The first alpine flower to appear on the hills in Scotland is
Saxifraga oppositifolia, the Purple Saxifrage.
These photos were taken today, 1st April, at about 550-600m above sea-level.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oA9l26_QuhuA6O-SgKBGpdeZhvP33FIhy-fJYoQtBVrizC_XR13CPrqP5hZhPGEeiJT1m6qFoBjqhEp_tHkslalv_uRSePQIt0bXDbOYuIkih7m7zP_LLxcr6S4hTl2OGp5B5cnViOs/s320/90401069-sjl.jpg)
Purple saxifrage likes to grow on steep and often wet calcareous ledges, usually at high altitudes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrpreTf9mnJhyphenhyphenb5NJs46lySW5sTK26uGJNm1HVn-JDP53jOJNpyotYzFHjx9gOC1n20-SN4Y2lHJ1vn52gCdu2GatKSdU0eYO7-MaX15aTP5RFfUxkXfknE6tT3cCU0XOfPxaL8hE0Lk/s320/90401089-sjl.jpg)
We wondered what would pollinate the flowers so early in the year, but during our time there, we saw two bees which seemed to be visiting the flowers.
3 comments:
Nice information,but try writing more information about the Purple Saxifrage!
PLEASE!!!!
If you want more information about this plant, try the Wikipedia article at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxifraga_oppositifolia
You can find a map showing the UK distribution of Purple Saxifrage at
http://tinyurl.com/yfkm39u
The UK based Saxifrage Society
http://www.saxifraga.org/
has a section of its site devoted to Purple Saxifrage at
http://www.saxifraga.org/plants/saxbase/taxon.asp?Taxon=966
This plant is so amazingly beautiful. I just wish there was more information as far as the plant reproduction... Thank you for your picture!
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