Micranthes hitchcockiana |
Micranthes careyana |
|
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Hitchcock's saxifrage, Saddle Mountain saxifrage |
Carey's saxifrage |
|
Habit | Plants solitary or in clumps, short-rhizomatous. | Plants often mat-forming, with extensive rhizomes. |
Leaves | basal; petiole often indistinct, flattened, 5–50 mm; blade elliptic to obovate, 4–12 cm, slightly fleshy, base cuneate, margins serrate to dentate, densely ciliate, surfaces densely tangled-hairy. |
basal; petiole flattened, 1–7 cm; blade rounded or broadly ovate to oblong, 1–7 cm, thin, base truncate, margins coarsely serrate to dentate, sparsely ciliate, surfaces sparsely to ± densely tangled, reddish brown-hairy. |
Inflorescences | 70+-flowered, open, lax, flat-topped thyrses, 15–35 cm, tangled, yellow-tipped stipitate-glandular. |
40+-flowered, lax, open thyrses, 10–40(–50) cm, purple-tipped stipitate-glandular. |
Flowers | sepals reflexed, elliptic to ovate; petals white, not spotted, elliptic, clawed, 2–5 mm, longer than sepals; filaments linear, flattened; pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths; ovary 1/2 inferior, appearing more superior in fruit. |
sepals spreading, broadly ovate; petals white, sometimes some with 2 faint, basal yellow spots (sometimes fading upon drying), narrowly ovate to elliptic, clawed, 2–4(–5) mm, 2+ times as long as sepals; filaments linear, flattened; pistils distinct almost to base; ovary superior, (to 1/3 adnate to hypanthium). |
Capsules | greenish to reddish purple, folliclelike. |
green, ± purple tinged, folliclelike. |
2n | = 76. |
|
Micranthes hitchcockiana |
Micranthes careyana |
|
Phenology | Flowering late spring–summer. | Flowering spring–early summer. |
Habitat | Wet rocks and ledges on mountain-top balds | Moist soil at bases of vertical or overhanging rock outcrops, seeps |
Elevation | 600-1100 m (2000-3600 ft) | 500-1600 m (1600-5200 ft) |
Distribution |
OR
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AL; GA; KY; NC; TN; VA; WV |
Discussion | Of conservation concern. Micranthes hitchcockiana may have originated from hybridization between M. rufidula and M. oregana (P. E. Elvander 1984; W. E. Perkins 1978). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Micranthes careyana is very similar to M. caroliniana; both are in need of study. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 8, p. 70. | FNA vol. 8, p. 61. |
Parent taxa | Saxifragaceae > Micranthes | Saxifragaceae > Micranthes |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Saxifraga hitchcockiana | Saxifraga careyana, Saxifraga tennesseensis |
Name authority | (Elvander) Brouillet & Gornall: Novon 18: 138. 2008 , | (A. Gray) Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 501. 1903 , |
Web links |
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