Uplant Saxifrage ID & Ramsons??

[KeenTeen17]

I found this saxifrage growing in the Limestone Pavement at Ingleborough. Any ideas what it is?

This was also in one of the grykes. Is it Ramsons?

[Tiggrx]

I think a bit of confusion going on with the saxifrage - the first and third picture show the liverwort Preissia quadrata. The white flower in the second and forth pictures does look like a saxifrage, but unfortunately no leaves to be seen.

The other plant is Ramsons - in the second picture it is growing through Hart's-tongue

[ceterach]

Hi KT

How many petals were there in your white flower? From the photos it looks like 4 which would exclude normal Saxifrages, it would also exclude my only other suggestion of Sagina nodosa that is in flower now (most Saxifrages have finished) but it does look like it. May also explain the confusion with "foliage" since Knotted Pearlwort has very small leaves tight to the stem!.

Having looked again I think the flower is probably not delicate enough for Pearlwort. Can't think what else.

All the best

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by ceterach

Hi KT

How many petals were there in your white flower? From the photos it looks like 4 which would exclude normal Saxifrages, it would also exclude my only other suggestion of Sagina nodosa that is in flower now (most Saxifrages have finished) but it does look like it. May also explain the confusion with "foliage" since Knotted Pearlwort has very small leaves tight to the stem!.

Having looked again I think the flower is probably not delicate enough for Pearlwort. Can't think what else.

All the best

Agreed, I was confused by the petals too, with saxifrage largely 5 - I suspect S nodosa isnt right for the pavement at ingleborough though.
Leaf detail would be so useful...............
Any other pics KT?
Cheers
Ken

[ceterach]

Doh!! I absolutely agree Ken! Having said that it is a rare plant down here in Surrey and two of the oldest records are on chalk.

All the best

[KeenTeen17]

thanks for your ids, I couldn't see the bottom of the "saxifrage" so assumed the liverwort was the leaves. its S. nodosa is the saxifrage. it fits the description. it had five petals.

I knew what the hartstongue was I just doubted the Ramsons seedhead due to its habitat. thanks for all the help. sorry about the photos.. it was windy annd cloudy up there

[ceterach]

Hi KT

Do I gather you think it was S.nodosa if so it may be worth checking the local records (contact the recorder) to see if it is known at the site. As Ken pointed out it is usually described as a plant of dampish sandy heathland habitat rather than limestone grykes. As I stated earlier it does grow on chalk down here, it is obviously not an obligate calcifuge!

BTW How you can ever moan about the shortage of plants up north when you have Ingleborough closeby I do not know

All the best