Saxifraga tridactylites

Three finger - saxifrage

The three- finger - saxifrage ( Saxifraga tridactylites ), or finger - saxifrage called, is a flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae ( Saxifragaceae ).

Features

The three- finger - saxifrage is an annual plant. The stem is loosely branched, reaches a height of 2 and 18 cm undm is usually colored bright red color. The arranged in a rosette, petiolate basal leaves are entire or three-lobed and already withered at flowering time. The stem leaves are distinctly three-lobed and fleshy. Stems, leaves and calyx are covered with sticky glandular hairs and green - reddish color.

In a loose, paniculate inflorescence few flowers are borne on long stalks. The flower stems are two to five times as long as the flowers. The five white petals are 2-4 mm long. The flowering period extends from April to June.

The chromosome number is 2n = 22

Ecology

The three- finger - saxifrage is the only year in our local representative of the genus Saxifraga. In size, it is quite variable. After Oskar von Kirchner its glandular hairs are smaller aufkriechende insects hold and can record their nitrogenous decomposition products. Thus, it would be a carnivorous plant.

The flowers are vorweiblich or vormännlich. The plant is self-fertile and it often is spontaneous self-pollination instead.

The seeds spread as granules flyer; and as they are quite unwettable as Regenschwemmlinge. The whole plant can spread as Klebhafter.

Dissemination and locations

The three- finger - saxifrage is in Europe and the Near East before to the Caucasus and the western Iran. The main distribution according to Oberdorfer is Mediterranean to sub-Mediterranean. This species is particularly in Mediterranean sclerophyllous as well as before in the North Mediterranean downy oak area. The three- finger - saxifrage is smaller to larger groups in spring annuals pioneer communities. This species is mainly found in Xerothermrasen and on dry ruderal areas ( roadsides, gravel roofs, wall tops, industrial sites, railways ), rarely also in fields. Preference is given to summer warm habitats, base -rich but nitrogen- poor sandy soils and rocky to sandy loam soils. The species is a characteristic species of the association Alysso - Sedion, the Felsgrus companies.

For some time, the three- finger - saxifrage is spreading in Germany along the railway tracks. In the limestone areas scattered, the three-finger - saxifrage is otherwise rarely seen. Some German states list this species as endangered to critically endangered, in others it is not subject to protection.

In Austria, the finger - saxifrage occurs in the Pannonian area scattered on, otherwise only rarely and on ruderal sites. The deposits extend to all states. The species is considered endangered, endangered in the western Alps as strong.