''Saxifraga'' is the largest

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

in the family

Saxifragaceae Saxifragaceae is a family of herbaceous perennial flowering plants, within the core eudicot order Saxifragales. The taxonomy of the family has been greatly revised and the scope much reduced in the era of molecular phylogenetic analysis. The ...

, containing about 473

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

holarctic The Holarctic realm is a biogeographic realm that comprises the majority of habitats found throughout the continents in the Northern Hemisphere. It corresponds to the floristic Boreal Kingdom. It includes both the Nearctic zoogeographical regi ...

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

s, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

' ("rock" or "stone") + ' ("to break"). It is usually thought to indicate a medicinal use for treatment of

urinary calculi Kidney stone disease, also known as nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, is a crystallopathy where a solid piece of material (kidney stone) develops in the urinary tract. Kidney stones typically form in the kidney and leave the body in the urine s ...

(known as kidney or bladder stones), rather than breaking rocks apart.

Description

Most saxifrages are small

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

biennial Biennial means (an event) lasting for two years or occurring every two years. The related term biennium is used in reference to a period of two years. In particular, it can refer to: * Biennial plant, a plant which blooms in its second year and th ...

(e.g. '' S. adscendens'') or

annual Annual may refer to: * Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook **Literary annual * Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

(e.g. '' S. tridactylites'')

herbaceous plants Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

whose basal or

cauline A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...

leaves grow close to the ground, often in a rosette. The leaves typically have a more or less incised margin; they may be succulent, needle-like and/or hairy, reducing evaporation. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

or single flower clusters rise above the main plant body on naked stalks. The small

actinomorphic Floral symmetry describes whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts. Uncommonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry at all, typically because their parts are spiral ...

hermaphrodite In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrates) do not have ...

flowers have five

petal Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...

s and

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined ...

s and are usually white, but red to yellow in some species.

Stamens The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

, usually 10, rarely 8, insert at the junction of the floral tube and ovary wall, with filaments subulate or clavate. As in other primitive

eudicot The eudicots, Eudicotidae, or eudicotyledons are a clade of flowering plants mainly characterized by having two seed leaves upon germination. The term derives from Dicotyledons. Traditionally they were called tricolpates or non- magnoliid dic ...

s, some of the 5 or 10

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s may appear petal-like. and it lives in tundral ecosystems.

Taxonomy

A genus of about 473 species. The former

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

genus ''Saxifragella'' has been submersed within Saxifraga, the largest genus in

, as ''Saxifraga bicuspidata''. Also the genus ''

Saxifragopsis ''Saxifragopsis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the saxifrage family containing the single species ''Saxifragopsis fragarioides'', which is known by the common name strawberry saxifrage. This plant is sometimes included in genus '' ...

'' (strawberry saxifrage) was previously included in ''Saxifraga''.

Subdivision

Based on morphological criteria, up to 15 sections were recognised. Subsequent

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies reduced this to 13 sections with 9 subsections. The former sections ''Micranthes'' and ''Merkianae'' are more closely related to the '' Boykinia'' and ''

Heuchera ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

clades A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term ...

. Modern

floras Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring ( indigenous) native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Sometimes b ...

separate these groups as the genus ''

Micranthes ''Micranthes'' is a genus of flowering plants in the saxifrage family. It was formerly included within the genus '' Saxifraga'' until recent DNA evidence showed the members of what is now ''Micranthes'' are more closely related to ''Boykinia'' a ...

