Family: Saxifragaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 404 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Saxifraga
Vegetable: False
Observations: Subarctic to W. & WC. U.S.A., Maine
Description
Tufted alpine saxifrage, scientifically known as Saxifraga cespitosa, is a remarkable plant belonging to the Saxifragaceae family. Described initially by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in the seminal work Species Plantarum in 1753, this perennial herb stands out for its resilience and distinctive form.
Native to subarctic regions, tufted alpine saxifrage thrives in the harsh climates of the western and west-central United States, extending its range to areas like Maine. This distribution underscores the plant’s ability to adapt to cold, alpine conditions. Growing in tufted clumps, the plant features a carpet-like ground cover that helps it survive in the rugged terrains and rocky soils typical of its habitat.
One of the most striking characteristics of Saxifraga cespitosa is its compact rosettes of leaves, which are often covered in a fine, protective hair. This morphology not only provides a defense against the cold but also reduces water loss, an essential adaptation in its native environment. During the blooming season, the plant produces delicate white flowers, which can sometimes have a slight pink hue, adding a splash of color to the often stark landscape.
Besides its ecological adaptations, tufted alpine saxifrage plays a vital role in its ecosystem. It helps prevent soil erosion thanks to its tufted growth habit and serves as a pioneer species in alpine environments, contributing to the stabilization and formation of soil in rocky areas. Moreover, it provides habitat and nourishment for various alpine pollinators, including specific bees and flies adapted to cold environments.
In cultivation, Saxifraga cespitosa is a favorite among rock garden enthusiasts who seek to replicate alpine conditions. Its ability to endure frost and poor soil fertility makes it an ideal candidate for such gardens, where it can be admired for its tenacity and beauty.
In conclusion, the tufted alpine saxifrage embodies the elegance and resilience of alpine flora. Its presence in harsh subarctic and alpine regions of North America highlights the intricate interplay between plant physiology and environmental conditions, making it a fascinating subject for both botanists and plant enthusiasts.
Common Names
Nor: grønlandsk silre, flocksilre, klyngsilre, norsilre, veslesilra
Swe: mätäsrikko, tuvbräcka
Fin: mätäsrikko
Nob: tuesildre
Eng: tufted alpine saxifrage, tufted saxifrage
Nno: tuvesildre
Sme: miektanarti
Fra: saxifrage cespiteuse, saxifrage gazonnante
Gla: clach-bhriseach bhuidhe
Cym: tormaen siobynnog
En: Tufted alpine saxifrage, Tufted saxifrage
Da: Tue-stenbræk
Fi: Mätäsrikko
Fr: Saxifrage cespiteuse, Saxifrage gazonnante
De: Polstersteinbrech
Se: Miektanarti
No: Tuesildre, Tuvesildre, Grønlandsk silre, Flocksilre, Klyngsilre, Norsilre, Veslesilra
Nb: Tuesildre
Nn: Tuvesildre
Ru: Камнеломка дернистая
Gd: Clach-bhriseach Bhuidhe
Sv: Tuvbräcka, Mätäsrikko
Cy: Tormaen siobynnog
Synonyms
- Saxifraga condensata (D.Dietr.)
- Saxifraga uniflora (R.Br.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. purpusii (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. multiflora (Calder)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. subgemmifera ((Engl. & Irmsch.) C.L.Hitchc.)
- Saxifraga incurva (J.Mackay ex Ser.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. minima (Blank.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. laxiuscula ((Engl. & Irmsch.) Á.Löve & D.Löve)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. latifolia (Regel)
- Saxifraga monticola ((Small) Á.Löve & D.Löve)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. exaratioides ((Simmons) Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. sternbergii (Regel)
- Saxifraga groenlandica (L.)
- Saxifraga emarginata ((Small) Fedde)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. atrorubens (Murith)
- Saxifraga sileneflora var. minor (C.Presl ex Torr. & A.Gray)
- Saxifraga decipiens var. cespitosa ((L.) Engl.)
