- Saxifraga oppositifolia
Taxobox
name = "Saxifraga oppositifolia"
image_width = 250px
regnum =Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Saxifragales
familia =Saxifragaceae
genus = "Saxifraga"
species = "S. oppositifolia"
binomial = "Saxifraga oppositifolia"
binomial_authority = L."Saxifraga oppositifolia", the purple saxifrage, is a species of edible plant that is very common all over the high
Arctic and also some highmountain ous areas further south, including northern Britain, theAlps and theRocky Mountains . It is even known to grow in northGreenland , at 83°15'N, the most northerly plant locality in the world.It is a low-growing, densely or loosely matted plant growing to 3–5 cm high, with somewhat woody branches of creeping or trailing habit close to the surface. The leaves are small, rounded, scale-like, opposite in 4 rows, with ciliated margins. The
flower s are solitary on short stalks, petals purple or lilac, much longer than the calyx lobes. It is one of the very first spring flowers, continuing to flower during the whole summer in localities where the snow melts later.It grows in all kinds of cold temperate to arctic habitats, from sea level up to 1000 m, in many places colouring the landscape. It is a popular plant in
alpine garden s, though difficult to grow in warm climates.It serves as the territorial flower of
Nunavut inCanada and the county flower ofCounty Londonderry inNorthern Ireland .ee also
*
Flora of Svalbard
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