Dear members, After going through images at Saxifraga parnassifolia <https://efloraofindia.com/2011/12/13/saxifraga-parnassifolia/>, I got confused after seeing the variations in images herein. On searching in detail, I could not find the real difference between the two and inf. being contradictory at various places. Flora of China <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=305208&key_no=6> gives the following keys: 24 (23) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=305208&key_no=6#KEY-6-23> At least some cauline leaves ovate, base cordate, ± amplexicaul; sepals erect to spreading. (25) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=305208&key_no=6#KEY-6-25> + Cauline leaves narrowly elliptic, base rounded, not amplexicaul; sepals reflexed. (26) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=305208&key_no=6#KEY-6-26>
25 (24) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=305208&key_no=6#KEY-6-24> Petals to 8 mm 29 S. parnassiifolia <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=241000345> + Petals at least 8 mm 28 S. sphaeradena <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200010396> 26 (24) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=305208&key_no=6#KEY-6-24> Inflorescence cymose, 2- or 3-flowered, or flower solitary; basal leaf blade 1.1-2 cm 23 S. dianxibeiensis <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200010251> + Inflorescence corymbiform, 5-17-flowered; basal leaf blade 1.5-5 cm 22 S. diversifolia <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200010256> However, it looks contradictory in Plant illustrations <http://www.plantillustrations.org/species.php?id_species=912173> one <http://www.plantillustrations.org/illustration.php?id_illustration=80744&id_taxon=8103&mobile=0&SID=pqmo7ph77jo3gk5g0id89087d5&language=English&thumbnails_selectable=0&selected_thumbnail=0&query_type=species&query_broad_or_restricted=broad&group=0&lay_out=0&uhd=0> and two <http://www.plantillustrations.org/illustration.php?id_illustration=4128&id_taxon=8103&mobile=0&SID=pqmo7ph77jo3gk5g0id89087d5&language=English&thumbnails_selectable=0&selected_thumbnail=0&query_type=species&query_broad_or_restricted=broad&group=0&lay_out=0&uhd=0> of Saxifraga diversifolia. Here is the description of Saxifraga diversifolia from IBIS Flora from Flora of British India <https://flora.indianbiodiversity.org/content/saxifraga-diversifolia-wall-ex-ser-0> (could not find it for Saxifraga parnassifolia): *Wall. in Sternb. Saxifrag. Suppl, t.* 22 ; flowers corymbose rarely 3-2, sepals ovate-oblong small, cauline leaves sessile often cordate and amplexicaul,* radical leaves long-petioled often large.* Wall. Cat. 452 ; DC. Prodr. iv. 44 ; Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. iv. t. 21 ; H. f. & T. in Journ. Linn. Soc. ii. 70 ; Engler Monog. Saxifrag. 125. S. parnassifolia, Wall. Cat. 451, partly ; Don in Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. 405 ; DC. Prodr. iv. 25 ; Sternb. Saxifrag. Suppl, t. 25. S. Moorcroftiana, Wall. Cat. 453 ; Sternb. Saxifrag. Suppl, t. 24. S. lysimachoides, Klotzsch in. Reis. Pr. Waldem. Bot. t. 42. Alpine Himalaya ; from KASHMIR to BHOTAN, alt. 9000-17,000 ft., abundant. Stems 8-18 in. high, leafy, glandular, often finally glabrous. *Radical leaves long-petioled, narrowed into the petiole *or (var. parnassifolia) ovate, subcordate ; cauline 1/2-2 in., ovate or broad oblong. Sepals at length reflexed. Petals with 4 stalked glands at their base, 1.1/2—2 times the sepals. Styles very short. Capsule ovate-oblong. Seeds angular, testa smooth, somewhat plaited. Here is what Flora of China says: Saxifraga diversifolia <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200010256>: Herbs perennial, 16-43 cm tall. Stem proximally brown crisped villous or glabrous, distally shortly glandular hairy. *Basal leaves with petiole 3-9 cm, abaxially and marginally brown villous; leaf blade ovate-cordate to narrowly ovate, 1.5-5 × 1.2-2.6 cm, abaxially and marginally brown pubescent, **adaxially** glabrous or brown pilose near base, base cordate, apex acute.