- Saxifraga decipiens var. groenlandica ((L.) Engl.)
- Evaiezoa sileneflora ((Sternb. ex Cham.) Raf.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. laxiuscula (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. drummondii (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. grandiflora (Regel)
- Saxifraga micropetala ((Small) A.Nelson)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. pilosa (Regel)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. compacta (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subvar. elatior (Wedd.)
- Saxifraga decipiens f. triloba (Abrom.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. ciliata (Regel)
- Saxifraga venosa (Haw.)
- Muscaria delicatula (Small)
- Muscaria cespitosa subsp. laxiuscula ((Engl. & Irmsch.) Á.Löve)
- Muscaria micropetala (Small)
- Saxifraga groenlandica var. uniflora (Simmons)
- Muscaria cespitosa subsp. exaratioides ((Simmons) Á.Löve & D.Löve)
- Saxifraga groenlandica subsp. exaratioides (Simmons)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. repens (Wahlenb.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. subgemmifera (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. legitima (Gaudin)
- Evaiezoa cespitosa ((L.) Raf.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. monticola ((Small) A.E.Porsild)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. sileneflora ((Sternb. ex Cham.) Hultén)
- Muscaria cespitosa ((L.) Haw.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. emarginata ((Small) Rosend.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. laxa (Regel)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. gemmifera (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga kittredgei (Zhmylev)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. eupalmata (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga sileneflora (Sternb. ex Cham.)
- Saxifraga decipiens f. uniflora ((R.Br.) Engl.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. delicatula ((Small) Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga decipiens var. uniflora ((R.Br.) Lange)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. lemmonii (Engl. & Irmsch.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. pseudohypnoides (Murith)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. villosa (Regel)
- Saxifraga cespitosa f. glabra (Regel)
- Dactyloides caespitosa ((L.) Nieuwl.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. brachyphylla (Wedd.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. cryptopetala (Berlin)
- Saxifraga lasiostigma (Pers.)
- Saxifraga delicatula ((Small) Fedde)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. uniflora ((R.Br.) A.E.Porsild)
- Muscaria sileneflora ((Sternb. ex Cham.) Small)
- Saxifraga sileniflora var. uniflora (Hook.)
- Muscaria emarginata (Small)
- Evaiezoa venosa ((Haw.) Raf.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa subsp. delicatula ((Small) A.E.Porsild)
- Saxifraga incurvifolia (D.Don)
- Muscaria monticola (Small)
- Saxifraga groenlandica f. flavescens (Simmons)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. groenlandica ((L.) Wahlenb.)
- Saxifraga cespitosa var. uniflora ((R.Br.) Hook. & Arn.)
- Saxifraga pubescens (Sternb. ex Cham.)
- Saxifraga hirta (Hook.f.)
Distribution
- Alaska (native)
- Alberta (native)
- Aleutian Is. (native)
- Arizona (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- California (native)
- Colorado (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Finland (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greenland (native)
- Iceland (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Kamchatka (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Labrador (native)
- Magadan (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Northwest Territorie (native)
- Norway (native)
- Nunavut (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Québec (native)
- Svalbard (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Utah (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Yakutskiya (native)
- Yukon (native)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Apr 30, 2012 by Martin Sanford (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 5, 2022 by Wilma Heihsler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2019 by Andrea Egger (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 9, 2020 by britta29 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 7, 2019 by Árni Daviðsson (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Mar 17, 2022 by brisebard bruno (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2018 by val (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2022 by jean luc chefneux (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 26, 2019 by Lou Roux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 19, 2017 by Georgi Delchev (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 9, 1995 by Andrew Gagg (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2016 by Szabolcs Frater (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2020 by claud D’Angeli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 30, 2021 by Gaëlle Matagne (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
© 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.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3032796)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:228334-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Saxifraga cespitosa L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb