Micranthes Aprica, Sierra Saxifrage

Micranthes aprica occurs all along the Sierra Nevada, and in other mountains of northern California, extending a little way into neighboring Oregon and Nevada. The hairless or sparsely hairy leaves grow only at the base; they are tapered at the lower end, to the short, flattened petiole, and lined by a few small, well-separated teeth along the upper margin. Stems and leaf margins are often reddish. Stems have a sparse covering of purplish, glandular hairs.

Flowers are arranged in a compact, dense, terminal cluster, sometimes accompanied by one or two smaller groups a little way below. Pedicels are usually hairless, and slightly glandular. Flowers have five light green sepals, angled upwards, and five similarly-sized white petals. These surround ten stamens, with white filaments and orange anthers, and two larger pistils, initially yellowish-green, often becoming red as the fruiting stage approaches.