Micranthes integrifolia |
Micranthes micranthidifolia |
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Columbian saxifrage, grassland saxifrage, northwestern saxifrage, smooth leaf saxifrage, swamp saxifrage, whole-leaf saxifrage |
branch-lettuce, lettuceleaf saxifrage |
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Habit | Plants solitary or in clumps, (sometimes gynodioecious), often with bulbils on caudices, or short-rhizomatous. | Plants solitary or in groups, with bulbils on caudices. |
Leaves | basal; petiole flattened, 0.5–4 cm; blade narrowly to broadly ovate, 2–7 cm, ± leathery, base attenuate, margins entire or minutely denticulate, usually ciliate, surfaces sparsely to moderately hairy. |
basal; petiole ± indistinct, (broad), flattened, 3–15 cm; blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, 4–35 cm, thin, base attenuate, margins irregularly serrate to dentate, ciliate, surfaces sparsely hairy. |
Inflorescences | (15–)20+-flowered, open to ± congested, conic thyrses, (usually branched, lateral cymules ± open), 12–35 cm, densely pink- to purple-tipped stipitate-glandular. |
(30–)50+–flowered, very open, lax thyrses, 30–75 cm, pink- to purplish-tipped stipitate-glandular; (bracts gradually smaller distally). |
Flowers | sepals spreading to slightly reflexed, ovate; petals white, not spotted, obovate, clawed, 2–4 mm, longer than sepals; filaments linear, flattened; pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths; ovary 1/2+ inferior. |
sepals strongly reflexed, oblong; petals white, with 2 basal yellow spots that sometimes appear as 1 (sometimes faded in dried material), ± elliptic to spatulate, clawed, 2–3 mm, longer than sepals; filaments strongly club-shaped; pistils distinct almost to base; ovary superior, (to 1/3 adnate to hypanthium). |
Capsules | reddish or purplish, folliclelike. |
green, sometimes purplish, folliclelike. |
2n | = 38. |
= 22. |
Micranthes integrifolia |
Micranthes micranthidifolia |
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Phenology | Flowering late winter–spring. | Flowering spring. |
Habitat | Vernally moist meadows, grassy slopes, rock outcrops | Rocky seepage slopes, stream banks |
Elevation | 0-1800 m [0-5900 ft] | 400-2100 m [1300-6900 ft] |
Distribution |
CA; OR; WA; BC
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GA; KY; MD; NC; PA; SC; VA; WV
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Discussion | The occasional occurrence of sterile pollen has been noted in this as well as in other species of Micranthes (as Saxifraga, K. I. Beamish 1961). Some populations exhibit gynodioecism (P. E. Elvander 1982). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Micranthes micranthidifolia was formerly gathered by local people in the southern Appalachians as a spring “green” (hence the common name, “branch” being dialect for a small stream); it is still occasionally seen in local grocery stores. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 8, p. 67. | FNA vol. 8, p. 60. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Saxifraga integrifolia | Robertsonia micranthidifolia, Aulaxis micranthidifolia, Saxifraga micranthidifolia |
Name authority | (Hooker) Small: in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 22: 137. 1905 , | (Haworth) Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 501, 1331. 1903 , |
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