Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Weak Saxifrage
Saxifraga debilis
Saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae)

Weak Saxifrage (Saxifraga debilis) sends out roots that sprout new plants and thus even though individual plants are tiny, the numerous clusters of scalloped leaves and numerous white flowers attract attention -- if you are a slow moving hiker with wide open eyes. Look for these plants in moist, shady, rocky areas and along rivulets. The dainty white bell flowers often nod from atop slender stems which usually have a few leaves reduced in size. Saxifraga cernua (Pygmy Saxifrage), a close cousin of Saxifraga debilis is quickly distinguished from it by its bulblets along the stem below the flower. There are also often bulblets in the axils. Reproduction occurs mostly from the bulblets, rarely from seeds, but also occurs from the fibrous root system -- thus there will often be several plants near each other because they sprout from the roots.


© Max Licher, downloaded from SEINet

Description

Plants from 1 to 6" tall, arising from fibrous roots. Stems usually , rarely hairy. sometimes with white or purple bulblets in the axils. from 1/10 to 2" long. Leaf to about 1/2" across, nearly , with 3-7 . Flowers usually solitary and , slender, very short. Petals about 1/8" long, white. exceeding the but shorter than the petals. a to about 1/3" long.

Field Marks

Tiny, very slender plant with upturned or nodding minute white flowers found on moist rocky areas.

© Al Schneider

stamen -- the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower; The stamen consists of an anther supported by a filament.

pedicel -- The stem of a single flower.

lobe -- A rounded parts of a leaf (or other organ).

orbicular -- Circular or nearly circular in outline.

Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.

terminal -- Located at the end (the tip or the apex).

Glands are plant structures that secrete liquids, salts or other substances. Glands often appear as hairs with a drop of liquid at the end.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

basal leaves -- a leaf that grows lowest on the stem of a plant.

petiole -- the stalk of a leaf.

blade -- Just the flat part of a leaf. Not the stem.

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.