Family: Saxifragaceae
Common name: saxifrage family [absent from Zomlefer]
Diversity: Worldwide: 30 genera; ~550 species
U.S.: 20 genera
PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 18 genera
Sometimes includes both Grossulariaceae (gooseberries, currant; Ribes) and Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea).
Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites


Flower
K5 Co5 S5 or 10 P
Sexuality: bisexual
Symmetry: actinomorphic
Inflorescence: scape (flowering stalk lacks leaves)
Calyx (sepals): 5, separate
Corolla (petals): 5, separate, often with short claw, arising from rim of hypanthium
Androecium: 5 or 10
Gynoecium: 2 to 5, united below, superior ovary with hypanthium (=perigynous),style number equal to carpel number, axile placentation
Fruit: capsule
Other features:


Vegetative Features
Leaves: alternate, often basal, exstipulate
Life-history: most perennial, a few annual
Habit: herbs
Distribution & Ecology: cool and temperate regions of N. hemisphere
diverse in w. U.S.
Some Northwest Genera: Heuchera, alumroot
Lithophragma, prairie star
Mitella, miterwort; bishop's cap
Saxifraga, saxifrage
Tellima, fringe cup
Tolmeia, youth-on-age
Tiarella, foam flower


Economic Importance
Crops:
Ornamentals: Saxifraga, saxifrage, garden ornamentals
Weedy and pest species:


Examples Saxifragaceae Lithophragma
Saxifragaceae Saxifraga
Saxifragaceae Saxifraga
Saxifragaceae Tellima
click on the genus name for a flower image



Links to Other Web Sites