| Pyramidal Saxifrage | |
|---|---|
| Flowers of cultivar 'Southside Seedling' | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Saxifragaceae |
| Genus: | Chondrosea |
| Species: | C. cotyledon |
| Binomial name | |
| Chondrosea cotyledon (L.) Á.Löve |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Saxifraga cotyledon L. |
|
Chondrosea cotyledon, the Pyramidal Saxifrage, occurs in the mountains of Europe and has rosettes about 8 inches (20 cm) across of tongue-shaped leaves, beaded but not toothed. In May or June the tall panicles of white flowers, branched and pyramidal in outline, may reach 2'. It is one of Norway's two national flowers (chosen in 1935). Often placed in Saxifraga with the typical saxifrages, this plant is otherwise separated in the monotypic genus Chondrosea. Its relationship to the silver saxifrages (Saxifraga sect. Ligulatae) remains to be resolved to full satisfaction.
To produce flowers it sometimes is necessary to remove and save for propagation all side rosettes. The flowering rosette dies after blooming. C. cotyledon is one of the most beautiful of the silver saxifrages and one of the easiest to grow.
It is the floral emblem of Norway.