SAXIFRAGACEAE The  Saxifrage Family

 
 

The Saxifragaceae (sensu stricto) are characterized by:

 

  • herbaceous perennial habit
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  • basal, palmately veined and/or lobed leaves
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  • a hypanthium present, with 2-3 carpels
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  • being uniform in habit, but variable in floral features
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                                                                                       CLICK for a more detailed character description.

The Saxifragaceae in the past served as a repository for any unspecialized rosid; consequently.  Until recently there were a number of unrelated groups subsumed in the Saxifragaceae.  Several families, such as the Grossulariaceae and Hydrangeaceae, have since been segregated, and the Saxifragaceae as treated here excludes species within these families.  A mostly northern hemisphere family of about 29 genera and 550 species, many species are found in the U.S.

Commonly cultivated as ornamentals in the rock garden or perennial border in temperate regions.  Most familiar are species of Astilbe, Bergenia, Boykinia, coral bells (Heuchera), bishop's cap or mitrewort (Mitella), saxifrage (Saxifraga), false mitrewort (tiarella), and piggyback plant (Tolmeia).

 

 

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 Site created and maintained by Matthew Willmann and Melissa Luckow Cornell University, Ithaca, New York September 1998