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The Saxifragaceae are typically herbaceous perennials that have alternate or basal leaves that are roundish or oval in outline but usually lobed or coarsely toothed. The flowers are usually small individually but borne in large inflorescences. The most consistent character is that of two partially fused and partially inferior carpels in the pistil, usually contained inside a hypanthium formed from the connate sepals. There are typically 5 sepal lobes, 5 distinct petals, and 5 or 10 stamens (except for 3 stamens in Tolmiea). As the name implies, many of the Saxifragaceae (saxi="rock;" fraga="to break") grow on rocks and cliffs, especially near water, and many are subalpine.

chrysosplenium_glechomaefo.htm		leptarrhena_pyrolifolia.htm
Chrysosplenium glechomifolium	Heuchera sp.	Leptarrhena pyrolifolia	Lithofragma parvifolium
		saxifraga_ferruginea.htm
Mitella breweri	Parnassia fibriata	Saxifraga ferruginea	Saxifraga nelsoniana ssp. cascadensis
Tellima grandiflora	Tiarella trifoliata	Tolmiea menziesii