''Saxifraga bryoides'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

saxifrage ''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 " ...

known by the common name of mossy saxifrage. In

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

it is known as '. It is an inhabitant of the Alps and other mountain ranges at high altitudes in

continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous mainland of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by som ...

Description

Mossy saxifrage is a low growing, evergreen perennial plant forming dense mats of foliage which seldom exceed in height. The leaves are linear lanceolate fringed with bristly hairs. The leaves curl together in winter and this form of growth is typical of plants growing at high altitudes and under cold conditions because it conserves energy. The leaves in the mat are about long while those that are found on the flowering stem are long. The leaf buds in the axils of the leaves are at least as long as the protecting leaves, a fact that distinguishes this species from the rather similar rough saxifrage, ''

Saxifraga aspera ''Saxifraga aspera'' is a species of saxifrage known by the common name of rough saxifrage. In German it is known as '. It is placed in section ''Trachyphyllum'' of the genus ''Saxifraga''. There are two subspecies, ''Saxifraga aspera'' subsp. '' ...

''. The two species also occupy rather different habitats with the mossy saxifrage being found at higher altitudes, favouring rocky, exposed positions, while the rough saxifrage is often found on damp rocks by streams. The flowers are borne singly on erect stems and are relatively large. The stems are slightly hairy and are often tinged red, as are the five calyx lobes. There are usually five (occasionally six) petals which are oval and do not overlap each other. They are white with the lower half copiously dotted with yellow spots. The ten stamens with orange anthers are in two whorls, with the longer stamens occupying the gaps between the petals. The ovary is superior, the style has two stigmas and the fruit is a two celled capsule. The flowers can be seen in July and August.''Saxifraga aspera''
Schede di botanica: Plants profile. Retrieved 2012-04-28.

Distribution and habitat

''Saxifraga bryoides'' is one of only two species in the section ''Trachyphyllum'' that occurs at high altitudes in continental Europe, the other being ''Saxifraga aspera''. It occurs in the

Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...

, the

Pyrenees The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. ...

, the

Carpathians The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at and the Scandinavian Mountains ...

and the

Balkan Mountains The Balkan mountain range is located in the eastern part of the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It is conventionally taken to begin at the peak of Vrashka Chuka on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. It then runs f ...

at altitudes between It occurs among silicaceous rocks and occupies ledges and fissures in the rock on cliffs, ridges and summits.

Use in cultivation

Mossy saxifrage can be grown in a rockery in temperate climates and can be propagated from seed or by cuttings. It likes gritty, well drained soil. Apparently healthy, established plants sometimes detach themselves from their roots. This tendency is likely to be caused by excessively damp conditions.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q159833 bryoides Alpine flora Flora of the Alps Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus