Saxifraga andersonii Engl.

The specific epithet was spelled "Anderssonii" in the protologue, although the type specimen was cited as "T. Anderson 596." The correct spelling of the collector's name is "Anderson," so "Anderssonii" should be treated as a typographical error.

Plants many branched, 2.5-9 cm tall, with crowded shoots forming cushions. Flowering stem ca. 5 mm initially, embedded among rosette leaves and not visible, elongating to 2.5-3 cm after anthesis and then 1-2 cm taller than rosette leaves, glandular hairy, with 4 or 5 leaves. Shoot leaves subimbricate, aggregated into a rosette, obovate or oblong to oblanceolate-linear, abaxially convex, adaxially concave, 5-10 × 1.2-2.6 mm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, chalk glands 3(-7), margin cartilaginous ciliate, apex somewhat reflexed, thickened, glabrous. Cauline leaves remote, suboblong or suboblanceolate to oblanceolate-ensiform, 3-9.3 × 1.1-1.6 mm, both surfaces usually glabrous, abaxially sometimes glandular hairy proximally, chalk glands 1-3, margin glandular hairy, apex thickened, glabrous. Cyme 2-5-flowered, rarely flower solitary; branches 1.5-4 mm; bracts lanceolate, ca. 4 × 1 mm, abaxially and marginally glandular hairy, apex acute; pedicels nearly absent. Sepals erect, ovate to broadly so, 1.5-3 × 1-2 mm, abaxially and marginally glandular hairy, veins 3, partly or fully confluent at apex, apex obtuse, glabrous. Petals white or pink, obovate to broadly so, 1.3-5 × 1.2-3.2 mm, 3-5-veined, base contracted into a claw 0.6-1.6 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 3-3.8 mm. Ovary semi-inferior, with an annular nectary disc; styles 0.2-2.4 mm. Fl. Jun-Aug. 2n = 26.

Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan), S. Tibet.

S Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].

3400-5500 m

Alpine meadows, rock crevices; 4100-4700 m.