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Glase, Terry

Saxifraga bronchialis

Saxifraga bronchialis L.

Yellowdot Saxifrage, Yellow-spot Saxifrage, Matted Saxifrage

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: sabr6

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

Yellow-spot Saxifrage is a perennial rock cover with evergreen leaves. Leaf shape is extremely variable within the species resulting in plants that appear quite unalike. Leaves can be narrow and sharp-tipped with rigid hairs to rounded and spoon-shaped with soft hairs. Branched, 2-8 in. flowering stems rise above the mat of leaves, each branch terminated by a showy flower. The cream petals are dotted with round spots of varying colors.

A common plant along the mountain trails. The genus name, from the Latin saxum ("rock") and frangere ("to break"), alludes to the species' rocky habitat; the plants grow in rock crevices, looking as if they had split the rock. Accordingly, herbalists once used some species in a treatment for "stones" in the urinary tract.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 8 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Petals yellowish white, with purple, red or yellow spots.

Distribution

USA: AK , CO , ID , MT , NM , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB
Native Distribution: AK to Greenland, s. in mts. to n. OR & NM
Native Habitat: Rock crevices; open, talus slopes; gravelly tundra

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soil.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Astarte Fritillary
(Boloria astarte)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Best grown from seed.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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