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Species Details
Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesBasal, wedge-shaped to fan-shaped, 1-4 cm long and 0.7-3.5 cm wide, coarsley toothed above the middle
FlowersInflorescence an open raceme, few to many flowers; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, 2-3 mm, deep red, lobed; petals 5, oblong-oval, clawed, 2-4 mm long, white with 2 greenish yellow spots, age to pink and spots fade; stamens 10, equal the petals, filaments white, club-shaped; pistils 2 or 3-5, fused, styles free at base, ovary superior
Fruits and SeedsFollicles, 6-12 mm long, 2- or often 3-5-beaked, purplish; seeds 0.7 mm long, scale-like pimples, brownish
Scientific Name
Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
Common Name
redstem saxifrage
General Description
A perennial alpine herb that is acaulescent from a prominent caudex; well-developed rhizomes, often forming small mats; scape purplish, may be glabrous or with few soft, brown hairs above; 4 to 30 cm tall
Leaves
Basal, wedge-shaped to fan-shaped, 1-4 cm long and 0.7-3.5 cm wide, coarsley toothed above the middle
Flowers
Inflorescence an open raceme, few to many flowers; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, 2-3 mm, deep red, lobed; petals 5, oblong-oval, clawed, 2-4 mm long, white with 2 greenish yellow spots, age to pink and spots fade;…
Inflorescence an open raceme, few to many flowers; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, 2-3 mm, deep red, lobed; petals 5, oblong-oval, clawed, 2-4 mm long, white with 2 greenish yellow spots, age to pink and spots fade; stamens 10, equal the petals, filaments white, club-shaped; pistils 2 or 3-5, fused, styles free at base, ovary superior
Fruits and Seeds
Follicles, 6-12 mm long, 2- or often 3-5-beaked, purplish; seeds 0.7 mm long, scale-like pimples, brownish
Phenology
Flowers from June to July
Notes
Similar species: Saxifraga nivalis
Like S. lyallii, S. nivalis is also found on alpine slopes. It has round to oval leaves that are 1-3 cm long, and the inflorescence contains 3 to 12 greenish white flowers.
This…
Similar species: Saxifraga nivalis
Like S. lyallii, S. nivalis is also found on alpine slopes. It has round to oval leaves that are 1-3 cm long, and the inflorescence contains 3 to 12 greenish white flowers.
This species was named for David Lyall (1817-95), who was a naturalist and surgeon in the British Royal Navy. He described numerous plant and animal species throughout the world.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: The Rocky Mountains
CAN(BC, NT, YT); USA(AK, ID, MT, WA)
Citation
Page Citation for Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Saxifraga lyallii Engl., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-3816/12-115348. Accessed 02 Jun. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 25 specimens of this Species.
103428 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Resthaven Mountain
Date Collected1999-08-06
111375 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Eagles Nest Pass
Date Collected1964-08-02
115577 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Cote Creek
Date Collected1976-08-03
115862 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Cote Creek
Date Collected1976-08-04
115768 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Cote Creek
Date Collected1976-08-04
88266 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Selwyn Mountains
Date Collected1981-08-08
99237 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Tungsten
Date Collected1967-08-05
122760 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Highwood Pass
Date Collected1971-07-31
124395 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park, Narrow Creek
Date Collected2006-07-24
130395 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Jack-knife Pass
Date Collected2000-08-02
130396 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Hardscrabble Trail
Date Collected2000-08-02
130397 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Bourgeau Lake
Date Collected1978-07-15
130398 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Landslide Lake
Date Collected1980-06-20
130399 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Beehive Ecological Reserve, Beehive Mountain
Date Collected1980-07-03
130400 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Grizzly Creek
Date Collected1980-07-05
130401 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
Date Collected1980-07-15
130402 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Whitehorse Wildland Park, Prospect Mountain
Date Collected1980-07-22
130403 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Whitehorse Wildland Park, Harlequin Creek
Date Collected1981-08-22
130404 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Whitehorse Wildland Park, Cardinal Divide
Date Collected1982-07-27
129029 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Mount Michael
Date Collected1983-07-23
135429 - Saxifraga lyallii Engl.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameredstem saxifrage
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Mount Birdwood
Date Collected1977-07-14