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Texas saxifrage

Sierra saxifrage

Habit Plants solitary or in clumps, with bulbils on caudices. Plants solitary, in clumps, or sometimes mat-forming, with bulbils on caudices, or rhizomatous.
Leaves

basal;

petiole flattened, 1–3 cm;

blade broadly ovate to oblong, 1.5–3 cm, ± leathery, base ± abruptly attenuate, margins subentire to slightly crenate, eciliate, surfaces glabrate to sparsely hairy.

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

20+-flowered, branched, ± capitate thyrses, 10–15 cm, hairy, sometimes purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.

5+-flowered, densely crowded in 1–3 glomerulate, often flat-topped thyrses, 3.5–15(–20) cm, sparsely purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.

Flowers

sepals erect, ovate;

petals white, not spotted, ± obovate, clawed, 2–3.5 mm, ± equaling sepals;

filaments linear, flattened;

pistils 3+, connate to 1/2 their lengths;

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

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

reddish to purplish, valvate.

purple, folliclelike.

2n

= 20.

Micranthes texana

Micranthes aprica

Phenology Flowering late winter–spring. Flowering summer.
Habitat Sandy flats, rocky, open, wooded areas, granite outcrops Rocky alpine and snowbed meadows
Elevation 50-500 m (200-1600 ft) 1700-4500 m (5600-14800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AR; GA; KS; LA; MO; OK; TX
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
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. 68. FNA vol. 8, p. 69.
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. 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. tischii, M. tolmiei, M. unalaschcensis, M. virginiensis
M. apetala, 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. 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 texana Saxifraga aprica
Name authority (Buckley) Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 501. 1903 , (Greene) Small: in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 22: 135. (1905)
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