Saxifraga tridactylites L.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Slender annual herb, ± glandular-hairy throughout, erect, simple or branched, (2)5– 10(–15) cm

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves forming a rosette (but often ± withered by flowering time), spatulate or cuneate-obovate, lamina up to 1 cm, palmately 3–5-lobed or -fid or sometimes entire, tapering and pseudopetiolate below; upper leaves few, soon becoming entire and passing into bracts; tannin-filled epidermal cells absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes lax, few-flowered, flowers axillary on long, slender, ascending pedicels up to 3 cm long, much exceeding the small bracts, glandular-pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals oblong-ovate, ± 1 mm, but deltoid and acute in fruit; receptacle campanulate, accrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2–3 mm, white, cuneate-obovate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens about half as long as petals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels fused almost to the apex, abruptly narrowed to the short styles, ovary almost completely inferior; stigmas decurrent on inner surface of styles, papillose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subglobose, 3–4 mm, almost completely enclosed by the adnate receptacle, with a raised vein close to suture joining the very divaricate styles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid, yellowish with reddish papillae.

Ecology

Between shady rocks, forming a turf; alt. ± 1220 m

Phenology

May.

Distribution

Very rare; only one confirmed and two doubtful localities perhaps from NE Iraq. ‘Kurdistan’. Throughout Europe except the extreme north and C & E Europe, Aegean Is., Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Caucasia, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya.