Saxifragaceae

S. sibirica L., Sp. PI. ed. 2:577 (1762).
Perennial with underground bulbils in axils of basal leaves. Basal leaves long-petiolate, reniform, crenate or 5-7(-9)-lobed, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Upper leaves similar or 3-lobed to entire, becoming sessile towards top of stem. Flowering stem 6-20 cm tall, glandular-hairy, bearing l-6(-10) flowers. Calyx glandular-hairy. Petals 8-16 mm, oblong to ovate, white, 3-7-veined, glabrous. Ovary superior or ± so. Fl. 4-8. Among rocks, on stream banks and shady slopes, 500-3500 m.
1. Petals 3-veined subsp. mollis
1. Petals 5-7-veined subsp. sibirica
subsp. mollis (Sm.) Matthews, comb, et stat. nov. Syn: S. mollis Sm. in Rees, Cyclop. 31 (1819); S. sibirica sensu Boiss. non L. Ic: Fl. URSS 9: t. 9 f. 5 (1939).
Described from Mt. Ararat (Turkey).
Scattered. A2(A) Bursa: Bithynian Olympus (Ulu-Da.) 1700-1800 m, Bornm. 1899:4510! A7 Gümüşane: Wang (Venk), Sint. 1894:5664! A8 Gümüşane: Maden Da., 2800-3200 m, Balls 541! A9 Çoruh: 10 km E.S.E. of Şavşat, 2000-2400 m, Watson et al. 3172! Bl Balikesir: M. Ida (Kaz Da.), Sint. 1883:304! B9 Bitlis: N. cliffs above crater of Nemrut Da., 2750 m, McNeill 565! B10 Kars: d. Aralik, Büyük Ağri Da., above Serdar Bulak, 2800-3000 m, D. 46982! C2 Aydin: above Bozdoğan, 600 m, GııichardTUR/69162\ C9 Hakkari: Kara Da., 3500 m, D. 24419! C10 Hakkari: Sat Da. between Varegöz and Sat Gölü, 2600-2800 m, D. 45617! Is: Samos, Mt. Kerkis, D. 1643! Fors.-Maj. 877!
S.E. Bulgaria, N.E. Greece, Aegean, N.W. Iran, N. Iraq, Caucasia.
A variable species, especially in stature, depth of lobing of leaves, petal width (not correlated with number of veins), and hairiness of stem and calyx. The following gatherings include plants with 3, 5 and 7-veined petals: 'Caria and Lydia', vi 1842, Boiss.! A7 Trabzon/Gümüşane: Zigana Da., 2000 m, Balls 1677! B2 Kütahya: Murat Da. above Banaz, 1900 m, Coode & Jones 2476! B10 Kars: Gt. Ararat (Büyük Ağri Da.), 3000 m, B. Post 2093!