Saxifrage Family – Saxifragaceae

Spotted Saxifrage is also called Yellow-dot or Matted Saxfrage.

Plant Description: Spotted Saxifrage is a 3 to 8 inch tall perennial with loose clusters of 3  to 5 flowers standing above a mat of branching, creeping, wiry stems with tiny evergreen leaves. The leaves are .5 inch across, spiny and sharp, with hairy edges, and overlap tightly, forming rosettes.

Flower Description: The flowers are 1/3 inch across. The calyx is saucer-shaped with 5 short, green lobes, triangular or rounded. The 5 petals are oval, white, less than 1/4 inch across, and have a series of round spots, crimson at the tip and going through orange to yellow at the base. There are 10 stamen, shorter than the petals. The carpel is two-parted, prominent, and fused 2/3 of the way up.

Ecology: Spotted Saxifrage grows in rocky, open places at subalpine to alpine elevations.

Note: In the field, you have to look carefully to see the spots, because the petals are so small.