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bog saxifrage, Oregon or bogsaxifrage, Oregon saxifrage

Micranthes hitchcockiana

Hitchcock's saxifrage, Saddle Mountain saxifrage

Habit Plants solitary or in clusters, with caudex or thick, fleshy rhizomes. Plants solitary or in clumps, short-rhizomatous.
Leaves

basal;

petiole indistinct, flattened, 3–10 cm;

blade linear to oblanceolate, 6–25 cm, fleshy, base cuneate, margins serrulate to denticulate, ciliate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy.

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.

Inflorescences

(30–)50+-flowered, open to ± crowded, conic to cylindric thyrses, 25–125 cm, hairy proximally, yellow- to pink-tipped stipitate-glandular distally.

70+-flowered, open, lax, flat-topped thyrses, 15–35 cm, tangled, yellow-tipped stipitate-glandular.

Flowers

sepals reflexed, ovate to triangular;

petals white, not spotted, broadly elliptic to obovate and 2 times as long as sepals, sometimes oblanceolate and equaling or shorter than sepals, clawed, 2–5 mm;

filaments linear, flattened;

pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths;

ovary 1/2+ inferior, often appearing superior in fruit.

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.

Capsules

green to reddish purple, folliclelike.

greenish to reddish purple, folliclelike.

2n

= 38, 76.

= 76.

Micranthes oregana

Micranthes hitchcockiana

Phenology Flowering early spring–summer. Flowering late spring–summer.
Habitat Bogs, marshes Wet rocks and ledges on mountain-top balds
Elevation 100-2500 m (300-8200 ft) 600-1100 m (2000-3600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; WA; AB
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In both habitat and morphology, Micranthes oregana is similar to M. pensylvanica. A thorough investigation of the two species, especially the populations in Colorado that are disjunct from those in Montana, is needed to clarify relationships. The name Saxifraga integrifolia was misapplied to M. oregana by early California authors.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

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.)

Source FNA vol. 8, p. 67. FNA vol. 8, p. 70.
Parent taxa Saxifragaceae > Micranthes Saxifragaceae > Micranthes
Sibling taxa
M. apetala, M. aprica, M. bryophora, M. californica, M. calycina, M. careyana, M. caroliniana, M. eriophora, M. ferruginea, M. foliolosa, M. fragosa, M. gaspensis, M. gormanii, M. hieraciifolia, M. hitchcockiana, M. howellii, M. idahoensis, M. integrifolia, M. lyallii, M. marshallii, M. micranthidifolia, M. nelsoniana, M. nidifica, M. nivalis, M. nudicaulis, M. occidentalis, M. odontoloma, M. palmeri, M. pensylvanica, M. petiolaris, M. razshivinii, M. reflexa, M. rhomboidea, M. rufidula, M. spicata, M. stellaris, M. subapetala, M. tempestiva, M. tenuis, M. texana, M. tischii, M. tolmiei, M. unalaschcensis, M. virginiensis
M. apetala, M. aprica, M. bryophora, M. californica, M. calycina, M. careyana, M. caroliniana, M. eriophora, M. ferruginea, M. foliolosa, M. fragosa, M. gaspensis, M. gormanii, M. hieraciifolia, M. howellii, M. idahoensis, M. integrifolia, M. lyallii, M. marshallii, M. micranthidifolia, M. nelsoniana, M. nidifica, M. nivalis, M. nudicaulis, M. occidentalis, M. odontoloma, M. oregana, M. palmeri, M. pensylvanica, M. petiolaris, M. razshivinii, M. reflexa, M. rhomboidea, M. rufidula, M. spicata, M. stellaris, M. subapetala, M. tempestiva, M. tenuis, M. texana, M. tischii, M. tolmiei, M. unalaschcensis, M. virginiensis
Synonyms Saxifraga oregana, Saxifraga montanensis, Saxifraga oregana var. montanensis Saxifraga hitchcockiana
Name authority (Howell) Small: in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 22: 138. 1905 , (Elvander) Brouillet & Gornall: Novon 18: 138. 2008 ,
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