* Cauline leaves 8-12; petiole 0.5-4 cm, brown crisped villous; leaf blade subcordate or ovate-cordate to narrowly ovate, 1-6.3 × 0.4-4 cm, base cordate or subcordate, apex obtuse or acute; proximal leaf blades larger, abaxially and marginally brown pilose or glandular pilose, adaxially glabrous or subglabrous; distal leaf blades smaller, usually glabrous on both surfaces, glandular hairy at margin. Cyme corymbose, 3-14 cm, 5-17-flowered; pedicels 6-12 mm, glandular hairy.* Sepals reflexed, *narrowly to broadly ovate, 3-4.2 × 1.3-3.5 mm, abaxially glandular hairy or glabrous on both surfaces, veins 3(-5), not or partly confluent at apex, margin membranous, glandular ciliate, apex obtuse or acute, rarely erose. Petals yellow, elliptic, obovate, or ovate to narrowly so, rarely oblong, 5-8 × 2-5 mm, usually not callose, rarely 4-6-callose, (3-)5-7(-9)-veined, base narrowed into a claw 0.5-1.3 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 4-5.6 mm. Ovary subsuperior, ovoid, 3-4.2 mm; styles 1-1.6 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 16, (?20). Forests, forest margins, scrub, alpine meadows, rock crevices; 2700-4300 m. W Sichuan, SE Xizang, N Yunnan [Bhutan, Kashmir, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim]. *Saxifraga diversifolia* is extremely polymorphic. Many of the variants have been published as species, which are accepted as such in the present account because a very narrow species concept has been adopted in classifying the variation. However, many botanists would prefer to see rather more "lumping," and comments relating to how this might be done are made in relevant places. *Saxifraga parnassiifolia <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=241000345>* D. Don <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=241000345>: *Saxifraga diversifolia* Wallich ex Seringe var. *parnassiifolia* (D. Don) Seringe; Herbs perennial, cespitose, 11.5-24 cm tall. Stem branched, densely brown crisped glandular villous. *Basal leaves with petiole 1.3-2.7 cm, crisped glandular villous; leaf blade cordate-ovate, 1.5-4 × 1.3-3 cm, crisped villous on both surfaces and at margin or glabrous adaxially, base cordate, apex acute.* Cauline leaves 6 or 7, sessile, ovate to cordate, 0.9-3.5 × 0.5-2.3 cm, base cordate, semiamplexicaul, apex obtuse or acute; proximal leaves glandular villous on both surfaces and at margin or glabrous adaxially; distal leaves shortly glandular hairy on both surfaces, margin shortly glandular hairy and glandular villous. Pleiochasium 2-2.5 cm, 6-11-flowered; pedicels shortly glandular hairy. *Sepals erect to spreading, *ovate to broadly so, 3-4 × 1.5-2.9 mm, shortly brown glandular hairy abaxially, adaxially distally, and at margin and apex, veins 5-7, confluent into a verruca at apex. Petals yellow, obovate to broadly ovate, 5-7.9 × 3.5-4 mm, subcolumnar 4-6-callose, not or indistinctly 2- or 3-callose, 5-7-veined, base contracted into a claw 0.6-1.7 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 2.5-4 mm. Ovary subsuperior, ovoid, 1.6-2.5 mm; styles 1-2 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep. 2n = 16. *Abies* forest margins, slopes; 2700-4000 m. S Xizang (Nyalam Xian, Zayü Xian) [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim]. *Saxifraga parnassiifolia* var. *obscuricallosa*, which was accepted in FRPS, cannot be distinguished reliably because of intermediates. *Can anyone solve this mystery or give clear cut and verifiable keys between the two?* -- With regards, J.M.Garg -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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