Saxifraga elegans

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Interesting Facts

Description

Family Saxifragaceae

Herbs or shrubs , rarely trees or vines . Leaves simple or compound , usually alternate or opposite, usually exstipulate . Flowers usually in cymes, panicles, or racemes , rarely solitary, usually bisexual , rarely unisexual , hypogynous or ± epigynous , rarely perigynous, usually biperianthial, rarely monochlamydeous , actinomorphic , rarely zygomorphic, 4- or 5(-10) -merous. Sepals sometimes petal-like. Petals usually free , sometimes absent. Stamens (4 or) 5-10 or many; filaments free; anthers 2-loculed; staminodes often present. Carpels 2, rarely 3-5(-10), usually ± connate ; ovary superior or semi-inferior to inferior, 2- or 3-5(-10) -loculed with axile placentation , or 1-loculed with parietal placentation , rarely with apical placentation; ovules usually many, 2- to many seriate , crassinucellate or tenuinucellate , sometimes with transitional forms; integument 1- or 2-seriate; styles free or ± connate. Fruit a capsule or berry, rarely a follicle or drupe. Seeds albuminous , rarely not so; albumen of cellular type, rarely of nuclear type; embryo small.

About 80 genera and 1200 species: worldwide; 29 genera (two endemic), and 545 species (354 endemic, seven introduced ) in China.

During the past several years, cladistic analyses of morphological, chemical, and DNA data have made it clear that the recognition of the Saxifragaceae sensu lato (Engler, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 18a: 74-226. 1928) is untenable. Among the angiosperm families, Saxifragaceae sensu lato may in fact represent the most extreme example of a polyphyletic assemblage . For example, recent analyses of DNA sequence data indicate that these taxa represent at least ten separate evolutionary lines , many of which are only distantly related to one another (Morgan & Soltis, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 80: 631-660. 1993; Soltis & Soltis, Amer. J. Bot. 84: 504-522. 1997) . Furthermore, very large molecular phylogenetic analyses of hundreds of angiosperms indicate that these separate lineages are distributed among four of the six traditionally recognized subclasses of dicotyledons (Savolainen et al. , Syst. Biol. 49: 306-362. 2000; Soltis et al., Nature 402: 402-404. 1999) . These recent studies have also greatly clarified how this phylogenetically diverse assemblage should be divided into families and treated taxonomically (see The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG), Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85: 531-553. 1998) . Recent studies of DNA sequence data have clarified both the circumscription and affinities of a narrowly defined Saxifragaceae (Saxifragaceae sensu stricto) and Hydrangeaceae (Soltis et al., Amer. J. Bot. 82: 504-514. 1995; Savolainen et al., loc. cit. ; Soltis et al., loc. cit. 1999) . Saxifragaceae sensu stricto should consist only of Saxifragoideae, a group of about 30 herbaceous genera. Members of Saxifragaceae sensu stricto from the Chinese flora include Astilbe, Astilboides, Bergenia, Chrysosplenium, Mitella, Mukdenia, Oresitrophe, Rodgersia, Saxifraga, Tanakaea, Tiarella, and the recently described Saniculiphyllum. Close relatives of Saxifragaceae sensu stricto include Itea, Penthorum, and Ribes. These genera, the sole members of Iteoideae, Penthoroideae, and Ribesioideae, respectively, are also best treated in separate families: Iteaceae, Penthoraceae, and Grossulariaceae (see APG, loc. cit.) . These taxa, as well as several others, such as Crassulaceae, are basal to a large assemblage of taxa, most of which were traditionally placed in Rosidae . Sequence data also indicate that Parnassia (the sole member of the Parnassioideae) is a more derived member of the rosid alliance , most closely related to Brexia and Lepuropetalon (also part of Saxifragaceae sensu lato) and Celastraceae. Parnassia and Lepuropetalon should be placed in Parnassiaceae with Brexia part of an expanded Celastraceae (APG, loc. cit.) .

