Leatherleaf Saxifrage

Appearance

General: Glabrous perennial from strong horizontal rhizomes, the simple flowering stems 2-4 dm. tall.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, leathery, narrowly obovate to elliptic, 3-15 cm. long, narrowed to a short petiole, with rounded serrate teeth, bright green on the upper surface, pale green below; upper cauline leaves 1-3, sessile and clasping, small.
Flowers: Inflorescence terminal, strongly congested, more open in fruit; calyx saucer-shaped, 2-3 mm. broad, the 5 lobes upright, 1 mm. long; petals 5, white, spatulate, about 2 mm. long; stamens 10, often longer than the petals.
Fruits: Ovary mostly superior; carpels 2, fused only at the base; seeds light brown, 2-3.5 mm. long, with empty, tail-like ends 2-3 times as long as the seed.

Naming

Lepuropetalon amplexifolium (Sternb.) Ser.
Saxifraga amplexifolia Sternb.
Saxifraga calycina Sternb.
Saxifraga calycina Sternb. ssp. unalaschcensis (Sternb.) Hultén
Saxifraga davurica Willd.
Saxifraga davurica Willd. var. unalaschcensis (Sternb.) Engl.
Saxifraga pyrolifolia D. Don
Saxifraga unalaschcensis Sternb.

Distribution

Alaska to Oregon, east to Alberta and Montana; in the Olympics and Cascades of Washington

Habitat

Streambanks, seeps and wet meadows, mid- to high elevations in the mountains