RUE-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE

Saxifraga tridactylites

Saxifrage Family [Saxifragaceae]  

month8apr month8april month8may

status
statusZnative		 flower
flower8white		 inner
inner8green		 morph
morph8actino		 petals
petalsZ5		 stem
stem8round

2nd May 2010, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire. Photo: © Roger Foden
The plant has reddish to pinkish stems and leaves. The stems are sticky hairy. Both stem leaves and basal leaves are three-lobed, and curved over at the edges such as to give a false thick succulent appearance.


2nd May 2010, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire. Photo: © Roger Foden
The stems zig-zag about. The flowers are white, having five petals which curl over much like Meadow Saxifrage.


8th April 2011, Hardraw, Hawes, Yorkshire. Photo: © RWD
Leaves normally light green, turning pink to reddish in response to stress. Stems branched and red even when leaves are green. The leaves are fleshy ending in a distinctive three-toed foot.


8th April 2011, Hardraw, Hawes, Yorkshire. Photo: © RWD
Almost the whole plant is covered in glandular sticky hairs with purple glands at the ends. Five stubby sepals support five white petals, which are oval(ish) and much shorter than those of Meadow Saxifrage.


8th April 2011, Hardraw, Hawes, Yorkshire. Photo: © RWD
Five stamens hidden within with cream-coloured pollen.


2nd May 2010, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire. Photo: © Roger Foden
The petals are un-notched and rounded at the ends and have a faint centre-line. There are five very short stamens with cream-coloured pollen on the ends.


8th April 2011, Hardraw, Hawes, Yorkshire. Photo: © RWD
Now bereft of petals the sepals contain the ripening egg-shaped fruit.


8th April 2011, Hardraw, Hawes, Yorkshire. Photo: © RWD
Trefoil leaves on long and flattened stalks most of the way up the short stem.


8th April 2011, Hardraw, Hawes, Yorkshire. Photo: © RWD
Trefoil leaves set about 50° apart and ending in a stubby point. Some leaves may have five lobes rather than three.

Hybridizes with : Mossy Saxifrage to produce Saxifraga hypnoides × tridactylites. Superficial resemblance to : Stonecrops

No relation to : Wall-rue, Goat's-Rue, nor to Rue [plants of similar name].

Likes growing on walls, rocks, dry or sandy places usually in limestone areas.

  Saxifraga tridactylites  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Saxifragaceae  

Distribution
family8Saxifrage family8Saxifragaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Saxifraga
Saxifraga
(Saxifrages)

RUE-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE

Saxifraga tridactylites

Saxifrage Family [Saxifragaceae]  

WildFlowerFinder Homepage