Saxifraga granulata

Nodule - saxifrage ( Saxifraga granulata )

The nodule - saxifrage ( Saxifraga granulata ), also known as grain or grain - saxifrage, is a European plant species belonging to the genus Saxifrage ( Saxifraga ) in the family Saxifragaceae ( Saxifragaceae ).

Description

The nodule - saxifrage grows as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth between 15 and 40 mostly (50 ) inches. The hairy stem is erect and usually branched from the middle. The basal leaves are 12 to 40 millimeters wide, roundish - reniform and have ( palmate indicated ) a lobed rim notched. They are stalked and its stem is about one and a half to five times as long as the leaf blade. They are crowded in rosettes, often appear in autumn and winter are green. Sitting at the shoot base in the axils of the basal leaves bulbils ( bulbs ) as small nodules ( hence the name ).

The long -stalked inflorescence is a panicle. The five petals are hermaphroditic. The sepals are erect and 3-5 millimeters long. The white petals are 9-17 mm long. The stamens are half as long as the petals. The ovary is almost completely sunk into the flower tube. The fruit is nearly spherical capsule and to 7 millimeters long.

The flowering period extends from May to June.

The species has the chromosome number 2n = 52, but also 30, 32, 46, 48, 52 and swaying 49-60.

System

In Europe there are two subspecies:

• S. granulata subsp. graniticola D.A.Webb; it occurs only in Spain and Northern Portugal
• S. granulata L. subsp. granulata.

Occurrence

Nodule - saxifrage occurs in extensively managed grassland societies, especially in richer xeric grasslands, lean oat grass meadows, sometimes in semi-arid grassland, marsh marigold meadows and bristle grass lawn, as well as on embankments, dams, old dikes, road and grave edges. Locations are usually dry to wet, nutrient-poor and base- rich sand and clay soils.

The spread in Europe focuses on Western and Central Europe. In Southern Europe the way to Sicily and southern Spain, and even to North West Africa, North Europe goes but only as far as Central Sweden. There are long stretches also complex gaps, including in parts of the northwest German lowlands and the Alps. In Austria, the type comes from the colline to the montane zone before, but is rare in all states except Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The nodule - saxifrage is regionally on Red Lists of endangered plant species. In particular, the decline mesophilic grassland in favor of intensive grassland or arable land is one reason for strong inventory losses in recent decades.

Naturopathy

The plant is used in folk medicine and in homeopathy with semolina and stone disease of the kidneys and bladder ( Gattungsname! ).