Both morphological and molecular data indicate that Hydrangeoideae and Escallonioideae are, in contrast, allied with taxa traditionally placed in Asteridae. Hydrangeoideae are a well-defined, monophyletic lineage that should be treated as Hydrangeaceae. In China they include Cardiandra, Decumaria, Deinanthe, Deutzia, Dichroa, Hydrangea, Kirengeshoma, Philadelphus, Pileostegia, Platycrater, and Schizophragma, and are closely allied with families such as Cornaceae, Loasaceae, and Nyssaceae. Escallonioideae appear to be polyphyletic, and this group of approximately 14 genera is in need of thorough study. Members of this subfamily are allied with several different lineages of higher asterids. Polyosma, the only member of Escallonioideae in China, appears closely allied with Caprifoliaceae (Xiang & Soltis in Boufford & Ohba, Sino-Japanese Flora: its Characteristics and Diversification, 1998) .[1]

Genus Saxifraga

Herbs perennial , rarely annual or biennial. Stem cespitose or simple . Leaves both basal and cauline, petiolate or not; leaf blade simple, entire, margin dentate or lobate ; cauline leaves usually alternate, rarely opposite. Inflorescence a solitary flower or few- to many-flowered cyme, bracteate . Flowers usually bisexual , sometimes unisexual , actinomorphic , rarely zygomorphic; receptacle cyathiform or saucer-shaped . Sepals (4 or) 5(or 7 or 8) . Petals (4 or) 5, yellow, orange, white, or red to purple, callose or not, distinctly veined, margin usually entire. Stamens (8 or) 10; filaments subulate or clavate . Carpels 2, usually connate at least in placental region; ovary superior to inferior, usually 2-loculed; placentation usually axile ; ovules many; integuments 1 or 2; nectary disc sometimes well developed, annular or semiannular. Fruit a 2-valved capsule. Seeds many.

About 450 species: Asia, Europe, North America, South America (Andes), mainly in alpine areas; 216 species (139 endemic) in China.[2]

Taxonomy

Synonyms

Saxifraga nuttallii Small

Notes

Publishing author : J.Mackay Publication : Fl. Hibern. i. 65

Similar Species

Members of the genus Saxifraga

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 228 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