''. The thirteen sections (with subsections) are: *''Irregulares'' *''Saxifragella'' *''Pseudocymbalaria'' *''Bronchiales'' *''Ciliatae'' *''Cymbalaria'' *''Cotylea'' *''Gymnopera'' *''Mesogyne'' *''Trachyphyllum'' *''Ligulatae'' *''Porphyrion'' **''Squarrosae'' **''Mutatae'' **''Oppositifoliae'' **''Florulentae'' **''Kabschia'' *''Saxifraga'' **''Tridactylites'' **''Androsaceae'' **''Arachnoideae'' **''Saxifraga''

Selected species

*'' Saxifraga adscendens'' – ascending saxifrage *'' Saxifraga aizoides'' – Yellow mountain saxifrage,Umberto Quattrocchi. ''CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms. Synonyms, and Etymology.'' CRC Press, 1999. p.2395-2396. yellow saxifrage *'' Saxifraga aizoon'' – Aizoon rockfoil *'' Saxifraga algisii'' *'' Saxifraga anadyrensis'' *'' Saxifraga androsacea'' *''

Saxifraga aquatica ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' *''

Saxifraga arachnoidea ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' * ''Saxifraga'' × ''arendsii'' – mossy saxifrage, mossy rockfoil *'' Saxifraga aspera'' L. – rough saxifrage, stiff-haired saxifrage *'' Saxifraga bicuspidata'' *''

Saxifraga biflora ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' *''

Saxifraga bronchialis ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' L. – matte saxifrage *'' Saxifraga bryoides'' L. – mossy saxifrage *'' Saxifraga burseriana'' L. – AGM *'' Saxifraga caesia'' – blue green saxifrage *'' Saxifraga callosa'' Sm. – limestone saxifrage *''

Saxifraga canaliculata ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock ...

'' *'' Saxifraga carpatica'' *''

Saxifraga cernua ''Saxifraga cernua'', the drooping saxifrage, nodding saxifrage or bulblet saxifrage, is a flower common all over the High Arctic. It stretches further south in mountainous areas of the Alps, Norway, Iceland, Siberia and Alaska Alaska ...

'' – drooping saxifrage, nodding saxifrage, bulblet saxifrage *''

Saxifraga cervicornis ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' *''

Saxifraga cespitosa ''Saxifraga cespitosa'', the tufted alpine saxifrage or tufted saxifrage, is a flower common to many arctic heights. It appears further south in mountainous areas of the Alps, Norway, Scotland, Wales, Iceland, Siberia, western North Americ ...

'' – tufted saxifrage *'' Saxifraga ciliata'' *''

Saxifraga cochlearis ''Saxifraga cochlearis'', called the spoon-leaved saxifrage, is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Saxifraga'', native to the Alpes Maritimes of France and the adjoining Italian region of Liguria. Its 'Minor' subtaxon has gained the ...

'' – spoon-leaved saxifrage *''

Saxifraga columnaris ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' Schmalh. *'' Saxifraga corsica'' *'' Saxifraga consanguinea'' W.W.Sm. *'' Saxifraga cotyledon'' L. – great alpine rockfoil, greater evergreen saxifrage *'' Saxifraga crustata'' Vest. – crusted-leaved saxifraga, silver saxifrage, encrusted saxifrage *'' Saxifraga cuneifolia'' – shield-leaved saxifrage, lesser London pride *'' Saxifraga cymbalaria'' – celandine saxifrage *'' Saxifraga decipiens'' *'' Saxifraga dinnikii'' Schmalh. *'' Saxifraga eschscholtzii'' – cushion saxifrage *'' Saxifraga exarata'' – furrowed saxifrage *'' Saxifraga flagellaris'' Willd. ''ex'' Sternb. – whiplash saxifrage, spider saxifrage, "

spider plant Spider plant is a common name for several plants and may refer to: *''Chlorophytum comosum'', the commonly cultivated houseplant *'' Chlorophytum'', a genus of plants in the Asparagus family *''Saxifraga flagellaris ''Saxifraga flagellaris'', ...

" *'' Saxifraga florulenta'' *''

Saxifraga forbesei ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' *'' Saxifraga fortunei'' Hook.f. – fortune saxifrage *'' Saxifraga × geum'' – Robertsoniana saxifrage (''S. hirsuta'' x ''S. umbrosa'') *''

Saxifraga globulifera ''Saxifraga globulifera'' is a flowering plant of the genus ''Saxifraga'' and the family Saxifragaceae. Habitat The plant grows in southern Spain on limestone rocks and cliffs. The Gibraltar Saxifrage, a variety, is an endemic plant in the Up ...

'' – Gibraltar saxifrage *'' Saxifraga granulata'' L. – meadow saxifrage, bulbous saxifrage, fair maids of France (type species) *''

Saxifraga grisebachii ''Saxifraga federici-augusti'' (syn. ''Saxifraga grisebachii''), common name Engleria saxifrage, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Saxifragaceae family. Its subspecies ''Saxifraga federiciaugusti'' subsp. ''grisebachii'' and the 'W ...

'' - Engleria saxifrage *''

Saxifraga groenlandica ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' *'' Saxifraga hederacea'' *'' Saxifraga hirculus'' L. – yellow marsh saxifrage, marsh saxifrage, "bog saxifrage" *'' Saxifraga hirsuta'' – kidney saxifrage *'' Saxifraga hyperborea'' – pygmy saxifrage *'' Saxifraga hypnoides'' – mossy saxifrage, Dovedale moss *'' Saxifraga juniperifolia'' *'' Saxifraga korshinskii'' Kom. *'' Saxifraga lactea'' Turcz. *''

Saxifraga longifolia ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' – Pyrenean saxifrage *'' Saxifraga maderensis'' – Madeira saxifrage, Madeira breakstone *''

Saxifraga mertensiana ''Saxifraga mertensiana'', the wood saxifrage or Mertens' saxifrage, is a species of plant in the Saxifragaceae family. It is native to western North America. References External links * *Jepson Manual Treatment Saxifraga montana ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock ...

'' *''

Saxifraga moschata ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' – musky saxifrage, mossy saxifrage **''Saxifraga moschata'' ssp. ''basaltica'' *'' Saxifraga muscoides'' *'' Saxifraga mutata'' *''

Saxifraga nathorstii ''Saxifraga nathorstii'', Nathorst's saxifrage, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Saxifragaceae. ''Saxifraga nathorstii'' is a putative allotetraploid hydrid between ''S. aizoides'' and ''S. oppositifolia'', and morphologi ...

'' (Dusén) Hayek – East Greenland saxifrage *'' Saxifraga nipponica'' *''

Saxifraga oppositifolia ''Saxifraga oppositifolia'', the purple saxifrage or purple mountain saxifrage, is a species of plant that is very common in the high Arctic and also some high mountainous areas further south, including northern Britain, the Alps and the Rocky ...

'' – purple saxifrage, purple mountain saxifrage *''

Saxifraga osloensis ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' Knaben – Oslo saxifrage, a natural

hybrid species Hybrid speciation is a form of speciation where hybridization between two different species leads to a new species, reproductively isolated from the parent species. Previously, reproductive isolation between two species and their parents was tho ...

*''

Saxifraga paniculata ''Saxifraga paniculata'' is an alpine species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family, with native distribution in the temperate northern hemisphere. Common names include alpine saxifrage, encrusted saxifrage, lifelong saxifrage, lime-encruste ...

'' – lifelong saxifrage, white mountain saxifrage *'' Saxifraga paradoxa'' Sternb. – Fragile saxifraga *'' Saxifraga petraea'' *'' Saxifraga platysepala'' (= ''S. flagellaris'' ''auct. non'' Willd.) – broadsepal saxifrage *'' Saxifraga porophylla'' *'' Saxifraga redofskii'' – many-flower saxifrage *'' Saxifraga rivularis'' – alpine brook saxifrage, brook saxifrage, highland saxifrage *''

Saxifraga rosacea ''Saxifraga rosacea'', or Irish saxifrage, is a herbaceous plant in the family Saxifragaceae. It spreads by stolons, forming a compact cushion of short leafy shoots. Flowering stems may be up to 25cm tall, bearing 4-5 white flowers with petals 6 ...

'' – Irish saxifrage *'' Saxifraga rotundifolia'' L. – round-leaved saxifrage *''

Saxifraga roylei ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' *''

Saxifraga rudolphiana ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

'' *''

Saxifraga rufopilosa ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' – redhair saxifrage *''

Saxifraga sancta ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' *'' Saxifraga serpyllifolia'' – thymeleaf saxifrage *'' Saxifraga sibirica'' – Siberian saxifrage *''

Saxifraga spathularis ''Saxifraga spathularis'', the St Patrick's cabbage, is a species of saxifrage native to Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. It is a member of the so-called Lusitanian flora, a small set of plants which are native to Ireland but inexplicably absent ...

'' – Saint Patrick's cabbage *'' Saxifraga squarrosa'' – Dolomites saxifrage *'' Saxifraga stolonifera'' – creeping saxifrage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil, strawberry begonia, strawberry geranium, Aaron's beard **''Saxifraga stolonifera'' f. ''aptera'' (Makino) H.Hara – ''hoshizaki-yukinoshita'' (

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

) **''Saxifraga stolonifera'' 'Cuscutiformis' (''Saxifraga cuscutiformis'' Lodd.) – Dodder-like saxifrage *'' Saxifraga subverticillata'' *'' Saxifraga svalbardensis'' *'' Saxifraga taygetea'' *'' Saxifraga taylorii'' – Taylor's saxifrage *'' Saxifraga tenella'' *'' Saxifraga tombeanensis'' *'' Saxifraga tricuspidata'' Rottb. – prickly saxifrage *''

Saxifraga tridactylites ''Saxifraga tridactylites'', the rue-leaved saxifrage or " nailwort", is a species of plant in the family Saxifragaceae Saxifragaceae is a family of herbaceous perennial flowering plants, within the core eudicot order Saxifragales. The ...

'' – rue-leaved saxifrage, "

nailwort The common name nailwort may refer to several unrelated species: * Any species of ''Paronychia'' (Whitlow-wort) * ''Draba verna'' (Shadflower) * ''Saxifraga tridactylites ''Saxifraga tridactylites'', the rue-leaved saxifrage or " nailwort", is ...

" *'' Saxifraga trifurcata'' * ''Saxifraga'' × ''urbium'' – London pride (''S. spathularis ''×'' S. umbrosa'') *''

Saxifraga umbrosa ''Saxifraga umbrosa'', called true London pride, none-so-pretty, king's feather, kiss-me-quick, leaf of St Patrick, look-up-and-kiss-me, mignonette of the French, Nancy-pretty, prattling Parnell, Pyrenean saxifrage, sailor plant, St Anne's needle ...

'' – Pyrenean saxifrage *'' Saxifraga vandelli'' *''

Saxifraga wahlenbergii ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or ...

Formerly placed here

Plants formerly placed in ''Saxifraga'' are mainly but not exclusively

. They include: *'' Astilboides tabularis'', as ''S. tabularis'' *''

Bergenia crassifolia ''Bergenia crassifolia'' is a species of flowering plant of the genus '' Bergenia'' in the family Saxifragaceae. Common names for the species include heart-leaved bergenia,Tomasz Aniśko. ''When Perennials Bloom: An Almanac for Planning and Plan ...

'', as ''S. cordifolia, S. crassifolia'' *'' Bergenia pacumbis'', as ''S. ligulata, S. pacumbis'' *'' Bergenia purpurascens'', as ''S. delavayi, S. purpurascens'' *'' Boykinia jamesii'', as ''S. jamesii'' *'' Boykinia occidentalis'' (Coastal Brookfoam), as ''S. elata'' *'' Boykinia richardsonii'' ( Richardson's Brookfoam), as ''S. richardsonii'' *''

Darmera peltata ''Darmera peltata'', the Indian rhubarb or umbrella plant, is a flowering plant, the only species within the genus Darmera in the family Saxifragaceae.Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed, 2013, p 90 It is a slowly spreading rhizomatous ...

