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Purple saxifrage
Saxifraga oppositifolia

Vulnerability: not assessed
Invasive: no
Identification: easy
Monitoring: easy

What is it?
Purple saxifrage is a plant that grows low and in mats on rocky and gravelly soils. The leaves are very small, rounded, and look like scales. The plant is one of the first to flower in spring, giving many beautiful purple flowers that are easily recognizable.
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Where is it?
Purple saxifrage is circumpolar, widely distributed in all Arctic regions as well as more southern alpine regions. It is found on Kaffeklubben island, the most northern piece of land in the world, making it the most northern growing vascular plant along with mountain avens. It was also found in the Alps at a higher altitude than any other plant.
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Interesting facts
  • In Finland, the purple saxifrage is only found in the far north of the country, and is near threatened due to climate change.
  • The purple saxifrage is the official flower of the territory of Nunavut. Nunavummuit (the people of Nunavut) make a tea from it that is believed to relieve stomach aches.
  • The flowers contain vitamin C, so it is eaten in Canadian Indigenous communities where berries are rare.
  • The purple saxifrage is a preferred food of the arctic hare.

Pictures

  • Cover image: Purple Saxifrage" by Alastair Rae is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
  • SAXIFRAGA OPPOSITIFOLIA (Sassifraga a foglie opposte. Gegemblättriger Steinbrech.Saxifrage à feuilles opposées. Nasprotnolistni kamnokreč. Purple Saxifrage). Saxifragaceae" by apollonio&battista is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

References

  • Abbott, R.J. and Comes, H.P. (2004), Evolution in the Arctic: a phylogeographic analysis of the circumarctic plant, Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple saxifrage). New Phytologist, 161: 211-224. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00953.x
  • Körner, Christian (2011). "Coldest places on earth with angiosperm plant life". Alpine Botany. 121 (1): 11–22. doi:10.1007/s00035-011-0089-1. S2CID 22796093.
  • The Official Flower of Nunavut. (2021). Nunavut Legislative Assembly. https://assembly.nu.ca/about-legislative-assembly/official-flower-nunavut
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              The Icelandic Climate Fund (2020-2021)

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The Nordic Cooperation (2021-2023)           

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  • Home
  • Local Nature
    • Flora and Funga >
      • Flowering plants >
        • Arctic poppy
        • Cow parsley
        • Mountain avens
        • Nootka lupin
        • Purple saxifrage
      • Non-flowering vascular plants
      • Non-vascular plants
      • Algae
      • Fungi >
        • Reindeer lichen
    • Land mammals >
      • Carnivores >
        • American mink
        • Arctic fox
        • Red fox
      • Herbivores >
        • Reindeer
        • Muskox
      • Insectivores
    • Marine mammals >
      • Seals and Bears >
        • Harbor seal
        • Polar bear
        • Ringed seal
      • Whales and Dolphins >
        • Humpback whale
        • Minke whale
        • Orca
    • Birds >
      • Birds of prey >
        • Gyrfalcon
        • Snowy owl
        • White-tailed eagle
      • Land birds >
        • Rock ptarmigan
        • Rock pigeon
        • Eurasian three-toed woodpecker
      • Passerines >
        • Common raven
        • European starling
        • Snow bunting
      • Sea birds >
        • Atlantic puffin
        • Great cormorant
        • Northern fulmar
      • Seagulls >
        • Black-legged kittiwake
        • Arctic tern
        • Arctic skua
      • Waders >
        • Eurasian oystercatcher
        • Common ringed plover
        • Purple sandpiper
      • Water birds >
        • Red-throated diver
        • Barnacle goose
        • Common eider
  • Activities
    • Beach treasure hunts
    • Ice fishing
    • Crab traps
    • Seal monitoring
    • Shore ecosystem walk
  • App
  • News
  • Publications
  • Contact us