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]

PARNASSIA

GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS

Plant glabrous; caudex without scales or bulblets
Leaves basal; blade ovate, entire, base tapered to cordate or reniform
Inflorescence: flower solitary; bract generally 1, sessile, leaf-like
Flower: hypanthium minute, free of ovary; stamens 5, staminodes 5, toothed to fringed or divided; pistil 1, ovary superior, chamber 1, placentas 4, parietal, styles inconspicuous, stigmas 4
Fruit: capsule, valves 4
Seed ± winged
Species in genus: 25 species: n temp, arctic
Etymology: (Mount Parnassus, Greece)

Native

P. californica (A. Gray) Greene

Leaf 4–14 cm; blade 2–5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, base tapered
Inflorescence 15–47 cm; bract above middle of peduncle, elliptic
Flower: calyx lobes 3–7 mm, elliptic, entire, ± reflexed in fruit; petals 8–20 mm, round-ovate, entire, ephemeral; staminodes 5–9 mm, lobes > 13, tips spheric
Fruit 8–12 mm
Ecology: Wet banks, meadows
Elevation: < 4000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Inner North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, South Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: s Oregon, Nevada
Synonyms: P. palustris L. var. c. A. Gray
Horticultural information: WET, DRN: 4, 5, 17 &SHD: 14, 15, 16.