Saxifrage Family – Saxifragaceae

Plant Description: Elmera is a perennial with one or more 12-inch, erect stems growing from a clump of basal leaves.  The leaves are dark green and round with scalloped edges. There is a spike of 19 to 35 flowers along the top half of the stem. Both stems and leaves are hairy.

Flower Description: The flowers are 1/2 inch across. The 5 greenish white sepals are fused more than half way up, forming a bell-like flower.  Alternating with the sepals are 5 feather-like, white petals with 3 to 7 pointy lobes at the tip.  Deep inside the flowers are 5 stamen with yellow or orange anthers.

Ecology: Elmera is an alpine flower, growing at high elevations on talus slopes.