Family: Saxifragaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 402 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Saxifraga
Vegetable: False
Observations: Subarctic & Subalpine Northern Hemisphere
Description
The purple mountain saxifrage, scientifically known as Saxifraga oppositifolia, is a resilient and enchanting plant native to the rugged subarctic and subalpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This perennial species is a distinguished member of the Saxifragaceae family and holds a significant place in botanical studies due to its remarkable adaptability to harsh climatic conditions.
Characteristically, the purple mountain saxifrage presents a modest yet captivating appearance. The plant forms dense, low-growing mats or cushions, which are often among the first to bravely bloom as the snow recedes in early spring. Its vibrant purple flowers, typically emerging in clusters, offer a stark and beautiful contrast against the rocky and often barren landscapes it inhabits. These blossoms are small but striking, each with five petals that sometimes exhibit a shade of lilac to deep pink, enhancing its allure.
The foliage of Saxifraga oppositifolia is equally adapted to its environment. The leaves are tiny, succulent, and opposite, forming tight rosettes that minimize water loss—a crucial adaptation for survival in the cold, windswept habitats this plant calls home. These hardy plants thrive in well-drained, rocky soils, often gracing alpine meadows, scree slopes, and cliff faces where few other species can endure.
This species was formally described and classified by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” published in 1753. The meticulous documentation in “Sp. Pl.: 402” reflects Linnaeus’s appreciation of the plant’s unique characteristics and widespread distribution.
Culturally and ecologically significant, the purple mountain saxifrage is not just a testament to nature’s resilience but also a symbol of the delicate beauty that persists in the planet’s most extreme environments. Its presence enriches the biodiversity of the regions it inhabits and offers insights into the mechanisms of survival and adaptation in one of Earth’s toughest biomes.
Overall, Saxifraga oppositifolia stands as a botanical marvel, capturing the fascination of botanists and nature enthusiasts alike. Its ability to flourish against the odds makes it a subject of ongoing interest and admiration in the world of alpine and arctic flora.
Common Names
Deu: gegenblättriger steinbrech
Eng: purple mountain saxifrage, purple saxifrage, purple alpine saxifrage
Nor: bergdusk
Swe: purpurbräcka, sinirikko
Nno: raudsildre
Nob: rødsildre
Fra: saxifrage à feuilles opposées
Fin: sinirikko
Sme: alitnarti, giđđaboallu
Cym: tormaen, tormaen cyferbynddail, tormaen glasgoch, tormaen porffor, tormaen y mynydd
En: Purple mountain saxifrage, Purple saxifrage, Purple alpine saxifrage
Bg: Арктична каменоломка
Ca: Saxífraga opositifòlia
Zh: 挪威虎耳草
Cs: Lomikámen vstřícnolistý
Da: Purpur-Stenbræk
Nl: Paarse Steenbreek
Fi: Sinirikko
Fr: Saxifrage à feuilles opposées
De: Gegenblättriger Steinbrech, Roter Steinbrech
Is: Vetrarblóm
It: Sassifraga a foglie opposte
Se: Alitnárti, Alitnarti, Giđđaboallu
No: Raudsildre, Rødsildre, Bergdusk
Nb: Rødsildre
Nn: Raudsildre
Pl: Skalnica naprzeciwlistna
Ru: Камнеломка супротивнолистная
Sr: Пузава камењарка
Sk: Lomikameň protistojnolistý
Sv: Purpurbräcka, Sinirikko
Uk: Ломикамінь супротивнолистий
Cy: Tormaen, Tormaen Cyferbynddail, Tormaen Glasgoch, Tormaen Porffor, Tormaen y Mynydd
Synonyms
- Saxifraga oppositifolia var. elogata (Dusén)
- Antiphylla oppositifolia ((L.) Fourr.)
- Evaiezoa oppositifolia ((L.) Raf.)
Distribution
- Alaska (native)
- Albania (native)
- Alberta (native)
- Aleutian Is. (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Buryatiya (native)
- Chita (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Føroyar (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Greenland (native)
- Iceland (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kamchatka (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Khabarovsk (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Labrador (native)
- Magadan (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- Montana (native)
- New York (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest Territorie (native)
- Norway (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Nunavut (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Poland (native)
- Québec (native)
- Romania (native)
- Spain (native)
- Svalbard (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Tuva (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yakutskiya (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Yukon (native)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Jul 6, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 12, 2021 by Roland (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 28, 2019 by Vincenc J (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Jul 16, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 12, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 1, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Alain BIGOU (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 1, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jun 16, 2022 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 22, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 22, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 22, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 22, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 6, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 5, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 22, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Jean Louis BRONCARD (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 15, 1997 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2008 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)
Taken Jul 17, 2021 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Feb 17, 2015 by EOL − Gerald and Buff Corsi (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Apr 27, 2021 by Jana Šímová (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/8353146)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30041728-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Saxifraga oppositifolia L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb