Saxifraga stella-aurea

Saxifraga stella-aurea Hook. f. & Thomson, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 2: 72 1858. (syn:

Bhutan, China (S-Qinghai, W-Sichuan, W-Yunnan) , Tibet, India, Nepal, Sikkim,
Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh, Kashmir) as per Catalogue of Life;

Caespitose; stems 1-1.5cm, densely leafy. Leaves ± rosetted, obovate-spathulate, 2-4 x 1-2mm, obtuse, narrowed at base, usually glandular-ciliate. Flowers solitary on naked pedicels, 1.5-3(-5)cm, glandular-pubescent. Calyx 3-5mm, lobes ovate-oblong, 2.5-4 x 1.5-2mm, glandular, becoming reflexed. Petals elliptic, 3.5-6 x 1.5-2.5mm, yellow.

Fl. June-September
On open sandy slopes.

(Attributions- A.C.J Grierson & D.G Long. Flora of Bhutan. Published by RBGE. 1987 from Bhutan Biodiversity Portal)               



Saxifraga stella-aurea Hook.f. & Thomson (Saxifragaceae) is a high alpine dweller in the Himalaya seen above 4200m. Google search reveals that there are no images of live specimens of this species on the net.
It is small, cushion forming saxifrage resembling to Saxifraga jacquemontiana but differentiated by a long flowering pedicel and reflexed sepals.
These photographs are from Barjikang Pass area (4650m) in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand on the date 5th September 2017.
It is new for eFI.