Common Name: SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
Habit: Perennial herb from caudex or rhizome, generally +- hairy. Stem: often +- leafy on proximal 1/2, rarely trailing and leafy throughout. Leaf: generally simple, basal and/or cauline, generally alternate, generally petioled; veins +- palmate. Inflorescence: raceme or 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 3, [4], 5, 8, or 10; pistils 1 (carpels +- fused, ovary lobed, chambers 1 or 2, placentas generally 2(3), axile or parietal or occasionally proximally axile and distally marginal in ovary lobes) or 2 (carpels free, placentas marginal), ovary nearly superior to inferior, occasionally more superior in fruit, styles generally 2(3). Fruit: capsule (generally 2(3)-beaked, valves generally 2(3), generally equal) or 2 follicles. Seed: generally many, small.
Genera In Family: +- 30 genera, 600 species: especially northern temperate, arctic, alpine; some cultivated (Bergenia, Darmera, Heuchera, Saxifraga, Tellima, Tolmiea). Note: California Mitella moved to Mitellastra, Ozomelis, Pectiantia; Suksdorfia ranunculifolia to Hemieva. Parnassia moved to Parnassiaceae.
eFlora Treatment Author: Michael S. Park & Patrick E. Elvander, except as noted
Scientific Editor: Bruce G. Baldwin.

Common Name: PIG-A-BACK PLANT
Habit: Plant +- hairy, glandular; rhizome scaly; bulblets 0. Leaf: basal and cauline, basal 8--38 cm (including petiole), distal reduced; stipules 3--8 mm, elliptic, leaf-like, with irregular teeth and short bristles; blade 2--11.5 cm wide, ovate, base generally cordate, sometimes bearing plantlets, lobes shallow, teeth sharp. Inflorescence: raceme, 10--80 cm; bracts scale-like. Flower: bilateral; hypanthium free of ovary; calyx cleft between lower 2 lobes, upper 3 larger; petals 4, 8--12 mm, thread-like, brown-purple; stamens 3, opposite 3 upper sepals; pistil 1, ovary superior, chamber 1, placentas 2, parietal. Fruit: capsule. Seed: spiny.
Etymology: (W.F. Tolmie, Hudson's Bay Company physician, Fort Vancouver, 1812--1886)
eFlora Treatment Author: Douglas E. Soltis, Pamela S. Soltis & Walter S. Judd
Reference: Judd et al. 2007 Brittonia 59: 217--225