Species: Saxifraga pensylvanica L.

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Saxifraga pensylvanica L.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Saxifragaceae

Genus:

Saxifraga

Species Synonyms:

Micranthes pensylvanica (L.) Haw.
Saxifraga forbesii Vasey
Saxifraga pensylvanica var. forbesii (Vasey) Engl. & Irmsch.
Saxifraga pensylvanica ssp. interior Burns
Saxifraga pensylvanica var. pupuripetala (A.M. Johnson) Bush
Saxifraga pensylvanica ssp. tenuirostrata Burns

Common Names:

swamp saxifrage

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

east-central Saskatchewan, southeastern Manitoba – southwestern Ontario

Saskatchewan:

east-central Saskatchewan; Pasquia Hills

Ecoregion:

Boreal Transition

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

very wet, marshy or shrubby fens

Canada:

wet meadows, swamps, and boggy thickets

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered/Extirpated?

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 N1 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Swamp saxifrage is endangered because it is extremely rare and is only known from one location in Saskatchewan. This species is locally sparse. Immediate or probable threats have been identified.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

30 – 80 cm

Roots:

roots fibrous

Stems:

stout, erect, leafless, glandular-hairy, especially above

Leaves:

basal, stalks broad and more or less clasping, blades 10 – 30 cm long, oblong to lance-shaped, sparingly hairy, margin entire to minutely saw-toothed

Inflorescence:

branched, elongating at maturity, to 60 cm long, becoming lax and interrupted

Flowers:

5 – 8 mm across; hypanthium present; sepals partially fused; petals greenish-white to yellowish; stamens 10

Fruits:

capsule

SAXIFRAGA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Flowering stem leafy; basal leaves stiff, with three spiny teeth at the tip	S. tricuspidata
1 Flowering stem leafless; basal leaves not stiff, teeth at the tip not spiny	2

2 Leaves very large, to 30 cm long, lance-shaped to narrowly ovate or spatula-shaped; stems 30 – 80 cm tall	S. pensylvanica
2 Leaves smaller, 4 – 8 cm long, lance-shaped to ovate or elliptic; stem 10 – 25 cm tall	S. occidentalis