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SAXIFRAGACEAE

SAXIFRAGE FAMILY

Patrick E. Elvander

Perennial or subshrub from caudex or rhizome, generally ± hairy
Stem often ± leafy on lower half, rarely trailing and leafy throughout
Leaves generally simple, basal or sometimes cauline, generally alternate, generally petioled; veins ± palmate
Inflorescence: panicle, generally ± scapose
Flower generally bisexual, generally radial; hypanthium free to ± fused to ovary; calyx lobes generally 5; petals generally 5, free, generally clawed, generally white; stamens generally 5 or 10; pistils 2 and simple or 1 and compound (chambers 1–2, placentas 2–4, axile or parietal), ovary superior to inferior, sometimes more superior in fruit, styles generally 2
Fruit: 2 follicles or 2–4-valved capsule
Seeds generally many, small
Genera in family: 40 genera, 600 species: especially n temp, arctic, alpine; some cultivated (Bergenia , Darmera , Heuchera , Saxifraga , Tellima , Tolmiea )
Reference: [Soltis 1988 Syst Bot 13:64–72]

HEUCHERA

ALUMROOT

Rhizome scaly; bulblets 0
Leaves basal, sometimes a few cauline; blade ovate, base cordate to reniform, lobes and teeth shallow, irregular
Inflorescence generally raceme-like; bracts generally scale-like
Flower radial to ± bilateral; hypanthium partly fused to ovary; calyx lobes equal or not; petals 0 or 5, generally equal; stamens 5, generally equal; pistil 1, ovary > half inferior, chamber 1, placentas 2, parietal
Fruit: capsule
Species in genus: 50 species: North America
Etymology: (J.H. von Heucher, German professor of medicine, 1677–1747)
Reference: [Rosendahl, Butters, & Lakela 1936 Minn Stud Plant Sci 2:1–180]
A very difficult genus, highly variable at many levels and needing much additional research.

Native

H. cespitosa Eastw.


Leaf: petiole 1–6 cm; blade 15–40 mm, round to reniform, shallowly 5-lobed
Inflorescence 10–36 cm, narrow, open, glandular
Flower ± bilateral; part of hypanthium fused to ovary 1–2.2 mm, ± = long side of free part, together with calyx lobes 4–7 mm; calyx lobes ± equal, pink-red with green tips; petals > calyx lobes, obovate-oblanceolate, unequal; stamens generally < calyx lobes, unequal, longest barely exserted; mature styles > 1.5 mm, included
Ecology: Uncommon. Rocky areas
Elevation: 1900–2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada (Kern, Tulare cos.), s Outer South Coast Ranges (Big Pine Mtn)
Synonyms: H. rubescens var. c. (Eastw.) M.G. Stewart
Otherwise like H. abramsii , H. brevistaminea , H. elegans , H. hirsutissima , forming a complex much in need of monographic study.

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