Micranthes tolmiei
Micranthes gaspensis
alpine saxifrage, Tolmie's alpine saxifrage, Tolmie's saxifrage
Gaspé saxifrage, saxifrage de gaspésie
cauline, proximally crowded;
petiole absent;
blade elliptic-obovate, 0.8–1.5 cm, fleshy, base cuneate, margins entire, sometimes proximally sparsely long-ciliate, surfaces glabrous.
basal;
petiole flattened, 0.7–2.5 cm;
blade obtrullate or obovate to ovate, 0.8–2.5 cm, ± coriaceous, base attenuate to ± cuneate, margins serrate to dentate on distal 2/3, ciliate, surfaces tangled, reddish brown-hairy abaxially, glabrous or glabrate adaxially.
2–10-flowered, lax cymes, sometimes solitary flowers, 3–12 cm, glabrous or purplish- or pink-tipped stipitate-glandular; (bracts 1–3, proximal).
3–10-flowered, subcapitate to spicate cymes or thyrses, 2–10(–15) cm, glabrate to sparsely hairy proximally, ± densely purple-tipped stipitate-glandular distally.
sepals erect to spreading, ovate;
petals white, not spotted, linear to oblanceolate, 2.5–5 mm, longer than sepals, short- or not clawed;
filaments broadly club-shaped (± petaloid);
pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths;
ovary ± superior (to 1/4 adnate to hypanthium).
sepals erect, reflexed in fruit, triangular to deltate;
petals white, not spotted, obovate, clawed, 1.5–2 mm, ± equaling sepals;
filaments linear, flattened;
pistils connate to 1/2 their lengths;
ovary 1/2 inferior, appearing more superior in fruit.
green, purple mottled, valvate.
green, becoming reddish or purplish, folliclelike.
= 30.
= 40.
Micranthes tolmiei
Micranthes gaspensis
Unlike those of most Micranthes species, the leaves of M. tolmiei are proximally cauline and the ovules have two integuments. The seeds have a loose, winglike testa.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Micranthes gaspensis appears to be the stabilized hybrid derivative of M. nivalis and M. tenuis (C. Gervais et al. 1995), known only from the Shickshock Mountains of the Gaspé Peninsula; the chromosome number is intermediate between that of the parents (2n = 60 and 20, respectively), and seeds are fertile. Neither parent occurs any longer in the Gaspé Peninsula, and the plants appear to self-perpetuate.
F1 hybrids of the two parent species (also 2n = 40) occur in Yukon (D. L. Krause and K. I. Beamish 1973) and possibly at other locations throughout their range of sympatry, such as northern Quebec and Labrador; such hybrids will key out with Micranthes gaspensis. Individuals called Saxifraga rufopilosa (Hultén) A. E. Porsild [S. nivalis (Linnaeus) Small var. rufopilosa Hultén] from Yukon and Alaska (W. J. Cody 2000) also will key out here. These may represent either the F1 hybrids mentioned above or stabilized hybrid populations such as those in the Gaspé. It is possible that such stabilized populations would fit under the name M. gaspensis. A systematic study is needed before a taxonomic conclusion can be reached concerning their status.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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