Micranthes tolmiei
Tolmie's saxifrage
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Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Micranthes tolmiei (Tolmie's saxifrage) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by trailing woody habit and alpine habitat diagnostic.
Tolmie's saxifrage is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, and Sierra Nevada Mountains in alpine tundra and fell-fields at elevations above 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces small white flowers in dense head-like clusters with linear to oblanceolate petals 2.5 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with slender, partially woody stems that trail along the ground, it forms compact clusters with fleshy, elliptic or obovate leaves 8 to 15 millimeters long. Its leaves are sessile, crowded along the stem, and remain entirely intact, creating a dense mat-like growth pattern. The plant's distinctive flower structure features widely spreading sepals and filaments that are significantly widened except near the base and tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; trailing woody habit and alpine habitat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alpine tundra, fell-fields
Elevation: > 2000 m
California counties: Amador, El Dorado, Madera, Placer, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tuolumne, Fresno, Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Mariposa, Lassen, Alpine
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Micranthes tolmiei blooms Jul-Sep.
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 tolmiei native to California?
Yes. Micranthes tolmiei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Micranthes tolmiei bloom?
Micranthes tolmiei blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Micranthes tolmiei grow?
Micranthes tolmiei occurs in Amador, El Dorado, Madera, Placer, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of > 2000 m.
What plant family does Micranthes tolmiei belong to?
Micranthes tolmiei is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Micranthes.
What habitat does Micranthes tolmiei grow in?
Micranthes tolmiei grows in Alpine tundra, fell-fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Micranthes aprica — Sierra saxifrage
- Micranthes bryophora — Bud saxifrage
- Micranthes californica — Greene's saxifrage
- Micranthes ferruginea — Rusty hair saxifrage
- Micranthes fragosa
- Micranthes howellii — Howell's saxifrage
- Mitellastra caulescens — Leafy-stemmed mitrewort
- Mitellastra sp.
- Ozomelis diversifolia — Angle leafed miterwort
- Ozomelis sp.
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.