Saxifraga rotundifolia
| Saxifraga rotundifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flowers of Saxifraga rotundifolia at the Giardino Botanico Alpino Chanousia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Saxifragaceae |
| Genus: | Saxifraga |
| Species: | S. rotundifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Saxifraga rotundifolia L. | |
Saxifraga rotundifolia, common name round-leaved saxifrage, is a flowering herb and alpine plant of the genus Saxifraga.
Subspecies
- Saxifraga rotundifolia subsp. heucherifolia (Grisebach & Schrenk.) Ciocarlan
- Saxifraga rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia
Description
Saxifraga rotundifolia can reach a height of 20–50 centimetres (7.9–19.7 in). This perennial herbaceous plant has fleshy leaves arranged in dense basal rosette. They are petiolate (up to 10 cm), up to 5 cm across, dark green, hairy, simple, rounded or almost heart-shaped, bordered by numerous triangular notches. The flowering stems are erect, pubescent, branched at the top, bearing narrow panicles of star-shaped flowers. These flowers have five lanceolate petals, usually white with numerous minute pink-purple specks. They bloom from April to August.
Distribution
This species is present in the central and southern Europe in the Iberian Peninsula, the Alps and the Balkans.
Habitat
Round-leaved Saxifrage prefers shady forests, damps, cliffs, stony soils and margins of streams at elevation of 700–2,200 metres (2,300–7,200 ft) above sea level.