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Olympic saxifrage, tisch's saxifrage

Habit Plants solitary or tufted, with bulbils on caudices. Plants solitary or in groups, with bulbils on caudices.
Leaves

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 flattened, 0.4–2 cm;

blade ovate to elliptic, 0.5–2.5 cm, fleshy, base attenuate, margins serrate (7–16-toothed), ciliate, surfaces reddish brown-tomentose abaxially, glabrous or rarely glabrate adaxially.

Inflorescences

15+-flowered, open, lax thyrses, 10–50 cm, purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.

(3–)5–15(–18)-flowered, open, flat-topped thyrses or cymes, 2–7 cm, purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.

Flowers

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 spreading to reflexed, ovate;

petals greenish, often purple-margined, not spotted, lanceolate to obovate, not clawed, 1.2–2(–2.5) mm, equaling to longer than sepals;

filaments linear, flattened;

pistils distinct almost to base;

ovary superior, (to 1/3 adnate to hypanthium).

Capsules

greenish to yellow, folliclelike.

purplish, folliclelike.

Micranthes caroliniana

Micranthes tischii

Phenology Flowering spring. Flowering summer.
Habitat Moist soil at bases of vertical or overhanging rock outcrops, seeps Wet, cool, shaded, thin-soil ledges and rock crevices
Elevation 500-1200 m (1600-3900 ft) 1300-2400 m (4300-7900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
NC; TN; VA; WV
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
WA; BC
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Micranthes tischii is known only from the Olympic Peninsula and from inland, mountainous Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Ogilvie & Beguin 798911, V). Closely related to M. rufidula, M. tischii appears to be highly specialized for its habitat. The unusual persistent, green, not clawed (versus deciduous, white, clawed) petals readily distinguish the two species.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 8, p. 61. FNA vol. 8, p. 63.
Parent taxa Saxifragaceae > Micranthes Saxifragaceae > Micranthes
Sibling taxa
M. apetala, M. aprica, M. bryophora, M. californica, M. calycina, M. careyana, M. eriophora, M. ferruginea, M. foliolosa, M. fragosa, M. gaspensis, M. gormanii, M. hieraciifolia, M. hitchcockiana, M. howellii, M. idahoensis, M. integrifolia, M. lyallii, M. marshallii, M. micranthidifolia, M. nelsoniana, M. nidifica, M. nivalis, M. nudicaulis, M. occidentalis, M. odontoloma, M. oregana, M. palmeri, M. pensylvanica, M. petiolaris, M. razshivinii, M. reflexa, M. rhomboidea, M. rufidula, M. spicata, M. stellaris, M. subapetala, M. tempestiva, M. tenuis, M. texana, M. tischii, M. tolmiei, M. unalaschcensis, M. virginiensis
M. apetala, M. aprica, M. bryophora, M. californica, M. calycina, M. careyana, M. caroliniana, M. eriophora, M. ferruginea, M. foliolosa, M. fragosa, M. gaspensis, M. gormanii, M. hieraciifolia, M. hitchcockiana, M. howellii, M. idahoensis, M. integrifolia, M. lyallii, M. marshallii, M. micranthidifolia, M. nelsoniana, M. nidifica, M. nivalis, M. nudicaulis, M. occidentalis, M. odontoloma, M. oregana, M. palmeri, M. pensylvanica, M. petiolaris, M. razshivinii, M. reflexa, M. rhomboidea, M. rufidula, M. spicata, M. stellaris, M. subapetala, M. tempestiva, M. tenuis, M. texana, M. tolmiei, M. unalaschcensis, M. virginiensis
Synonyms Saxifraga caroliniana Saxifraga tischii
Name authority (A. Gray) Small: in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 22: 146. (1905) (Skelly) Brouillet & Gornall: J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1: 1021. 2007 ,
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