''Saxifraga'' is the largest

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 f ...

, containing about 465

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of 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 the appropriate s ...

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 region ...

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 of the ...

' ("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, st ...

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

grow close to the ground, often in a rosette. The leaves typically have a more or less incised margin; they may be

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

, needle-like and/or hairy, reducing

evaporation Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of a liquid as it changes into the gas phase. High concentration of the evaporating substance in the surrounding gas significantly slows down evaporation, such as when humidi ...

. 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 o ...

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 spirall ...

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 Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...

flowers have five

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

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 b ...

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 filame ...

, 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 dicot ...

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 filame ...

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

Taxonomy

A genus of about 465 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 ''S ...

'' (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 ''Boykinia'' is a small genus of plants related to the saxifrages. It contains at least nine species, known as brookfoams. Brookfoams are glandular rhizomatous creeping perennials with highly lobed or toothed leaves and inflorescence An inf ...

'' 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, t ...

. Modern

floras Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' gut flora'' or '' skin flora''. E ...

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'' an ...

''. 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 ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' – ascending saxifrage *''

Saxifraga aizoides ''Saxifraga aizoides'', yellow mountain saxifrage or yellow saxifrage, is a flowering alpine plant of the genus ''Saxifraga''. Description ''Saxifraga aizoides'' is an evergreen perennial which branches at or below ground level, and grows to . ...

'' – 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'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

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

Saxifraga bronchialis ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 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 carpatica'' *''

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

'' – drooping saxifrage, nodding saxifrage, bulblet saxifrage *'' Saxifraga cervicornis'' *'' Saxifraga cespitosa'' – 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 Roya ...

'' *'' Saxifraga columnaris'' 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" *''

Saxifraga florulenta ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

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

Saxifraga granulata ''Saxifraga granulata'', commonly called meadow saxifrage, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae. It is native to Europe and Morocco. Taxonomy ''Saxifraga granulata'' was first formally described by Linnaeus as part of hi ...

'' L. – meadow saxifrage, bulbous saxifrage, fair maids of France (type species) *'' Saxifraga grisebachii'' - Engleria saxifrage *'' Saxifraga groenlandica'' *'' 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'' – 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 Saxifragaceae is a family of herbaceous perennial flowering plants, within the core eudicot order Saxifragales. The taxonomy of t ...

'' – Mertens' saxifrage *'' Saxifraga montana'' *''

Saxifraga moschata ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 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'' (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 Great Britain, Britain, the Alps ...

'' – purple saxifrage, purple mountain saxifrage *'' Saxifraga osloensis'' 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'' – 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'' – Irish saxifrage *''

Saxifraga rotundifolia ''Saxifraga rotundifolia'', common name round-leaved saxifrage, is a flowering herb and alpine plant of the genus ''Saxifraga''. Subspecies * ''Saxifraga rotundifolia'' subsp. ''heucherifolia'' (Grisebach & Schrenk.) Ciocarlan * ''Saxifraga r ...

'' L. – round-leaved saxifrage *'' Saxifraga roylei'' *'' Saxifraga rudolphiana'' *'' Saxifraga rufopilosa'' – redhair saxifrage *'' Saxifraga sancta'' *'' 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 fr ...

'' – 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'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' *'' Saxifraga tombeanensis'' *''

Saxifraga tricuspidata ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

'' 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 tax ...

'' – rue-leaved saxifrage, " nailwort" *'' 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''

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 Plant ...

'', as ''S. cordifolia, S. crassifolia'' *''

Bergenia pacumbis ''Bergenia'' (elephant-eared saxifrage, elephant's ears) is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae, native to central Asia, from Afghanistan to China and the Himalayan region. Description They are clump-forming, ...

'', as ''S. ligulata, S. pacumbis'' *''

Bergenia purpurascens ''Bergenia purpurascens'', the purple bergenia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae. It is a perennial herb and is native to Nepal, the eastern Himalayas, Assam, Tibet, south-central China, and Myanmar. The species, its pu ...