'' (Indian Rhubarb), as ''S. peltata'' *'' Leptarrhena pyrolifolia'', as ''S. pyrolifolia'' *''

Luetkea pectinata ''Luetkea'' is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Rosaceae. One species is accepted. ''Luetkea pectinata'' (partridgefoot or luetkea) is a mat-forming semi-shrub. It is endemic to the cold portions of western North America occurring in s ...

'' (Partridgefoot), as ''S. pectinata'' *''

, including: **''

Micranthes integrifolia ''Micranthes integrifolia'' is a species of flowering plant known by the common name wholeleaf saxifrage. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Montana and northern California, where it grows in moist habitat, including m ...

'' (wholeleaf saxifrage) **'' Micranthes howellii'' (Howell's saxifrage), as ''S. howellii'' **'' Micranthes stellaris'' (Starry saxifrage), as ''S. stellaris'' *'' Mukdenia rossii'' (Mukdenia), as ''S. rossii''

Other "saxifragous" plants

Several plant

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

have names referring to saxifrages, although they might not be close relatives of ''Saxifraga''. They include: *Golden-saxifrages, ''

Chrysosplenium ''Chrysosplenium'' (golden saxifrage or golden-saxifrage) is a genus of 57Soltis, D.E. (2001)Phylogenetic relationships and evolution in ''Chrysosplenium'' (Saxifragaceae) based on matK sequence data ''Am J Bot'' 88:883-893 species of flowering ...

'' *Burnet-saxifrages, ''

Pimpinella ''Pimpinella'' is a plant genus in the family Apiaceae; it includes the aromatic herb anise ''( P. anisum)''.Silaum silaus ''Silaum silaus'', commonly known as pepper-saxifrage, is a perennial plant in the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) (the carrot family) found across south-eastern, central, and western Europe, including the British Isles. It grows in damp grassla ...

''. The name "silaum" comes from the Latin word sil, which means yellow ochre. This refers to the sulphurous yellow colour of the flowers. Some plants refer to ''Saxifraga'' in their generic names or

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

s, either because they are also "rock-breaking" or because they resemble members of the saxifrage genus: *''

Campanula saxifraga ''Campanula'' () is one of several genera of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae commonly known as bellflowers. They take both their common and scientific names from the bell-shaped flowers — ''campanula'' is Latin for "little b ...

'' *'' Celmisia saxifraga'' (Benth.) W.M.Curtis *'' Cineraria saxifraga'' DC. *'' Dryopteris saxifraga'' *''

Petrorhagia saxifraga ''Petrorhagia saxifraga'', known as tunic flower or coat flower, is a small, herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to parts of Europe and introduced to the United States and Canada, Great Britain, and Sweden. ''P ...

'' – Tunicflower *''

Pimpinella saxifraga ''Pimpinella saxifraga'', known as burnet-saxifrage, solidstem burnet saxifrage, lesser burnet is a plant species in the family Apiaceae, a native of the British Isles and temperate Europe and Western Asia. It is neither a burnet, which its l ...

'' – Burnet saxifrage *'' Ptychotis saxifraga'' *'' Saxifragella'' *''

Saxifragodes ''Saxifragodes'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Saxifragaceae Saxifragaceae is a family of herbaceous perennial flowering plants, within the core eudicot order Saxifragales. The taxonomy of the family has been greatly ...

'' *''

'' Small

Ecology

Saxifrages are typical inhabitants of

Arctic–alpine An Arctic–alpine taxon is one whose natural distribution includes the Arctic and more southerly mountain ranges, particularly the Alps. The presence of identical or similar taxa in both the tundra of the far north, and high mountain ranges much f ...

