Saxifraga debilis

Plants usually densely tufted, sometimes loosely so, not stoloniferous, not rhizomatous. Leaves basal and cauline, (3–5, proximal similar to basal); petiole ± flattened, 5–70 mm; blade round or reniform, (3–) 5–7-lobed (lobes obtuse), (3–) 4.5–6.7 (–10.3) mm, slightly fleshy, margins entire, eciliate, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences 2–3 (–5) -flowered, capitate cymes, sometimes solitary flowers, (flowers subsessile), (3–) 6.7–9 (–19.4) cm, tangled, nonglandular-hairy; bracts petiolate. Flowers (hypanthium V-shaped in longisection, glabrous or sparsely short-stipitate-glandular); sepals erect, oblong to ovate, (0.7–1 mm wide), margins eciliate, surfaces abaxially glabrous; petals white to pale-purple, not spotted, oblong, (1.7–) 3–4.4 (–6.2) mm, ± equaling sepals; ovary 1/2 inferior. 2n = 26.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Alpine meadows, snow beds, open gravel and silt, seepage areas, stream and lake margins, shady taluses, ravines or cliffs
Elevation: 2500-4000 m

Colo., Mont., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Saxifraga debilis is known only from the central and southern Rocky Mountains, where it is often called S. rivularis (a species not present in the area). Its V-shaped (in longisection), glabrous or sparsely short stipitate-glandular hypanthia, and larger, more-lobed leaves (similar to S. bracteata in this) distinguish it from S. hyperborea, which is sometimes sympatric (M. H. Jørgensen et al. 2006).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa