(ciliate saxifrage)
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Photo of Saxifraga eschscholtzii by Jacob Frank
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This distinctive cushion-forming species is a Beringian endemic alpine plant of rock crevices, fell-fields and frost boils in tundra. Sometimes mistaken for a moss or lichen due to its small, compact form,
Saxifraga eschscholtzii forms dense, sometimes hemispherical hummocks or looser mats, with stems covered in tight, scale-like leaves. The leaves are alternate, tightly overlapping, with hairs on the margin. Dead leaves are persistent, grey in color. The flowers are inconspicuous, solitary, less than 5 mm wide,
sessile or raised on
peduncles a centimeter or so above the mat. The five yellow petals are 1 mm long, surrounded by
sepals of similar length. Flowers are
perfect, containing
stamens and two fused
carpels. Fruits are
capsules with two divergent beaks, reddish in color. Once it is distinguished from mosses,
Saxifraga eschscholtzii is hard to confuse with other species.
Saxifraga eschscholtzii flowers very early in the season.
Saxifraga eschscholtzii is
monoecious with bisexual flowers. The genus
Saxifraga is insect pollinated, and the fruits are dry
capsules which split to release many small seeds.
Saxifraga eschscholtzii is an amphi-Beringian endemic species with a restricted range limited to arctic-alpine areas in the Bering Strait region. In Alaska, Saxifraga eschscholtzii occurs almost exclusively in the alpine in the northern and western areas of the state, with a few low elevation localities along the northwest Arctic Coast. Its range reaches the northernmost corner of the Yukon Territory, and Chukotka in easternmost Russian Far East. This distinctive species is not uncommon in Denali, with localities scattered north of the Alaska Range (see in the Park Road corridor), in the Kantishna and other foothill ranges in the park, as well as along the Yentna River on the south side.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right, depicting recent Denali data.
Saxifraga eschscholtzii often occurs at high elevation, found in a narrow range of elevations. Excepting one lowland outlier, it occurs only from 900 to 1734 meters in the Park, with the average site at 1285 m. This species occurs on all aspects, but is slightly more common on north-facing slopes. It also appears to prefer moderately high inclines, found on an average slope of 22 degrees.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right. For more on how to interpret these figures, visit Understanding Data Presented.
Saxifraga eschscholtzii is generally restricted to rocky sites, often growing in the crevices between rocks or on shattered-rock fell-fields. It is also found in alpine tundra, particularly in bare soil such as frost boils or solifluction lobes.
Dry to somewhat moist sites in the mountains.
