Saxifraga apetala Piper:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Range about 10,000+ sq. mi. Occurs along the eastern slope of Washington Cascades (Okanogan to Yakima Counties) and disjunct in Montana.

Saxifraga has many similar-appearing species; a technical key and hand lens are necessary for identification. S. OREGANA VAR SUBAPETALA also lacks petals, but the stamens are purple. S. INTEGRIFOLIA is also very similar, but it has petals and the inflorescence is less congested. S. RHOMBOIDEA is the most common high-elevation species, but it also has petals.

Isotype for Saxifraga apetala Piper
Catalog Number: US 296726
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Original publication and alleged type specimen examined
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): G. R. Vasey
Year Collected: 1889
Locality: Washington, United States, North America

Comments: Vernally wet meadows, on banks of emphemeral streams, in wet depressions on mountain slopes; 600 - 2800 m.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 6 - 20

Comments: But could be C. About 10 populations identified in Washington, disjunct also in Montana.

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

Rounded Global Status Rank: G3 - Vulnerable

Reasons: Range restricted and distjunct. Few identified populations. No high threats.

Comments: Saxifraga apetala has been interpreted as a variety of S. integrifolia and of S. columbiana (Elvander, 1984). Kartesz (5/98 draft) recognizes S. apetala as distinct.