Saxifragaceae : Saxifrage Family

Taxonomy  |   Illustrated Key  |   Dichotomous Key  |   Genera  |   Family Traits

Taxonomy

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Class: Dicoteldonae (two sead-leaves)

Family: Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Genera: 5

Species: 28 (aprox.)

Boykinia richardsonii (Bear Flower)

Crysosplenium tetrandum (Northern Golden Saxifrage)

Crysosplenium wrightii (Golden Saxifrage)

Parnassia fimbriata (Grass-of-Parnassus)

Parnassia kotzebuei (Kotzebuei Grass-of-Parnassus)

Parnassia palustris (Northern Grass-of-Parnassus)

Ribes glandulosum (Skunk Currant)

Ribes hudsonianum (Northern Black Currant)

Ribes lacustre (Bristly Black Currant)

Ribes oxyacanthoides (Wild Gooseberry)

Ribes trise (Wild Red Currant)

Saxifraga adscendens

Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Mountain Saxifrage)

Saxifraga caespitosa

Saxifraga cernua (Nodding Saxifrage)

Saxifraga flagellaris (Spiderplant Saxifrage)

Saxifraga hieracifolia (Rusty Saxifrage)

Saxifraga hirculus (Yellow Marsh Saxifrage)

Saxifraga lyallii

Saxifraga nelsoniana(Lettuce Saxifrage)

Saxifraga nivalis (Alpine Saxifrage)

Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Mountain Saxifrage)

Saxifraga radiata

Saxifraga razshivinii

Saxifraga reflexa

Saxifraga rivularis (Brook Saxifrage)

Saxifraga rufopilosa

Saxifraga serpyllifolia

Saxifraga tricuspidata (Prickly Saxifrage)


Family Traits

Description:

  • Flowers regular and perfect (bisexual).
  • Stamens (male parts) 5-10, Petals 5, Sepals 5.
  • Ovary superior with 2 united carpels (female parts).

Natural History:

  • Greatest diversity in arctic, boreal, and montane environments.

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 31

Species: 730

North America:

Genera: 21

Species:

Yukon:

Genera: 7

Species: 39


Genera

Boykinia

  • Stamens 5.

World= ? sps.

N.A.= 6 sps.

Yukon= 1 sps.

Central Yukon= 1sp.

Chrysosplenium

  • Herbaceous plants.
  • Petals lacking.
  • Flower parts in 4s (4-merous).
  • Small delicate, yellowish green.

World= 55 sps.

N.A.= 6 sps.

Yukon= 2 sps.

Central Yukon= 2sp.

Parnassia

  • Herbaceous plants.
  • Having 5 infirtile stamens called staminodia.
  • The staminodia alternate with the 5 regular firtile stamens.
  • Flowers solitary.

World= ? sps.

N.A.= 11 sps.

Yukon= 3 sps.

Central Yukon= 3sp.

Ribes

  • Often placed in its own family called: Grossulariaceae
  • Plants are erect medium sized shrubs.
  • Leaves are Palmate and cordate in shape.
  • Venation also palmate usually with 5 main viens.
  • Fruit a berry.

World= 150 sps.

N.A.= ? sps.

Yukon= 6 sps.

Central Yukon= 5sp.

Saxifraga

  • Some members of this family also reproduce vegitatively by bulbets, bulbils, or stolons (rooting branches).
  • Stamens 10.

World= 350 sps.

N.A.= 70 sps.

Yukon= 25 sps.

Central Yukon= 20 sp.

Illustrated Key To Saxifragaceae Genera

Note: Move cursor over image for note on what to look for. Click on image to enlarge.

Saxifraga (Saxifrage Genus)

Chrysosplenium tetrandum (Northern Golden Saxifraga)

Chrysosplenium wrightii (Golden Saxifraga)

Parnassia fimbriata (Grass-of-Parnassus)

Parnassia kotzebuei (Kotsebuei Grass-of-Parnassus)

Parnassia Palustris (Northern Grass-of Parnassus)

Ribes hudsonianum (Northern Black Currant)

Ribes lacustre (Bristly Black Currant)

Ribes oxyacanthoides (Gooseberry)

Ribes glandulosum (Skunk Currant)

Ribes triste (Wild Red Currant)

Boyinia fichardsonii (Bear Flower)

Dicotomous Key To Saxifragaceae Species and Large Genera

  • A: Shrubs; Fruit is a berry: Ribes (Currant Genus)
  • A: Herbaceous plants or sub-shrubs (woody base with herbaceous stems); Fruit is a dry capsule:
    • B: Petals lacking; flower parts in 4-merous: Chrysosplenium (Golden Saxifrages)
    • B: Petals usually present flower parts 5-merous:
      • D: Sterile stamens (staminodia) alternating with 5 regular stamens: Parnassia (Grass-of-Parnassus)
        • E: Petals fimbricate (shreded) along margins: P.fimbricata
        • E: Petals entire (smooth edges): Palustris
          • F: Petals 5-9 veined and nearly twice as long as sepals: P.palustris
          • F: Petals 3-5 viened and equal or shorter than sepals: P.kotzebuei
          • D: No sterile stamens:

Dicotomous Key To Ribes (Currant Genus)

  • A: Stems prickly:
  • A: Stems without prickles:
    • C:Fruit black; Leaves glandular (with glands) dotted on underside: R.hudsonianum
    • C:Fruit Red; Leaves not glandular dotted:
      • Fruit bristly; Leaves deeply 5-7 lobed: R.glandulosum
      • Fruit smooth and shiny; Leaves not to deeply 3 lobed: R.triste

Dicotomous Key To Saxifraga (Saxifraga Genus)

  • A:
  • A:

Illustrated Key To Saxigraga Species

Note: Move cursor over image for note on what to look for. Click on image to enlarge.

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