S. adscendens oregonensis (Rock Saxifrage) · S. adscendens subsp. oregonensis (Small Saxifrage) · S. aizoides (Yellow Mountain Saxifrage) · S. aleutica (Aleutian Saxifrage) · S. apetala (Western Swamp Saxifrage) · S. aprica (Sierra Saxifrage) · S. arendsii (Mossy Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis (Matted Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis funstonii (Funston's Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis vespertina (Yellowdot Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis subsp. austromontana (Matted Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis subsp. cherlerioides (Yellowdot Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis subsp. funstonii (Funston's Saxifrage) · S. bronchialis subsp. vespertina (Yellowdot Saxifrage) · S. bryophora (Bud Saxifrage) · S. bryophora var. bryophora (Bud Saxifrage) · S. bryophora var. tobiasiae (Tobias' Saxifrage) · S. burseriana (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. caespitosa caespitosa (Tufted Alpine Saxifrage) · S. caespitosa sileneflora (Tufted Alpine Saxifrage) · S. caespitosa subgemmifera (Tufted Alpine Saxifrage) · S. californica (California Saxifrage) · S. callosa (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. calycina (Alaska Saxifrage) · S. calycina subsp. unalaschcensis (Alaska Saxifrage) · S. careyana (Carey's Saxifrage) · S. caroliniana (Carolina Saxifrage) · S. cespitosa emarginata (Tufted Alpine Saxifrage) · S. cespitosa exaratoides (Nodding Saxifrage) · S. cespitosa subsp. exaratoides (Tufted Alpine Saxifrage) · S. chrysantha (Goldbloom Saxifrage) · S. cochlearis (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. codyanus codyanus (Yellowdot Saxifrage) · S. cotyledon (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. cotyledon 'Pyramidalis' (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. cotyledon 'Southside Seedling' (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. crassifolia (Siberian-Tea) · S. crustata (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. cuneifolia (Robertsoniana Saxifrage) · S. cuneifolia 'Variegata' (Robertsoniana Saxifrage) · S. cuscutaeformis (Dwarf Strawberry Begonia) · S. delicatula (Tufted Alpine Saxifrage) · S. eriophora (Red-Fuzz Saxifrage) · S. eschscholtzii (Ciliate Saxifrage) · S. ferdinandi-coburgi (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. ferdinandi-coburgi 'Dracula' (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. ferruginea (Alaska Saxifrage) · S. ferruginea var. ferruginea (Russethair Saxifrage) · S. ferruginea var. newcombei (Newcombe's Saxifrage) · S. ferruginea var. vreelandii (Vreeland's Saxifrage) · S. flagellaris crandallii (Whiplash Saxifrage) · S. flagellaris setigera (Whiplash Saxifrage) · S. flagellaris subsp. crandallii (Crandall's Saxifrage) · S. flagellaris subsp. setigera (Whiplash Saxifrage) · S. foliolosa (Leafystem Saxifrage) · S. fortunei 'Beni Fuji' (Saxifrage) · S. fortunei 'Black Ruby' (Saxifrage) · S. fortunei 'Silver Velvet' (Saxifrage) · S. funstonii funstonii (Funston's Saxifrage) · S. geum (Geum Saxifrage) · S. gormanii (Gorman's Saxifrage) · S. granulata (Fair Maids of France) · S. grisebachii (Engleria Saxifrage) · S. hieraciifolia (Stiffstem Saxifrage) · S. hieraciifolia var. angusticapsula (Stiffstem Saxifrage) · S. hieraciifolia var. hieraciifolia (Stiffstem Saxifrage) · S. hieraciifolia var. rufopilosa (Stiffstem Saxifrage) · S. hirculus coloradensis (Yellow Marsh Saxifrage) · S. hirculus subsp. coloradensis (Yellow Marsh Saxifrage) · S. hirculus subsp. compacta (Yellow Marsh Saxifrage) · S. hirculus subsp. propinqua (Yellow Marsh Saxifrage) · S. hirsuta (Kidney Saxifrage) · S. hitchcockiana (Saddle Mountain Saxifrage) · S. hostii (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. howellii (Howell's Saxifrage) · S. hyperborea (Pygmy Saxifrage) · S. idahoensis (Idaho Saxifrage) · S. integrifolia (Swamp Saxifrage) · S. iranica (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. juniperifolia (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. lilacina (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. longifolia (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. luteoviridis (Engleria Saxifrage) · S. lyallii (Redstem Saxifrage) · S. lyallii hultenii (Hulten's Saxifrage) · S. lyallii subsp. hultenii (Hulten's Saxifrage) · S. marginata (Kabschia Saxifrage) · S. marshallii (Marshall's Saxifrage) · S. media (Engleria Saxifrage) · S. mertensiana (Wood Saxifrage) · S. michauxii (Michaux's Saxifrage) · S. micranthidifolia (Brook Lettuce) · S. mutata (Encrusted Saxifrage) · S. nathorstii (East Greenland Saxifrage) · S. nelsoniana carlottae (Brook Saxifrage) · S. nelsoniana cascadensis (Heartleaf Saxifrage) · S. nelsoniana insularis (Heartleaf Saxifrage) · S. nelsoniana pacifica (Pacific Saxifrage) · S. nelsoniana porsildiana (Porsild's Saxifrage) · S. nelsoniana subsp. carlottae (Heartleaf Saxifrage)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• A Manual of botany: being an introduction to the study of the structure, physiology, and classification of plants / Edinburgh: A. and C. Black, 1875. url .
• A catalogue of the phaenogamous plants of Great Britain: arranged according to the natural orders: with a copious list of synonyms carefully compiled from Steudel's Nomenclator botanicus, Smith's English flora, Hookers's British flora, Lindley's Synopsis, by Henry Ibbotson. London: H. Bailliere, 1848. url p. 49.
• An illustrated flora of the Pacific States: Washington, Oregon, and California. Stanford University, Stanford University Press, 1923-[60] url p. 358.
