Micranthes caroliniana
Micranthes lyallii
Lyall's saxifrage, red-stem saxifrage
basal;
petiole flattened, 1–10 cm;
blade broadly ovate to elliptic, 2–14 cm, thin to slightly fleshy, base truncate, margins deeply dentate (teeth 2+ mm), sparsely glandular-ciliate, surfaces densely white-hairy.
basal;
petiole rounded to flattened, 2–10 cm;
blade spatulate to obovate, 0.8–8 cm, thin, base cuneate to slightly attenuate, margins serrate to dentate, eciliate or sparsely glandular-ciliate, surfaces abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely brown-hairy.
15+-flowered, open, lax thyrses, 10–50 cm, purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.
usually 10–15-flowered, lax, cylindric thyrses, (red), (4–)7–30 cm, sparsely purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.
sepals reflexed, oblong;
petals white, with 2 basal yellow spots (distinct even in dried material), ovate to elliptic, short-clawed, 2–4 mm, much longer than sepals;
filaments elongate, (longer than petals), club-shaped;
pistils distinct almost to base;
ovary superior.
sepals reflexed, oblong to elliptic;
petals white, each with 2 basal yellowish green spots, elliptic to round, clawed, 2–5.5 mm, longer than sepals;
filaments club-shaped, (to 6 mm);
pistils connate 1/2+ their lengths;
ovary superior, (to 1/3 adnate to hypanthium).
greenish to yellow, folliclelike.
green to yellow, distal 1/2 purple, ± folliclelike, (basally connate).
= ca. 56, 58.
Micranthes caroliniana
Micranthes lyallii
Although they have nearly disjunct sets of populations, the subspecies of Micranthes lyallii are difficult to distinguish from each other. The more northern plants tend to be larger with wider leaves and often have been called Saxifraga lyallii subsp. or var. hultenii. Apparent hybrids with M. odontoloma occur in Alberta, British Columbia, and northern Idaho, and near Glacier National Park, Montana.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database
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Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