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syst ...

s, and are hardly ever found outside the

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

parts of the Northern Hemisphere; most members of this genus are found in subarctic climates. A good number of species grow in

glacial A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate betwe ...

habitats, such as '' S. biflora'' which can be found some above sea level in the Alps, or the East Greenland saxifrage ('' S. nathorstii''). The genus is also abundant in the

Eastern Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai *Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 * Eastern Air L ...

and Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows. Though the archetypal saxifrage is a small plant huddling between rocks high up on a mountain, many species do not occur in such a

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

and are larger (though still rather delicate) plants found on wet

meadow A meadow ( ) is an open habitat, or field, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non- woody plants. Trees or shrubs may sparsely populate meadows, as long as these areas maintain an open character. Meadows may be naturally occurring or artif ...

s. Various ''Saxifraga'' species are used as food plants by the

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larva, larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterfly, butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawfly ...

s of some butterflies and moths, such as the Phoebus Apollo (''

Parnassius phoebus ''Parnassius phoebus'', known as the Phoebus Apollo or small Apollo, is a butterfly species of the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae, found in the Palearctic and North America. ''P. phoebus'' is found in the Alps, Urals, Siberia, Kazakh ...

'').

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...

– erroneously believing ''Saxifraga'' to be allied to the sundew family (

Droseraceae Droseraceae is a family of carnivorous flowering plants, also known as the sundew family. It consists of approximately 180 species in three extant genera. Representatives of the Droseraceae are found on all continents except Antarctica. Descri ...

) – suspected the sticky-leaved round-leaved saxifrage ('' S. rotundifolia''), rue-leaved saxifrage ('' S. tridactylites'') and Pyrenean saxifrage ('' S. umbrosa'') to be

protocarnivorous plant A protocarnivorous plant (sometimes also paracarnivorous, subcarnivorous, or borderline carnivore), according to some definitions, traps and kills insects or other animals but lacks the ability to either directly digest or absorb nutrients from it ...

s, and conducted some experiments whose results supported his observations, but the matter has apparently not been studied since his time.

Cultivation

Numerous species and cultivars of saxifrage are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, valued particularly as

groundcover Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows over an area of ground. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought. In an ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as ...

or as

cushion plant A cushion plant is a compact, low-growing, mat-forming plant that is found in alpine, subalpine, arctic, or subarctic environments around the world. The term "cushion" is usually applied to woody plants that grow as spreading mats, are limited ...

s in

rock garden A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small ...

s and

alpine gardens An alpine garden (or alpinarium, alpinum) is a domestic or botanical garden, or more often a part of a larger garden, specializing in the collection and cultivation of alpine plants growing naturally at high altitudes around the world, such as in ...

. Many require alkaline or neutral soil to thrive. ''S. ''×'' urbium'' (London pride), a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

between Pyrenean saxifrage ('' S. umbrosa'') and St. Patrick's cabbage ('' S. spathularis''), is commonly grown as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

. Another

horticultural Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...

hybrid is Robertsoniana saxifrage ('' S. × geum''), derived from kidney saxifrage ('' S. hirsuta'') and Pyrenean saxifrage. Some wild species are also used in gardening.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located in Cambridge, England, associated with the university Department of Plant Sciences (formerly Botany School). It lies between Trumpington Road to the west, Bateman Street to ...

hosts the United Kingdom's national collection of saxifrages.

Award of Garden Merit

The following species and

cultivars A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (No ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

:- *'Angelina Johnson' (''fortunei'') *'Blackberry and Apple Pie' (''fortunei'') *'' S. callosa'' (limestone saxifrage) *'

Conwy Conwy (, ), previously known in English as Conway, is a walled market town, community and the administrative centre of Conwy County Borough in North Wales. The walled town and castle stand on the west bank of the River Conwy, facing Deganwy o ...

Snow' (''fortunei'') *'

Coolock Coolock () is a large suburban area, centred on a village, on Dublin city's Northside in Ireland. Coolock is crossed by the Santry River, a prominent feature in the middle of the district, with a linear park and ponds. The Coolock suburban are ...

Kate' *'

Cumulus Cumulus clouds are clouds which have flat bases and are often described as "puffy", "cotton-like" or "fluffy" in appearance. Their name derives from the Latin ''cumulo-'', meaning ''heap'' or ''pile''. Cumulus clouds are low-level clouds, gener ...

