Saxifraga bryoides

Last updated

Saxifraga bryoides
Saxifraga bryoides Moosartiger Steinbrech.JPG
Saxifraga bryoides in its natural habitat in the mountains above Zermatt
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Saxifraga
Species:
S. bryoides
Binomial name
Saxifraga bryoides
L.

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.

Contents

Description

Flower of Saxifraga bryoides Saxifraga bryoides a1.jpg
Flower of Saxifraga bryoides

Mossy saxifrage is a low growing, evergreen perennial plant forming dense mats of foliage which seldom exceed 2.5 cm (1.0 in) in height. The leaves are linear lanceolate fringed with bristly hairs. The leaves curl together in winter and this form of growth is typical of plants growing at high altitudes and under cold conditions because it conserves energy. [1] The leaves in the mat are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long while those that are found on the flowering stem are 8 mm (0.3 in) long. The leaf buds in the axils of the leaves are at least as long as the protecting leaves, a fact that distinguishes this species from the rather similar rough saxifrage, Saxifraga aspera . The two species also occupy rather different habitats with the mossy saxifrage being found at higher altitudes, favouring rocky, exposed positions, while the rough saxifrage is often found on damp rocks by streams. [2] The flowers are borne singly on erect stems and are relatively large. The stems are slightly hairy and are often tinged red, as are the five calyx lobes. There are usually five (occasionally six) petals which are oval and do not overlap each other. They are white with the lower half copiously dotted with yellow spots. [2] The ten stamens with orange anthers are in two whorls, with the longer stamens occupying the gaps between the petals. The ovary is superior, the style has two stigmas and the fruit is a two celled capsule. [2] [3] The flowers can be seen in July and August. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Mossy saxifrage is mainly a plant of the Arctic tundra. It is one of only two species in the section Trachyphyllum that occurs at high altitudes in continental Europe, the other being Saxifraga aspera. It occurs in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians and the Balkan Mountains [1] at altitudes between 1,900 and 3,000 metres (6,200 and 9,800 ft) [4] It occurs among silicaceous rocks [1] and occupies ledges and fissures in the rock on cliffs, ridges and summits. [2]

Use in cultivation

Mossy saxifrage can be grown in a rockery in temperate climates and can be propagated from seed or by cuttings. It likes gritty, well drained soil. Apparently healthy, established plants sometimes detach themselves from their roots. This tendency is likely to be caused by excessively damp conditions. [1]

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>Micranthes hieraciifolia</i> species of plant

Micranthes hieraciifolia is a species of flowering plants. It is native to Europe, North America and temperate Asia, being distributed throughout the high Arctic and some alpine areas like Norway and the Carpathian Mountains, with a few isolated populations in the Central Eastern Alps of Austria and the Massif Central of France. It is generally uncommon.

<i>Saxifraga cernua</i> species of 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 plant

Saxifraga flagellaris, the whiplash 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 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.

<i>Saxifraga cespitosa</i> species of 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> species of plant

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>Saxifraga paniculata</i> species of 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 plant

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

<i>Saxifraga aizoides</i> species of plant

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

<i>Micranthes nivalis</i> species of plant

Micranthes nivalis is a plant species in the saxifrage family. It is commonly called snow saxifrage or (ambiguously) "alpine saxifrage".

<i>Chrysosplenium alternifolium</i> species of plant

Chrysosplenium alternifolium is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known as the alternate-leaved golden-saxifrage. It is a mat-forming perennial of wet places that grows between 5 and 15 cm tall. It blooms from March onward.

<i>Saxifraga rivularis</i> species of plant

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

<i>Micranthes tolmiei</i> species of plant

Micranthes tolmiei is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Tolmie's saxifrage, or Tolmie's alpine saxifrage. It is native to western North America from Alaska to Montana to California, where it grows in rocky mountain habitat types, especially in alpine climates, such as talus and fellfields. It is a small perennial herb growing in mats of creeping stems lined with thick, fleshy leaves each up to 1.5 centimeters long. The inflorescence arises on a stout, erect peduncle with a few stubby bracts midway up. The flowers have narrow white petals and petal-like white stamens.

<i>Saxifraga cuneifolia</i> species of 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 aspera</i> species of plant

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. There are two subspecies, Saxifraga aspera subsp. aspera and Saxifraga aspera subsp. micrantha. 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.

<i>Saxifraga globulifera</i> species of plant

Saxifraga globulifera is a flowering plant of the genus Saxifraga and the family Saxifragaceae.

<i>Dryas integrifolia</i> species of plant

Dryas integrifolia is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common names arctic avens, entireleaf mountain-avens, white mountain-avens, northern white mountain avens, and mountain avens. It is native to northern parts of North America, where it occurs from Alaska across Canada to Greenland. It is a common species of the Arctic and it is probably the most common flowering plant on some of the western Arctic islands.

<i>Saxifraga rotundifolia</i> species of plant

Saxifraga rotundifolia, common name round-leaved saxifrage, is a flowering herb and alpine plant of the genus Saxifraga.

<i>Saxifraga</i> × <i>arendsii</i> species of plant

Saxifraga × arendsii, the mossy saxifrage, is a perennial garden flowering plant.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McGregor, Malcolm (2008). Saxifrages: A Definitive Guide to the 2000 Species, Hybrids & Cultivars. p. 191.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Schröter, L.; Prof. C. Schröter (1904). Alpine Flowers. Leipzig: Metzger & Wittig. p. 17.
  3. Bennett, A. W. (1897). The Flora of the Alps (Volume 1). London: John C. Nimmo. p. 104.
  4. 1 2 Saxifraga aspera Schede di botanica: Plants profile. Retrieved 2012-04-28.