Petrorhagia saxifraga (L.) Link
tunic flower (saxifrage pink)
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
tunic flower (saxifrage pink)
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a slender taproot; stems ascending to erect, much branched, glabrous or stiffly short-hairy, the lower internodes shortly stiff-hairy, 5-40 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal and stem leaves linear and needle-like, 0.5-1.0 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, 1-nerved, fringed with short hairs on the basal margins.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of solitary or rarely 3 flowers at the stalked branch tips, these subtended by 2-4 pairs of papery, egg-shaped bracts; petals 5, 4.5-10 mm long, pink or white, notched, exceeding the calyces; calyces 4-5 mm long; sepals 5.
Fruits:
Capsules egg-shaped, 5-8 mm long; seeds brownish-black, 0.9-1.6 mm long, compressed, concave on 1 side.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Dry roadsides and waste places in the montane zone; rare garden escape in EC BC, known only from Prince George; introduced from Europe.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Tunica saxifraga (L.) Scop.
Taxonomic Keys
TAXONOMIC KEY TO PETRORHAGIA
1. Calyces 10-13 mm long; stem leaves linear to lanceolate, more than 1 cm long P. prolifera 1. Calyces 4-5 mm long; stem leaves linear and needle-like, less than 1 cm long P. saxifraga |