Saxifraga rotundifolia
# Saxifraga rotundifolia

Saxifraga rotundifolia, common name round-leaved saxifrage, is a flowering herb and alpine plant of the genus Saxifraga.

## Subspecies

* Saxifraga rotundifolia subsp. heucherifolia (Grisebach & Schrenk.) Ciocarlan
* Saxifraga rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia

## Description

Saxifraga rotundifolia can reach a height of 20–50 centimetres (7.9–19.7 in). This perennial herbaceous plant has fleshy leaves arranged in dense basal rosette. They are petiolate (up to 10 cm), up to 5 cm across, dark green, hairy, simple, rounded or almost heart-shaped, bordered by numerous triangular notches. The flowering stems are erect, pubescent, branched at the top, bearing narrow panicles of star-shaped flowers. These flowers have five lanceolate petals, usually white with numerous minute pink-purple specks. They bloom from April to August.

## Distribution

This species is present in the central and southern Europe in the Iberian Peninsula, the Alps and the Balkans.

## Habitat

Saxifraga rotundifolia prefers shady forests, damps, cliffs, stony soils and margins of streams at elevation of 700–2,200 metres (2,300–7,200 ft) above sea level.

