SAXIFRAGA ROTUNDIFOLIA subsp. CHRYSOSPLENIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- SAXIFRAGACEAE/Sect. COTYLEA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Saxifraga chrysospleniifolia

Meaning:- Saxifraga (L) Stone-breaker.

Rotundifolia (L) Having rounded leaves.

Chryosplenifolia (L) having leaves resembling those of

Chrysosplenium (golden-spleenwort).

General description:- Evergreen perennial with underground rhizome or stock.

Stems:-

1) Rather fragile and softly glandular-eglandular-pubescent.

2) Flowering stem, 15-60(-100) cm, rather stout, usually with a few dentate or

slightly lobed cauline leaves and a rather narrow panicle of numerous flowers.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, in a lax rosette, distinctly petiolate,

a) petiole, expanded in the upper 5-7 mm and passing gradually into the lamina.

b) lamina, usually 2-5 cm wide, orbicular-reniform, cordate at the base, with

11-17 subequal, shallow lobes.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, a lax panicle with 1- or 2-flowered, suberect branches.

2) Petals, 6-11 mm, narrowly oblong to broadly elliptical, with a distinct claw, white,

usually spotted with yellow at the base and with red higher up.

3) Ovary, superior, green or pink.

4) Styles, very short, gradually divergent

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, with numerous seeds.

Key features:-

1) Largest leaves, at least 25 mm wide, with at least 15 crenations or teeth.

2) Basal leaves, not palmately lobed, or very slightly lobed, with dentate lobes.

3) Flowers, numerous, in a lax panicle.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Calcareous woodland, rocky places and crevices, showing a preference

for cooler, shadier, often north-facing and moist situations, including seasonal

waterfalls, 0-900 m. rarely higher.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout mainland Greece, Peloponnisos and Ionian

Islands. Balkan Peninsula northwards to Bosnia and Bulgaria. On Crete more

common in the west and central areas..

Flowering time:- Late Mar to mid-June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis