The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1942, Page 263
THE PTERIDOPHYTA AND SPERMATOPHYTA OF ICELAND
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244. Saxifraga caespitosa Linn., emend. Engler & Irmscher, in Das
Pflanzenrcich. IV. 117. 1916. Saxifragaceae, p. 358.
S. groenlandica and S. cespitosa, K. & M., 1770, p. 207.—5. palmata, Hooker,
1813, II, p. 323.—S. decipiens and S. caespitosa, Gliemann, 1824, p. 142.—
S. decipiens Ehrh., Gronlund, Isl. Fl., 1881, p. 55.—S. caespitosa L., Stefáns-
son, Fl. ísl., ed. 1, 1901, p. 123.—S. groenlandica L., Ibid., ed. 2, 1924,
p. 138,—O. & Gr., 1934, p. 85.
Icon.: Engler & Irmscher, loc. cit., fig. 83, A—F and fig. 84, A—G (subsp.
decipiens), fig. 85, A—M and fig. 86, A—G (subsp. eucaespitosa).
Icelandic : Þúfusteinbrjótur. Danish : Tue-Stenbræk.
A very variable species; is represented in Iceland by two subspecies: 1) subsp.
decipiens (Ehrh.) Engl. & Irmsch., and 2) subsp. eucaespitosa Engl. & Irmsch.,
loc. cit.
The distinguishing characters of the two subspecies are given here (cp. E. & I.,
loc. cit., p. 358—359) :
Lamina of basal leaves 2—5—7—11-fid, the lobes rather broad, obtuse or sub-
acute, even sometimes mucronate. Leaves -f- densely clad with long, articulate
glanduliferous hairs; if glabrescent, the lobes are acute or mucronate .............
subsp. decipiens.
Lamina of basal leaves 3—5-lobate or cleft; lobes rather obtuse, rarely acute.
Leaves + densely clad with short glanduliferous hairs ..............................
subsp. eucaespitosa.
The distribution of these two subspecies in Iceland is only very imperfectly
known and cannot, therefore, be given here in detail. The collective species is com-
mon in all parts in the lowland as well as the central highland.
Life-form: Ch.
On gravelly soil, in rock-crevices, on rock-ledges, in fell-field, etc.