(redstem saxifrage)
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Micranthes lyallii is a small alpine plant that occurs in scattered localities along brooks, in seeps and in similar moist, meadowy alpine habitats on both sides of the Alaska Range in Denali. Growing from a long
rhizome,
Micranthes lyallii can be occur as a single individual rosette (ramet), or form clusters of similar genetically identical individual plants. This species has mostly basal leaves, and from one to several flower-bearing red stems. On long
petioles, the leaves are diamond- or fan-shaped, and strongly
toothed at the tip. The reddish, leafless stems support 10-15 flowers in a branched, open panicle. The white or pinkish petals are distinctly clawed and yellow-spotted, and just longer than the green-purple
sepals. The
stamens have
filaments that broaden from the base and red
anthers. At maturity, the fruit is a red, two-beaked
capsule.
Micranthes lyallii flowers mid-summer.
Micranthes lyallii is
monoecious with bisexual flowers. The genus
Micranthes is insect-pollinated, and the fruits are dry
capsules which split to release many small seeds, dispersed by gravity, wind and water.
Micranthes lyallii is endemic to Northwestern North America, with a Cordilleran distribution extending through the Yukon Territory to eastern Northwest Territory, and down the Rockies to B.C., Alberta, Washington, Idaho and Montana. In Alaska, the species occurs occasionally throughout the mountain ranges in the southern half of the state, from Southeast to the Alaska Peninsula, the Kuskokwim Mountains, Kodiak Island, and north to Denali. This species occurs on both sides of the Alaska Range in the park, and in the foothills of the northeastern corner, although it is more common on the southern slopes of the Alaska Range than to the north.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right, depicting recent Denali data.
In the park, this is a moderate elevation species, typically found at 1000 meters, though with specimens found in sites from 585 m to 1752 m high. It occurs on a wide range of aspects, and prefers gentler slopes with localities averaging a 12 degree incline.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right. For more on how to interpret these figures, visit Understanding Data Presented.
Moist to wet sites in the mountiains.
