SAXIFRAGE
Purple mountain saxifrage
Family : Saxifragaceae
Category : perennial
Height : 5 cm maximum
Color : pink
Flowering time : April to September
Habitat : between 1500 and 3000 m
Protection : yes
Toxicity : no
Frequency : frequent
DESCRIPTION
Herbaceous plant growing in pads of 5 cm maximum height. Crawling rods rising at the end. Dense opposite leaves generally larger on floral stems than on non-flowering stems, and up to 6mm long; almost triangular, fleshy; ciliated edge at the base. Five-fold pink to dark red flowers up to 2 cm in diameter, solitary at the tip of the stems and bell-shaped. Over time, their colour often changes to purple-blue.
HISTORY
Plant names say a lot about species. Saxifraga comes from two Latin words: saxos, which means rocky (which is the habitat of this plant) and phagos, which means fragile. The second word, oppositifolia, comes from the opposite adjective and the Latin word foli, which means a leaf. Botanists describe this plant as a plant with opposite foliage, which means that the leaves grow one opposite the other on the stem (instead of alternating). The name saxifraga means "break the stone". The plant secretes limestone through small openings at the edge of the leaves
HABITAT
In all scattered alpine regions; cracks and screes of rocks, stony and hollow lawns on humid limestone soils; between 1500 and 3500 m altitude.
PARTICULARITIES
Over time, the petals turn a purplish-blue hue. The flower of purple mountain saxifrage has a sweet taste that is particularly sought after in places where other berries do not grow in abundance. Its flowers can also relieve gastric problems but, like any other medicinal plant, they can cause problems when abused. The stems and leaves can be used to make tea.
THREAT
This flower is protected, do not pick it !
White mountain saxifrage
Family: Saxifragaceae
Category: perennial
Height: 5 to 40 cm
Color: white
Flowering: June to September
Habitat: between 500 and 3000 m
Protection: yes
Toxicity: no
Frequency: frequent
DESCRIPTION
Herbaceous plant from 5 to 40 cm high with glandular ciliated stems and foliar rosettes covering the ground in lawn or pads. Leaves of rosette up to 5 cm long, spoon-shaped spreading towards the tip; finely toothed at the edge and hairy. Up to 30 flowers in an umbelliform inflorescence at the end of the stem with alternating leaves. The 5 rounded white petals are often stained with small red peas at their base.
HISTORY
The origin of the word formed by the two Latin words saxum (stone) and frangere (to break) seems to indicate that it could cause the crack of the rock where it is installed. The name Saxifraga means "break the stone". The plant secretes limestone through small openings at the edge of the leaves
HABITAT
Scattered in all alpine regions and in the Pre-Alps; rock cracks, open alpine lawns; on stony ground; between 500 and 3000 m altitude.
PARTICULARITIES
The white mountain saxifrage does not like fine soil. It is one of the first colonizers of bare rocks. The fleshy leaves of the white mountain saxifrage have clear, scale-shaped glands on their upper surface that secrete limestone.
THREAT
This flower is protected, do not pick it !
Aizoon Saxifrage
Family : Saxifragaceae
Category : perennial
Height : 5 to 20 cm
Color : yellow
Flowering : June to September
Habitat : between 600 and 3000 m
Protection : yes
Toxicity : no
Frequency : frequent
DESCRIPTION
Persistent herbaceous plant from 5 to 20 cm high, growing in pads. Thin, dense, approximately hemispherical leaves that can reach 2.5 cm in length and narrow to a short stem. On shoots, up to 10 yellow or orange flowers in a loose inflorescence.
HISTORY
The name saxifraga means "break the stone". The plant secretes limestone through small openings at the edge of the leaves.
HABITAT
Scattered in the Pre-Alps and in the central Alps, more frequent in the limestone Alps; scree and cracks in rocks, alpine lawns; on poorly humid limestone substrates; between 600 and 3000 m in altitude.
PARTICULARITIES
The lateral shoots can develop roots, detach and grow as an independent plant.
THREAT
This flower is protected, do not pick it !