Plant Sex: Flowers usually bisexual
Flowers: Actinomorphic
Flowers: perigynous (with hypanthium). Carpels free above, connate below. Ovary superior, inferior, or half inferior.
Inflorescence: Racemes or cymes
Fruits: Capsules and follicles
Habit: Perennial herbs. Saxifraga means "rock breaker"
Leaves: Alternate or basal, without stipules
Examples:
Heuchera sanguinea (coral bells, a commonly cultivated species)
Heuchera - some native species
Saxifraga (saxifrage)
- Habit of S. forbesii in flower at Little Grand Canyon, Jackson Co. IL.
- Rosette of leaves and young developing inflorescence.
- Flower of S. forbesii.
- Flower of S. stolonifera, the "strawberry begonia", a common houseplant.
Tiarella (foamflower)
Mitella (mitterwort)
- Habit of M. diphylla in flower at Little Grand Canyon, Jackson Co. IL.
- Close-up of flower of M. diphylla, Little Grand Canyon, Jackson Co. IL.
- Fruits of M. diphylla. These capsules dehisce the seeds via a splash cup mechanism where rain drops displace the seeds.
Astilbe
- Habit of A. thunbergii in flower
Note: the woody Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea and Philadelphus) and Grossulariaceae (Ribes)
were traditionally included within Saxifragaceae. Molecular
evidence is in agreement with the concept of several families. The genus Parnassia is now in its own family Parnassiaceae.
- SIUC / College of Science / Elements of Plant Systematics
- URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/PLB304/Lecture15Saxif/Saxifragaceae.html
- Last updated: 17-Mar-08 / dln