Micranthes aprica |
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Sierra saxifrage |
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Habit | Plants solitary, in clumps, or sometimes mat-forming, with bulbils on caudices, or rhizomatous. |
Leaves | basal; petiole flattened, 0.5–2 cm; blade obovate to elliptic, 1.5–4 cm, fleshy, base attenuate, margins entire or apically denticulate, eciliate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy. |
Inflorescences | 5+-flowered, densely crowded in 1–3 glomerulate, often flat-topped thyrses, 3.5–15(–20) cm, sparsely purple-tipped stipitate-glandular. |
Flowers | sepals ascending to spreading, ovate; petals white, not spotted, elliptic to linear, clawed, 1.8–3 mm, slightly longer than sepals; filaments linear, flattened; pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths; ovary inferior, appearing more superior in fruit. |
Capsules | purple, folliclelike. |
2n | = 20. |
Micranthes aprica |
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Phenology | Flowering summer. |
Habitat | Rocky alpine and snowbed meadows |
Elevation | 1700-4500 m (5600-14800 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; NV; OR
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Discussion | Specimens of Micranthes aprica from the Klamath region of California and Oregon are unusually robust, occur at unusually low elevations, and have usually pollen-sterile flowers (P. E. Elvander 1984). In the Steens Mountains of southwestern Oregon, specimens that are morphologically similar to M. rhomboidea from some Utah locations can be found. Although tentatively relegated to M. aprica, these populations need thorough study. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 8, p. 69. |
Parent taxa | Saxifragaceae > Micranthes |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | Saxifraga aprica |
Name authority | (Greene) Small: in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 22: 135. (1905) |
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