the heath family.

<i>Saxifraga paniculata</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga paniculata is an alpine species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family, with native distribution in the temperate northern hemisphere. Common names include alpine saxifrage, encrusted saxifrage, lifelong saxifrage, lime-encrusted saxifrage, livelong saxifrage, white mountain saxifrage, and silver saxifrage.

<i>Saxifraga stolonifera</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga stolonifera is a perennial flowering plant known by several common names, including creeping saxifrage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil, Aaron's beard, mother of thousands, roving sailor, wandering Jew, and strawberry begonia or strawberry geranium.

<i>Saxifraga aizoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga aizoides, yellow mountain saxifrage or yellow saxifrage, is a flowering alpine plant of the genus Saxifraga.

<i>Saxifraga cotyledon</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga cotyledon, the pyramidal saxifrage, occurs in the mountains of Europe and has rosettes about 20 centimetres (8 in) across of tongue-shaped leaves, beaded but not toothed. In May or June the tall panicles of white flowers, branched and pyramidal in outline, may reach 60 cm (24 in). It is one of Norway's two national flowers. Its relationship to the "silver saxifrages" remains to be resolved to full satisfaction.

<i>Papaver alpinum</i> Species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae

Papaver alpinum, the Alpine poppy or dwarf poppy, is a poppy found in the Alps. This species includes several sub-species, four of which are found in Austria.

<i>Agriades glandon</i> Species of butterfly

Agriades glandon, the Arctic blue or Glandon blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It in found in Eurasia and North America.

<i>Saxifraga rivularis</i> Species of saxifrage

Saxifraga rivularis is a species of saxifrage known by several common names, including highland saxifrage, weak saxifrage, alpine brook saxifrage, and pygmy saxifrage.

<i>Hibbertia aspera</i> Species of flowering plant

Hibbertia aspera, commonly known as rough guinea flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an ascending or erect shrub with low-lying or scrambling branches, oblong to lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow flowers with four to six stamens in a single group, joined at the base.

<i>Saxifraga cuneifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Saxifraga cuneifolia, the lesser Londonpride, shield-leaved saxifrage or spoon-leaved saxifrage, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Saxifragaceae family.

<i>Saxifraga bryoides</i> Species of saxifrage

Saxifraga bryoides is a species of saxifrage known by the common name of mossy saxifrage. In German it is known as Moosartiger Steinbrech. It is an inhabitant of the Arctic tundra but it also grows in the Alps and other European mountain ranges at high altitudes.

<i>Androsace vitaliana</i> Species of flowering plant

Androsace vitaliana is a species of plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae. It was previously known by the synonym Vitaliana primuliflora. Native to the high mountains of Europe, it is cultivated as an alpine garden plant, being considered easy to grow in well drained soil in a sunny position.

References

  1. 1 2 McGregor, Malcolm (2008). Saxifrages: A Definitive Guide to the 2000 Species, Hybrids & Cultivars. p. 191. ISBN   9780881928808.
  2. 1 2 Saxifraga aspera Schede di botanica: Plant profile. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  3. 1 2 3 Schröter, L.; Prof. C. Schröter (1904). Alpine Flowers. Leipzig: Metzger & Wittig. p. 17.