' *'' S. fortunei'' *'

Gregor Mendel Gregor Johann Mendel, OSA (; cs, Řehoř Jan Mendel; 20 July 1822 – 6 January 1884) was a biologist, meteorologist, mathematician, Augustinian friar and abbot of St. Thomas' Abbey in Brünn (''Brno''), Margraviate of Moravia. Mendel wa ...

' (× ''apiculata'') *'Lagraveana' (''paniculata'') *'Lutea' *'Minor' *'Moe' (''fortunei'') *'Monarch' *'Mount Nachi' (''fortunei'') *'

Peach Melba Peach Melba (french: pêche Melba, pronounced ) is a dessert of peaches and raspberry sauce with vanilla ice cream. It was invented in 1892 or 1893 by the French chef Auguste Escoffier at the Savoy Hotel, London, to honour the Australian soprano ...

' *'

Reginald Farrer Reginald John Farrer (17 February 1880 – 17 October 1920), was a traveller and plant collector. He published a number of books, although is best known for ''My Rock Garden''. He travelled to Asia in search of a variety of plants, many of wh ...

' (Silver Farreri Group) *'Rokujo' (''fortunei'') *'Rosea' *'Shiranami' (''fortunei'') *'Slack's Ruby Southside' (Southside Seedling Group) *'Snowflake' (Silver Farreri Group) *'Southside Star' (Southside Seedling Group) *'' S. stolonifera'' (strawberry saxifrage) *'Sue Drew' (''fortunei'') *='Toujya' (''fortunei'') *' Theoden' *'Tumbling Waters' * ''S.'' × ''urbium'' (London pride) *'Venetia' (''paniculata'') *'Whitehill'

Uses

The leaves of some saxifrage species, such as creeping saxifrage ('' S. stolonifera'') and ''S. pensylvanica'', are edible. The former is a food in Korea and Japan. The flowers of purple saxifrage ('' S. oppositifolia'') are eaten in

Nunavut Nunavut ( , ; iu, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ , ; ) is the largest and northernmost territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the '' Nunavut Act'' and the '' Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act'' ...

, Canada and the leaves and stems brewed as a tea.Official Flower of Nunavut
Nunavut, Canada Species are also used in traditional medicine, such as creeping saxifrage in East Asia and round-leaved saxifrage ( ''S. rotundifolia'') in Europe. Two species—purple saxifrage and creeping saxifrage—are popular

floral emblem In a number of countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to ...

s. They are official flowers for: *

, Canada - purple saxifrage *

County Londonderry County Londonderry (Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry ( ga, Contae Dhoire), is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty two counties of Ireland and one of the nine counties of Ulste ...

, Northern Ireland - purple saxifrage *

Tsukuba is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 244,528 in 108,669 households and a population density of 862 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 20.3%. The total ar ...

, Japan - creeping saxifrage, "hoshizaki" form (''S. stolonifera'' Curtis f. ''aptera'') File:Saxifraga umbrosa a3.jpg, Pyrenean saxifrage ('' S. umbrosa''), ancestor to

saxifrages File:Saxifraga caesia a1.jpg, '' Saxifraga caesia'' File:Saxifraga cuneifolia3.jpg, Lesser London pride ('' Saxifraga cuneifolia'') File:Saxifraga decipiens White V08 H3990.jpg, '' Saxifraga decipiens'' File:Saxifraga rosacea 01.jpg, Irish saxifrage (''

'') File:Saxifraga tricuspidata upernavik 2007-07-15 1 filtered.jpg, Prickly saxifrage ('' Saxifraga tricuspidata'') flowers

References

Bibliography

;Books * * ;Articles * * * * * * ;Websites * * * ;Floras *, in Flora of China online vol. 8
see also PDF
' *

External links

{{Authority control Saxifragaceae genera Garden plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus