Saxifraga paradoxa
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| Saxifraga paradoxa | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Saxifragaceae |
| Genus: | Saxifraga |
| Species: | S. paradoxa |
| Binomial name | |
| Saxifraga paradoxa | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Saxifraga paradoxa, commonly known as the fragile saxifrage,[2] is a perennial plant species in the family Saxifragaceae,[3] which occurs as a tertiary relict and endemic Saxifraga species[4] in the South-Eastern Alps.[5] Count Kaspar Maria von Sternberg described this species in his work Revisio Saxifragarum iconibus of 1810.[3]
This perennial species is a deciduous to semi-deciduous low-growing plant that can reach up to 20 cm (8 in) in height and can spread around for approximately 30 cm (12 in)[2] with its ascending to decumbent stems.[6] Its shining and small leaves are mid- to bright green, in shape usually reniform (kidney-like) and slightly lobed.[2][6] Saxifraga paradoxa characteristic are also small pale green coloured flowers that have linearly-shaped petals, red anthers and are arranged into an axillary cyme.[2][7] The plant's flowering period is between May and August.[8]
Distribution and conservation
This Saxifraga species native range are South-Eastern Alps, with most of its populations inhabiting Slovenia and Austria.[3] In Austria Saxifraga paradoxa occurs in Carinthia and Styria,[7] while in Slovenia its growing area includes valleys of rivers Hudinja[9] and Lobnica (tributary of Drava)[10] near Pohorje, as well as Kozjak mountains and Košenjak.[7] Its habitat usually consists of damp and shaded rocky screes with non-calcareous basis, mostly containing granite and gneiss.[6][11] After this species Slovakian botanist Ladislav Mucina named plant community Saxifragetum paradoxae, with Saxifraga paradoxa being its characteristic species.[4]
Saxifraga paradoxa has not yet been evaluated for the IUCN Red List.[12]
