Native Plants

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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Saxifraga mertensiana

Saxifraga mertensiana Bong.

Wood Saxifrage

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Synonym(s): Saxifraga mertensiana var. eastwoodiae

USDA Symbol: SAME7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Nearly circular leaves with hairy stalks in a basal cluster around a taller, branched flower stalk bearing tiny white flowers.

The tiny bulbs that replace some flowers can grow into new plants when they drop to the ground.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 16 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: Alaska south to central California, northeastern Oregon, central Idaho, and western Montana.
Native Habitat: Wet banks and along streams in coniferous woods.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FACW	FACW			OBL				FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 62 - Burke Herbarium Image Collection (2020) University of Washington
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Saxifraga mertensiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Saxifraga mertensiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Saxifraga mertensiana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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