Syn.: Bergenia biflora Moench, nom. illeg., Bergenia bifolia Moench, Bergenia cordifolia (Haw.) Sternb., Saxifraga cordifolia Haw., Saxifraga crassifolia L.
Family: Saxifragaceae Juss.

Bergenia crassifolia

Distribution: North Asian species – from Russian Altay through Kazakhstan, western China and northern Mongolia to the Russian Far East and Korea. Cultivated for ornament, and locally naturalized (Europe).

Ecology: It grows in forests, on shaded slopes, at elevations from 1100 to 1800 m. It blooms from April to June.

Description: Perennial herb with creeping rhizome, glabrous, 15–30 cm tall. Leaves 15–30 cm, all basal, broadly obovate to oblong, obscurely sinuate-crenate or remotely denticulate, punctulate on both surfaces, shining, petiole sheathing at the base. Flowering stem leafless, with flowers in a dense panicle, flowers pentamerous, petals entire, obovate, 10–12 mm long, bright purplish-pink. Fruit a capsule.

Use: Bergenia crassifolia is cultivated as ornamental plant and for medicinal use.

Note: The genus contains about 10 species, all occur in Asia.

Bergenia crassifolia
Bergenia crassifolia
Bergenia crassifolia
Bergenia crassifolia
Bergenia crassifolia

These images were taken in Czechia, Bohemia, Chotuc (April 21, 2014).