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]

BOYKINIA

Plant glandular; rhizome scaly; bulblets 0
Leaves basal and cauline, reduced and merging into bracts upward; stipules inconspicuous to leaf-like; blade round to ovate, base cordate to reniform, sometimes truncate, obtuse, or tapered, primary lobes 3–many, very shallow to deep, teeth sharp-tipped
Inflorescence generally 1-sided; bracts sessile to short-petioled, lower leaf-like
Flower: hypanthium partly fused to ovary; petals ephemeral; stamens 5; pistil 1, ovary > half inferior, chambers 2, placentas 2, axile
Fruit: capsule
Species in genus: 8 species: North America, Asia
Etymology: (Dr. S. Boykin, Georgian naturalist, 1786–1848)
Reference: [Gornall & Bohm 1985 Bot J Linn Soc 90:1–71]

Native

B. major A. Gray

Leaf 9–50 cm; stipules conspicuous, green, entire or teeth generally sharp-tipped; petiole 5–35 cm; blade < 20 cm wide, divided > 1/2 way to base, lobes and teeth ± straight-sided
Inflorescence 3–10 dm, ± flat-topped, dense
Flower: calyx lobes 2–5 mm, triangular to elliptic; petals 5–7 mm, elliptic to round
Ecology: Shaded, moist meadows, banks
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Montana
Horticultural information: WET: 4, 5, 17 &SHD: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17; GRCVR.