'', as ''S. delavayi, S. purpurascens'' *'' Boykinia jamesii'', as ''S. jamesii'' *'' Boykinia occidentalis'' (Coastal Brookfoam), as ''S. elata'' *''

Boykinia richardsonii ''Boykinia richardsonii'' is a species of flowering plant in the ''Saxifragaceae'' family, endemism, endemic to Alaska and the adjacent Canadian territory of Yukon. It is commonly known as Richardson's brookfoam, but has also been called Alaska b ...

'' ( Richardson's Brookfoam), as ''S. richardsonii'' *'' Darmera peltata'' (Indian Rhubarb), as ''S. peltata'' *'' Leptarrhena pyrolifolia'', as ''S. pyrolifolia'' *'' Luetkea pectinata'' (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 ''Micranthes howellii'' (formerly ''Saxifraga howellii'') is a species of Saxifraga, saxifrageMalcolm McGregor. ''Saxifrages: A Definitive Guide to the 2000 Species, Hybrids & Cultivars.'' Timber Press, 2008. p. 319. known by the common name How ...

'' (Howell's saxifrage), as ''S. howellii'' **''

Micranthes stellaris ''Micranthes stellaris'', synonym ''Saxifraga stellaris'', the starry saxifrage or hairy kidney-wort, is an Arctic–alpine species in the family Saxifragaceae. It produces panicles of 5–10 white flowers on a stem up to tall, rising from a ba ...

'' (Starry saxifrage), as ''S. stellaris'' *''

Mukdenia rossii ''Mukdenia rossii'' is a plant in the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae. Description ''Mukdenia rossii'' is a herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent wood, woody stems above ground. This broad category of ...

'' (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 nomenclat ...

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

Pimpinella ''Pimpinella'' is a plant genus in the family Apiaceae; it includes the aromatic herb anise ''(Pimpinella anisum, 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 grasslan ...

''. The name "silaum" comes from the Latin word sil, which means yellow ochre. This refers to the sulphorous 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'' *'' Celmisia saxifraga'' (Benth.) W.M.Curtis *'' Cineraria saxifraga'' DC. *''

Dryopteris saxifraga :''The moth genus ''Dryopteris'' is now considered a junior synonym of ''Oreta. ''Dryopteris'' , commonly called the wood ferns, male ferns (referring in particular to ''Dryopteris filix-mas''), or buckler ferns, is a fern genus in the family Dry ...

'' *''

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. ''Pe ...

'' – Tunicflower *'' Pimpinella saxifraga'' – Burnet saxifrage *'' Ptychotis saxifraga'' *'' Saxifragella'' *'' Saxifragodes'' *''

'' 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 syste ...

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 The subarctic zone is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic, north of humid continental regions and covering much of Alaska, Canada, Iceland, the north of Scandinavia, Siberia, and the Cairngorms. Generally, ...

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 betw ...

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 Li ...

and

Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows The Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of Nepal, India, and Tibet, which lies between the tree line and snow line in the western portion of the Himalaya Range. Setting The Western Himalayan ...

. 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 artifi ...

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

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

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, Kazak ...

'').

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended fr ...

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

Droseraceae Droseraceae is a family (biology), family of carnivorous flowering plants, also known as the sundew family. It consists of approximately 180 species in three Extant taxon, extant genera. Representatives of the Droseraceae are found on all conti ...

) – 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 t ...

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 in ...

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 A ...

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 dif ...

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 i ...

. 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 Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and when Plant propagation, propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and st ...

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 (Nort ...

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 on ...

Snow' (''fortunei'') *'

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

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, Augustinians, OSA (; cs, Řehoř Jan Mendel; 20 July 1822 – 6 January 1884) was a biologist, meteorologist, mathematician, Augustinians, Augustinian friar and abbot of St Thomas's Abbey, Brno, St. Thomas' Abbey in Br� ...

' (× ''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 Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut 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 Ulster. B ...

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

'') flowers

References

Bibliography

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

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q156146 Saxifragaceae genera Garden plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus