Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Leptarrhena pyrolifolia
leatherleaf saxifrage
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington, including the Olympic Mountains; Alaska to Oregon, east to Northwest Territory, Alberta, and Montana.

Habitat: Streambanks, seeps and wet meadows, middle to high elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Description:
General:

Glabrous perennial from strong horizontal rhizomes, the simple flowering stems 2-4 dm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves mostly basal, leathery, narrowly obovate to elliptic, 3-15 cm. long, narrowed to a short petiole, with rounded serrate teeth, bright green on the upper surface, pale green below; upper cauline leaves 1-3, sessile and clasping, small.

Flowers:

Inflorescence terminal, strongly congested, more open in fruit; calyx saucer-shaped, 2-3 mm. broad, the 5 lobes upright, 1 mm. long; petals 5, white, spatulate, about 2 mm. long; stamens 10, often longer than the petals.

Fruits:

Ovary mostly superior; carpels 2, fused only at the base; seeds light brown, 2-3.5 mm. long, with empty, tail-like ends 2-3 times as long as the seed.

Accepted Name:
Leptarrhena pyrolifolia (D. Don) R. Br. ex Ser.
Publication: Prodr. 4: 48. 1830.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Lepuropetalon amplexifolium (Sternb.) Ser.
Saxifraga amplexifolia Sternb.
Saxifraga pyrolifolia D. Don
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Leptarrhena pyrolifolia in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Leptarrhena pyrolifolia checklist entry

OregonFlora: Leptarrhena pyrolifolia information

E-Flora BC: Leptarrhena pyrolifolia atlas page

CalPhotos: Leptarrhena pyrolifolia photos

59 photographs:
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