Saxifrage Family – Saxifragaceae

The former Latin name for Peak Saxifrage was Saxifraga fragosa.

Plant Description: Peak Saxifrage is often mat-forming. The leaves are all basal, oval or deltoid in shape with long (up to 4 inches), flattened stems, somewhat fleshy with wavy margins and may be sparsely hairy. The 8 to 20-inch flower stems are covered with reddish hairs and have a panicle of 30 or more tiny white flowers, often mostly on one side of the plant.

Flower Description: The calyx is disk-like – with 5 spreading, oval sepals alternating with 5 clawed, white, oval petals that are longer than the sepals.  The 10 stamen are white, linear and flattened with orange anthers and the 2 pistils are fused to half way.

Ecology: Peak Saxifrage grows on wet slopes and cliffs, often near watercourses.

Notes:

• Peak Saxifrage was until recently listed as a variation of Saxifraga intregrifolia, (S. integrifolia var. claytoniifolia). Other authors included it with S. nidifica. It has now been restored as a specific species in the Micranthes genus.
• The genus of Peak Saxifrage has recently been changed from Saxifrage to Micranthes. See the note below the gallery on the Saxifrage Family page and the “APG Changes” page for more information.