Micranthes nidifica
Peak saxifrage
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Micranthes nidifica (Peak saxifrage) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by very small petals and interrupted head-like clusters diagnostic.
Peak saxifrage is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and North Coast Mountains in open wet meadows and mountain slopes at elevations of 1,800 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers with triangular sepals and tiny narrowly elliptic petals one to two millimeters long. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with a distinctive caudex bearing rhizomes and small bulblets, it develops an open, somewhat clustered inflorescence. Its leaves are ovate, 3 to 10 centimeters long with petioles one and a half to five centimeters, having bases that taper and edges that are entire or minutely toothed. The plant produces two follicles with ovaries that are more than half-inferior in the flower.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; very small petals and interrupted head-like clusters diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open wet meadows, slopes
Elevation: (1000)1800-3500 m
California counties: Modoc, Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mono, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Siskiyou, Butte, Fresno, Mariposa, Tulare, Tuolumne, Lassen, Tehama, Humboldt, Shasta, Trinity
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Nevada
Bloom period
Micranthes nidifica blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Saxifraga: Micranthes has all leaves unlobed/entire; Saxifraga has at least some leaves lobed or divided.; vs Romanzoffia: Micranthes has basal rosettes and 2 pistils; Romanzoffia has trailing stems and funnel-shaped flowers.; vs Boykinia: Micranthes has 2 separate pistils forming follicles; Boykinia has 1 pistil forming a capsule.; vs Calyptridium: Micranthes has 2 pistils and 5 petals; Calyptridium has 1 pistil and 2 petals.; vs Verbascum: Micranthes has basal rosettes with small flowers; Verbascum has tall spikes with large fuzzy flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Micranthes nidifica native to California?
Yes. Micranthes nidifica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Micranthes nidifica bloom?
Micranthes nidifica blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Micranthes nidifica grow?
Micranthes nidifica occurs in Modoc, Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mono, Placer, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of (1000)1800-3500 m.
What plant family does Micranthes nidifica belong to?
Micranthes nidifica is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Micranthes.
What habitat does Micranthes nidifica grow in?
Micranthes nidifica grows in Open wet meadows, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.