Saxifrage Family [Saxifragaceae] |
status
flower
flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
13th June 2014, Third Gill, Whiteless Pike, Buttermere. | Photo: © RWD |
Most often found on mountain sides either on wet rock ledges or cliffs or beside mountain streams usually in sheltered nooks which are often quite dark: it doesn't like being in full sun for long. It prefers acid soils, here damp mossy. |
Aug 2011, Ben Lawyers, Scotland. | Photo: © Dawn Nelson |
A short plant, up to 20cm high but usually half that. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Nascent flower buds nestle ready to grow long stalks in the centres of circles of leaves. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Just beneath branches (if there are any) are short, narrow leaf-like bracts. The 5 pale-green sepals just below the flower heads are usually reflexed downwards. But the one on the left hasn't yet opened. The centre flower is showing that there are actually 2 carpels in the centre, each with a stubby stigma atop. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The left-most flower again displaying the 2 carpels in the centre. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The stems are reddish and slightly hairy. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Five spear-end-like white petals each with two yellow spots. Ten anthers with orange pollen on the ends. Ten white stamens splayed out with small dumbell-shaped orange anthers at their tips, 5 in the centre of the petals, and 5 in the gaps between. The 5 pale-green sepals are just behind. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The petals are spear-head shaped. [The other flower with (indigo) spots on (some) petals is Common Stork's-bill (which can have one spot on 2 adjacent petals, but not on the other 3)]. These spots on the petals confirm identity of Starry Saxifrage. |
12th June 2009, A leet, Greenside Mines, Glenridding, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Young basal leaves with sparse but long hairs. The flowers stalks have yet to emerge. Leaves oval, without stalks, toothed or lobed and between 5 to 30mm long. |
8th June 2008, Haweswater Gill, Hartsop, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
After a while the carpel in the centre starts to become pink then red as the fruit/seeds develop. |
8th June 2008, Haweswater Gill, Hartsop, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The carpels turning pink. |
Aug 2011, Ben Lawyers, Scotland. | Photo: © Dawn Nelson |
The flower stalks mostly lack leaves; most leaves are very short basal leaves which are slightly toothed or lobed. The flower stems are sparsely hairy as are the basal leaves (mainly on the upper/inner surface). |
No relation to : Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : the 2 yellow spots on each of the 5 white petals. Petals end in a slightly cusped point (unlike most other Saxifrages).
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Saxifraga | stellaris | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Saxifragaceae |
Saxifraga (Saxifrages) |
Saxifrage Family [Saxifragaceae] |