[The Saxifrage Family East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Northern Golden-saxifrage, Northern Water-carpet

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum

Synonyms: Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Chrysosplenium alternifolium ssp. tetrandrum, Chrysosplenium alternifolium var. tetrandrum

Northern Golden-saxifrage, Northern Water-carpet: Chrysosplenium tetrandrum (Synonyms: Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Chrysosplenium alternifolium ssp. tetrandrum, Chrysosplenium alternifolium var. tetrandrum)

Northern water-carpet photographed on the banks of a small lake near milepost 82 of the park road, Denali National Park.........June 27, 2002.

Characteristics:

Northern water-carpet is a perennial wildflower with several stems arising as high as 10 cm from slender stolons. The upright flower stems are typically unbranched below but branched several times below the inflorescence. Both the stems and leaves are entirely glabrous. The leaves are mainly basal with the stem leaves alternate and clustered near the upper ends of the stem. Individual leaves have slender petioles up to 2 cm long and oval to kidney-shaped blades that are 5-10 mm wide with 3-7 wide, rounded teeth along the margins.

The inflorescence consists of several leafy cymes. The calyx is bowl-shaped with 4 oval, spreading, calyx lobes. The green flowers are about 3 mm wide and lack petals. Four stamens are present and the pistils have 2 carpels


Habitat:

As its name implies, northern water-carpet may be found in moist, springy or swampy areas along streams, ponds and lakes.


Range:

A circumpolar species, northern water-carpet may be found from Alaska south to British Columbia and north-central Washington (Okanogan County) and east to the Rocky Mts. and south to Colorado.


Paul Slichter