Chrysosplenium species - Golden Saxifrages — BSBI VC77

Chrysosplenium species - Golden Saxifrages

There are two similar species. The C. oppositifolia is the commoner one but they often occur together.

While one difference is the arrangement of the leaves, the easier one to spot is the shape of the leaves, especially at the base.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium - has a leaf that tapers to or cuts off at the stalk.

Chrysosplenium alternifolium - has leaves that are clearly cuneate at the base and are sometimes wider than deep so they appear almost kidney-shaped and they are also more deeply lobed.

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It can occur in woods or beside streams on muddy banks. Chrysosplenium oppositifolium 5Apr2016 NS7950 MP

At times it carpets the ground, usually around bluebell time or just before. Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

Even after the yellow golden flowers have faded, it is still distinctive. Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

The opposite leaves have stalks equal to the length of the blade or shorter than the blade and do not have a cordate base. Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

Chrysosplenium alternifolium.png

It is a more robust plant that C oppositofolium and only has one leaf on the flower stalk. The opposite leaves also have stalks much longer than the length of the blade. Chrysosplenium alternifolium 21April2018 NS7356 MP

Chrysosplenium alternifolium NS7356 21Apr18 PW

Chrysosplenium alternifolium NS7356 21Apr18 PW

Chrysosplenium alternifolium NS6860 31Mar2019 PW

It can occur in woods or beside streams on muddy banks.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium 5Apr2016 NS7950 MP

At times it carpets the ground, usually around bluebell time or just before.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

Even after the yellow golden flowers have faded, it is still distinctive.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

The opposite leaves have stalks equal to the length of the blade or shorter than the blade and do not have a cordate base.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium NS6459 20Apr2013 PW

It is a more robust plant that C oppositofolium and only has one leaf on the flower stalk.

The opposite leaves also have stalks much longer than the length of the blade.

Chrysosplenium alternifolium 21April2018 NS7356 MP

Chrysosplenium alternifolium NS7356 21Apr18 PW

Chrysosplenium alternifolium NS7356 21Apr18 PW

Chrysosplenium alternifolium NS6860 31Mar2019 PW