Tolmie's saxifrage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tolmie's saxifrage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Micranthes
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| Species: |
tolmiei
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| Synonyms | |
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Saxifraga tolmiei Torr. & A.Gray |
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Micranthes tolmiei, also known as Tolmie's saxifrage, is a small flowering plant. It is sometimes called Tolmie's alpine saxifrage because it grows in high, rocky mountain areas. This plant is found in western North America, from Alaska down through Montana to California.
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About Tolmie's Saxifrage
Tolmie's saxifrage is a type of plant that lives for many years. It grows in a low, spreading shape, forming mats of stems that creep along the ground. These stems have thick, fleshy leaves that are usually less than 1.5 centimeters long.
Where Tolmie's Saxifrage Grows
This plant loves to live in rocky mountain places, especially in very cold, high-altitude areas called alpine climates. You can often find it growing on talus (slopes covered in broken rocks) and fellfields (rocky, windswept areas with sparse plant life). It is well-suited to these tough environments.
What Tolmie's Saxifrage Looks Like
When it blooms, a strong, upright stem called a peduncle grows from the plant. This stem has a few small, leaf-like parts called bracts along its middle. At the top of the stem, you'll find the flowers. Each flower has thin, white petals. It also has white stamens, which are the parts of the flower that produce pollen, and they look a bit like extra petals.
How Tolmie's Saxifrage Was Discovered
This special plant was found and named after Dr. William Fraser Tolmie. He was only 21 years old and working for the Hudson's Bay Company when he discovered it. Dr. Tolmie found Micranthes tolmiei while he was climbing Mount Rainier in what is now Washington state.
