[Saxifrages: The Genera Cascadia, Micranthes and Saxifraga in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Rustyhair Saxifrage, Western Saxifrage

Micranthes rufidula

Synonyms: Saxifraga aequidentata, Saxifraga klickitatensis, Saxifraga occidentalis ssp. rufidula, Saxifraga occidentalis var. aequidentata, Saxifraga occidentalis var. rufidula, Saxifraga rufidula

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Rustyhair saxifrage as seen at the Carson Camas Patch, Carson, WA........April 23, 2017.

Basal leaves of Rustyhair Saxifrage (formerly Western Saxifrage): Saxifraga rufidula (Synonyms: Micranthes rufidula, Saxifraga aequidentata, Saxifraga klickitatensis, Saxifraga occidentalis ssp. rufidula, Saxifraga occidentalis var. aequidentata, Saxifraga occidentalis var. rufidula)

The photo at right shows the distinctive, toothed basal leaves of rustyhair saxifrage as seen on vernally moist cliffs at Oneonta Gorge in the Columbia River Gorge..........April, 2000

Characteristics:

Western saxifrage (Saxifraga occidentalis) is a species that once had numerous varieties included in it. Recently, many of these varieties have been split into their own species. According to the USDA Plants website, western saxifrage was recently renamed Alberta saxifrage and includes varieties allenii which is found along the eastern slope of the Cascades into the eastern Columbia River Gorge and wallowensis which is more northerly and easterly. In addition, variety rufidula was split to become its own species. I've retained the name western saxifrage here as that is what many of us who view flowers in the gorge are used to, but it will soon become more appropriate to call it rustyhair saxifrage.

Rusthair saxifrage is a perennial with single, simple stems arising from 5-20 cm high from a cluster of several basal leaves. The stems arise from a short rhizome, are short-hairy, and are often reddish-glandular. The thick leaf blades are elliptical or egg-shaped, or occasionally roughly triangular in outline with coarsely toothed margins (15-30 teeth). The blade tapers gradually to a broad petiole, or occasionally rather abruptly to the petiole, giving the leaf in that case a triangular outline. The blades are up to 6 cm long and to 3 cm wide and may be rusty-hairy beneath.

The inflorescence is a narrow to widely branched cyme, the cyme being pyramidal in outline with the branches mostly ascending. The result may be tightly clustered to widely spaced flowers. The flowers are about 5-6 mm wide, usually white with 10 yellow spots near the center. There are 5 petals, and each is egg-shaped. The sepals are blunt-tipped and reflexed out from the petals. The filaments will generally appear club-shaped.

Similar Species:

Alberta Saxifrage (Western Saxifrage): Saxifraga occidentalis (formerly Saxifraga occidentalis var. allenii) - Very similar to rustyhair saxifrage with its dentate leaves, but perhaps more easterly located in the Columbia River Gorge. The inflorescence tends to be more pyramidal with the bracts and calyces rarely bearing reddish hairs. The filaments are generally club-shaped.

Habitat:

Rustyhair saxifrage may be found on seasonally moist (spring) slopes, cliffs, and banks from sea level to alpine habitats.

Range:

Rustyhair saxifrage may be found from British Columbia south on both sides of the Cascades to northwest Oregon, and east across Oregon and Washington to Idaho, Montana, northwestern Wyoming, and as far south as Elko County, Nevada. In Canada, it may be found as far east as Alberta.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it (variety rufidula) may be found between the elevations of 100'-4500' from near Crown Pt. in the west to Hood River or perhaps as far east as The Dalles, OR. The similar Alberta saxifrage is found east of Hood River (See similar species above.),

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Rustyhair saxifrages in bloom along Minor Creek at the east side of Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge.........March 11, 2016. There is some red under the older leaves and note the reddish ovaries in the center photo as the flowers mature.

Rustyhair saxifrage as seen at left on rocky soils along the trail to the arch about 50 meters uphill from the Catherine Creek trailhead............February 23, 2016. The photo at right shows rustyhair saxifrage in bloom along the paved trail at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge.......February 27, 2018.

One of the first of the rustyhair saxifrages (?) observed blooming (left) in the Columbia River Gorge during 2012. Seen along the Eagle Creek Trail downstream of Metaka Falls..........February 19, 2012. The photo at right shows basal leaves of rustyhair siaxifrage as seen on a rock roadcut along the old Chatfield Road between the Interstate 84 eastbound rest area and the Memaloose Overlook.........October 28, 2016.

Rusty hair saxifrage as seen on grassy slopes beneath powerlines directly east of Warren Creek along the Starvation Creek Ridge Trail #414, Columbia River Gorge..........April 26, 2015.

Winter leaves of rusty hair saxifrage observed at Catherine Creek, Columbia River National Scenic Area.....November 9, 2023. The photo at right shows the distinctive reddish-purple leaf undersites of this species.

The photo at left shows the scape and inflorescence of rustyhair saxifrage (?) as seen on moist cliffs at Oneonta Gorge in the Columbia River Gorge.........April, 2000. Because of the flat-topped inflorescence, and reddish-purple tinge to the bracts and underside of the leaves, this photo probably represents the former S. occidentalis variety rufidula, which is found in the Columbia River Gorge, and west of the Cascade Range to the coast. The photo at right shows rustyhair saxifrage in bloom at Catherine Creek......February 18, 2020.

Rustyhair saxifrages as seen along Minor Creek at the east side of Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge. The photo at left was taken on March 12, 2014 while that at right was taken on March 19, 2014.

Early blooming rustyhair saxifrage blooming (left) at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge..........February 7, 2015. Rustyhair saxifrage as seen (right) in the central Columbia River Gorge about 150 meters west of the Memaloose Overlook on a north-south running rocky bald............April 8, 2011.

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The photo at left shows rustyhair saxifrage from Catherine Creek, Major Creek Plateau, Columbia River Gorge, Washington..........March 15, 2009. The photos at center and right shows a close-up of the newly opening inflorescence and basal leaves of rustyhair saxifrage as seen from Catherine Creek, Major Creek Plateau, Columbia River Gorge, Washington..........February 12, 2006.

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Rustyhair saxifrage blooming at Catherine Creek.........March 23, 2017.

Rustyhair saxifrage beginning to bloom at left along the old Chatfield Road above the west end of the Interstate 84 eastbound Rest Area east of Mosier, OR.......February 10, 2018. The photo at right shows rustyhair saxifrage with flower buds forming along the paved trail at Catherine Creek......January 13, 2018.

Rustyhair Saxifrage, Western Saxifrage: Micranthes rufidula (Synonyms: Saxifraga aequidentata, Saxifraga klickitatensis, Saxifraga occidentalis ssp. rufidula, Saxifraga occidentalis var. aequidentata, Saxifraga occidentalis var. rufidula, Saxifraga rufidula)

Rustyhair saxifrage beginning to bloom at left on January 3, 2021 along the paved path at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge. The photo at right shows an early blooming rustyhair saxifrage in bloom at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge.....February 9, 2021.

Rustyhair saxifrage in bloom at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge......March 25, 2022.

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Basal leaf rosettes with flower buds visible at left and center on rustyhair saxifrage along trails in the Coyote Wall-Labyrinth area of the Columbia River Gorge......January 19, 2019. The photo at right shows several basal leaf clusters of rustyhair saxifrage on mossy rock outcrops at Catherine Creek.....January 1, 2019.

Paul Slichter