Micranthes micranthidifolia (Haworth) Small. Section: Micranthes. Common name: Branch-lettuce, Lettuceleaf Saxifrage, Mountain Lettuce. Phenology: May-Jun. Habitat: Wet soils of seepages, in the beds of high elevation brooks, brookbanks; rocky seepages. Distribution: A Southern and Central Appalachian endemic: e. PA and WV, south to e. TN, w. NC, nw. SC, and ne. GA.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Other Comments: This plant is gathered in considerable quantities as a spring green in the mountains of our area, and can sometimes be seen for sale in local grocery stores. The common name refers to the plant's habitat; ‘branches’ are mountain streams.
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA8, K4, S, S13, Tn, Va, Brouillet & Gornall (2007), Tkach, Röser, & Hoffmann (2015); = Saxifraga micranthidifolia (Haw.) Steud. — C, F, G, GW2, Pa, RAB, W, WV. Basionym: Robertsonia micranthidifolia Haw. 1812
Links to other floras: = Micranthes micranthidifolia - FNA8
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rosette-forming perennial, sometimes occurring in small colonies.
Stems: Flowering stems slender, branched above, somewhat sticky.
Leaves: Leaves basal; on winged petioles; oblong-lance-shaped; 3-12 in. long; sharply toothed and each tooth with a sharp, hard tip; usually smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a loose panicle, the slender branches subtended by small bracts; white; less than 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading to recurved, minute, oval petals with yellow spots at the base, 10 club-shaped stamens and a 2-lobed ovary.
Fruits: Fruit an oval, 2-lobed, pointed capsule, the 2 parts fused only at the base.
Comments:
Height: 10-20 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rosette-forming perennial, sometimes occurring in small colonies.
stems: Flowering stems slender, branched above, somewhat sticky.
leaves: Leaves basal; on winged petioles; oblong-lance-shaped; 3-12 in. long; sharply toothed and each tooth with a sharp, hard tip; usually smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a loose panicle, the slender branches subtended by small bracts; white; less than 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading to recurved, minute, oval petals with yellow spots at the base, 10 club-shaped stamens and a 2-lobed ovary.
fruits: Fruit an oval, 2-lobed, pointed capsule, the 2 parts fused only at the base.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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