• Bibliographical index to North American botany; or, Citations of authorities for all the recorded indigenous and naturalized species of the flora of North America, with a chronological arrangement of the synonymy. by Sereno Watson. Washington, Smithsonian Institution, 1878. url p. 340, p. 341.
• British plants: their biology and ecology / by J. F. Bevis and H. J. Jeffery. London: A. Rivers, 1911. url p. 288.
• Britton, N. L. (ed.). North American flora. 22 1905 [New York]New York Botanical Garden. url p. 127, p. 128.
• Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 1896 New York: Torrey Botanical Club, 1870-1996 url p. 368.
• Cybele Britannica: or British Plants and their geographical relations. London, 1847-59. url p. 405.
• English botany, or, Coloured figures of British plants / edited by John T. Boswell Syme; the popular portion by Mrs. Lankester; the figures by J. Sowerby, J. de C. Sowerby, J.W. Salter, and John Edward Sowerby. London: R. Hardwicke, 1863-1886. url .
• Flora hibernica: comprising the flowering plants, ferns, Characeæ, Musci, Hepaticæ, Lichenes and Algæ of Ireland: arranged according to the natural system with a synopsis of the genera according to the Linnæan system by James Townsend Mackay. Dublin: W. Curry jun., 1836. url p. 65.
• Flora of County Kerry: including the flowering plants, ferns, Characeae, &c. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1916. url , .
• Florigraphia Britannica; or, Engravings and descriptions of the flowering plants and ferns of Britain. London, Groombridge, 1857. url p. 603.
• Garden and forest; a journal of horticulture, landscape art and forestry. New York: The Garden and forest publishing co., 1888-97. url p. 422.
• Handbook of the British flora: a description of the flowering plants and ferns indigenous to, or naturalized in, the British Isles. For the use of beginners and amateurs. By George Bentham. London: L. Reeve & Co., 1920. url p. 169.
• Manual of British botany, containing the flowering plants and ferns. Arranged according to the natural orders. London, J. Van Voorst, 1856. url .
• Manual of British botany: containing the flowering plants and ferns arranged according to the natural orders / by Charles Cardale Babington. London: John Van Voorst, 1856. url p. 129.
• Popular geography of plants; or, A botanical excursion round the world, by E.M.C.; ed. by Charles Daubeny. London, 1855. url p. 337.
• Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Boston: Metcalf and Co., 1846-1958 url p. 383.
• Smithsonian miscellaneous collections. 15 1878 Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1862-1968. url p. 340, p. 341.
• The Annals of Scottish natural history. Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1892-1911. url p. 233, p. 233.
• The British flora: comprising the phaenogamous, or flowering plants and the ferns / by Sir William Jackson Hooker. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans, 1838- url p. 173.
• The English rock-garden, by Reginald Farrer. London, Jack, 1919. url p. 258.
• The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches. London: [s.n., url p. 387, p. 448.
• The Gardeners' chronicle: a weekly illustrated journal of horticulture and allied subjects. London: [Gardeners Chronicle], 1874-1955. url p. 34.
• The Journal of horticulture, cottage gardener and country gentlemen. London: George W. Johnson and Robert Hogg, 1861-1877. url p. 211.
• The Phytologist: a botanical journal. London, William Pamplin, 1855-1863. url p. 311, p. 672.
• The Phytologist: a popular botanical miscellany. London, John van Voorst, 1844-56. url p. 78.
• The garden... London, 1872- url p. 448.
• Transactions of the Watford Natural History Society and Hertfordshire Field Club. London: Hardwicke and Bogue, 1875-1880. url p. 133.
• Hwang Shu-mei, Wei Chao-fen, Lu Ling-ti, Ku Tsue-chih &
• Hwang Shu-mei, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 35(1): 1-406.
• Jin Shu-ying. 1995. Saxifragaceae (2) [Parnassioideae, Hydrangeoideae, Escallonioideae, Iteoideae, Ribesioideae]. In: Lu Ling-ti &
• Pan Jin-tang. 1992. Saxifragaceae (1) [Penthoroideae, Saxifragoideae]. In: Pan Jin-tang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 34(2): 1-309
• Hwang Shu-mei, Wei Chao-fen, Lu Ling-ti, Ku Tsue-chih & Jin Shu-ying. 1995. Saxifragaceae (2) [Parnassioideae, Hydrangeoideae, Escallonioideae, Iteoideae, Ribesioideae]. In: Lu Ling-ti & Hwang Shu-mei, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 35(1): 1-406.
• Pan Jin-tang. 1992. Saxifragaceae (1) [Penthoroideae, Saxifragoideae]. In: Pan Jin-tang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 34(2): 1-309

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 30, 2012.
• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Dec 27, 2011.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 3450066
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 15841089
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:793596-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 296772-2
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1109782

Footnotes

1. Jin-tang Pan, Cuizhi Gu, Shumei Huang, Chao-fen Wei, Shu-ying Jin, Lingdi Lu, Shinobu Akiyama, Crinan Alexander, Bruce Bartholomew, James Cullen, Richard J. Gornall, Ulla-Maj Hultgård, Hideaki Ohba & Douglas E. Soltis "Saxifragaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 8 Page 269. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. Pan Jintang , Richard Gornall, Hideaki Ohba "Saxifraga". in Flora of China Vol. 8 Page 280. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.