Saxifraga oppositifolia L. subsp. oppositifolia
purple mountain saxifrage
Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
purple mountain saxifrage
Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Map
Distribution of Saxifraga oppositifolia subsp. oppositifolia
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Species Information
General:
Caespitose, perennial herb forming thick cushions to 20 cm across and 2-7 cm tall; flowering stems 1-5 cm tall; plants generally smooth but bristle-fringed on leaves and calyces.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking, stem leaves opposite, persistent, oblong- to egg-shaped, 1-5 mm long, fringed, unstalked, overlapping on non-flowering shoots.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of single flowers, at ends of leafy branches; petals bright pink-purple to blue-purple, or rarely white, spoon-egg-shaped to egg-shaped-oblong, 6-9 mm long, 5- to 7-veined; calyces cup-shaped, lobed for 3/4 or more of length, free hypanthium absent, the lobes oblong-oval, 2-3.5 mm long, fleshy, coarsely fringed, erect or slightly spreading; stamens 10.
Fruits:
Capsules, 6-9 mm long; seeds light brown, about 0.6 mm long, lightly veined.