Rusty Saxifrage, Russethair Saxifrage, Alaska Saxifrage

Rusty saxifrage is a perennial with simple stems arising from 15-35 cm high from a cluster of several basal leaves. The one to several stems arise from a short, stout taproot, are short-hairy below and glandular above, and may occasionally be branched. The stems are flowered from near the base to the tips of the stems .The thick leaf blades are oblanceolate to obovate, tapered gradually to the stem, lacking obvious petioles. The leaf tips are blunt, and the margins are 7-17 toothed. The teeth range from sharp to rounded. The margins are also ringed with ciliate hairs.

The inflorescence is an open panicle, the branches spreading widely. The flowers may be fully developed, or may be bulblets instead. Individual flowers are white with 5 petals. Two kinds of petals are present, three that are broad, each with 2 orange-yellow spots near the base of the petal (See photo at the top of the page.) and two narrower ones without markings. The petals are about 3-6 mm long. The calyx has 5 lobes or sepals, each nearly free to the base. They are rusty colored, hence the species name ferruginea, and they range from 1.5-2.5 mm long. The stamens are about as long as the petals. The filaments are white with red or rusty anthers. The ovary is almost completely superior, the carpels united half way to the middle.

Rusty saxifrage may be found growing on moist open slopes or open rocky ground at higher altitudes.

Rusty saxifrage may be found from Alaska south through the mountains of British Columbia to the Cascades and Olympic Mts and further south to northwestern California. It is found east to the mountains of Idaho and Montana.

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Rusty saxifrage observed in High Prairie, Badger Creek Wilderness......August 27, 2022. Note the numerous small propagules in the leaf axils.

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Rusty saxifrage (var. macounii) from Silver Star Mt., Gifford Pinchot N.F........July 4, 1991.

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