Saxifragaceae

Abstract

Saxifragaceae, in the order of Saxifragales, is a dicotyledonous flowering plant family with about 33 genera and approximately 640 species, worldwide distribution, mostly in N temperate regions. Plants are usually herbaceous or shrubs or small trees and sometimes climbers. Leaves are simple, sometimes compound, alternate or opposite, and exstipulate. Flowers are bisexual, rarely unisexual, usually actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic, often arranged to cymose, racemose, or paniculate, and rarely solitary. Sepals are often 4 or 5, connate at base, and sometimes petaloid. Petals are often isomerous with sepals and opposite and sometimes apetalous. Stamens are isomerous or twice as sepals, rarely more, and sometimes with staminodes. Filaments are free. Anthers are 2-loculed, and longitudinally dehiscent. Carpels are 2–6, connate, or free. Styles are free. Ovaries are superior, semi-inferior to inferior, 1–5-loculed, with numerous anatropous ovules per locule, and axile placenta or parietal placenta. Fruit is a capsule or berry, many-seeded. Seeds are small, albuminous. One species, belonging to different genera, is illustrated in this chapter.