Saxifraga oppositifolia

Saxifraga oppositifolia, the purple saxifrage or purple mountain saxifrage,[1] is a species of plant that is very common in the high Arctic and also some high mountainous areas further south, including northern Britain, the Alps and the Rocky Mountains.

Saxifraga oppositifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Saxifraga
Species:
S. oppositifolia
Binomial name
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Saxifraga oppositifolia - MHNT

Description

It is a low-growing, densely or loosely matted plant growing up to 5 cm (2.0 in) high, with somewhat woody branches of creeping or trailing habit close to the surface. The leaves are small, rounded, scale-like, opposite in four rows with ciliated margins. The flowers are solitary on short stalks, petals purple or lilac, much longer than the calyx lobes. It is one of the first spring flowers, continuing to flower during the whole summer in localities where the snow melts later. The flowers grow to about 13 mm (0.5 in) in diameter.

Ecology

Habitat

It grows in all kinds of cold temperate to Arctic habitats, usually found from sea level up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), in many places colouring the landscape.

Swiss botanist Christian Körner found the plant growing at an elevation of 4,505 m (14,780 ft) in the Swiss alps, making it the highest elevation angiosperm in Europe.[2] It is even known to grow on Kaffeklubben Island in north Greenland,[3] at 83°N 40°E, the most northerly plant locality in the world.

Species interactions

The flowers of this plant may be consumed by certain animal species, such as the caterpillars of the cold-adapted Gynaephora groenlandica, the Arctic woolly-bear caterpillar.[4]

Uses

It is a popular plant in alpine gardens, though difficult to grow in warm climates.

The edible flower petals are eaten, particularly in parts of Nunavut without abundant berries. They are bitter at first but, after about one second, they become sweet. (They are also slightly sticky.) It is known to the Inuit as aupilaktunnguat. The leaves and stems are brewed for herbal tea: According to many Nunavummiut, the tea is best later in the season once the flowers have died.[5]

It serves as the territorial flower of Nunavut in Canada,[5] a symbolic flower of Nordland county in Norway, and the county flower of County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

Taxonomy

There are a few subspecies, including:

  • Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. glandulisepala Hultén – native to Alaska[6]
  • Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. oppositifolia L. – native to continental US[7]
  • Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. smalliana (Engl. & Irmsch.) Hultén – native to Alaska[8]

References
  1. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Saxifraga oppositifolia". Itis.gov. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. Körner, Christian (2011). "Coldest places on earth with angiosperm plant life". Alpine Botany. 121 (1): 11–22. doi:10.1007/s00035-011-0089-1.
  3. "Template". Sagaxexpeditions.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  4. Kukal, Olga; Dawson, Todd E. (1989-06-01). "Temperature and food quality influences feeding behavior, assimilation efficiency and growth rate of arctic woolly-bear caterpillars". Oecologia. 79 (4): 526–532. doi:10.1007/BF00378671. ISSN 0029-8549.
  5. Official Flower of Nunavut, Nunavut, Canada
  6. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. glandulisepala". Itis.gov. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  7. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. oppositifolia". Itis.gov. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  8. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. smalliana". Itis.gov. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.


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