Micranthes integrifolia

Smooth leaf saxifrage

Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Smooth leaf saxifrage is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern coastal ranges, interior coastal ranges, far northern California, and Sacramento Valley in vernally moist meadows at elevations of 100 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small white flowers in dense head-like clusters with delicate, obovate petals 2 to 4 millimeters long. Growing 12 to 35 centimeters tall with a short rhizomatous caudex that occasionally produces bulblets, it has an upright, compact growth habit. Its leaves are approximately ovate, 2 to 7 centimeters long with petioles 0.5 to 4 centimeters, featuring bases that taper and edges that are entire or minutely toothed. The plant develops two follicles as fruit, with densely glandular flower stems adding to its distinctive appearance.

Habitat: Uncommon. Vernally moist meadows

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: 100-1700 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoRO, NCoRI, CaRF, ScV

California counties: Tulare, Modoc, Trinity, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas, Lassen, El Dorado, Fresno, Sierra, Placer, Mendocino, Amador

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.