| Author | M A. Curtis | |
| Distribution | Known only from Cherokee County, collected by M.A. Curtis in 1841 (Harvard and NY Botanical Garden collections). Apparently no more recent records.
This taxon -- now usually considered as a part of L. monticola, is believed to have only been reported from the Hiwassee River in Cherokee County, NC, from Tallulah Falls, GA, and in northern AL. | |
| Abundance | Historical (apparently) and likely extirpated from the state; no recent records. The NCNHP gives a State Rank of SH (Historical); however, the website editors suggest SX (Extirpated), as the collections are from 1841, about 180 years ago. The NHP has placed the species on its Watch List, as W2 (questionable taxonomy) -- for the poorly known taxonomy (see Taxonomic Comments). NatureServe gives a Global Rank of G1Q, of questionable taxonomy. | |
| Habitat | Restricted only to "rocks in rapid mtn. streams" (RAB 1968) and "On river-scoured siliceous rocks" (Weakley 2020). | |
| Phenology | Blooms from March to June, and fruits shortly after flowering; rarely as late as October. | |
| Identification | This species is extremely similar to L. monticola, which see. However, L. saxicola has primarily just stem leaves, which are not obviously reduced upward; the other species has mainly basal leaves, in a rosette, and the stem leaves are strongly reduced upward. Capsules of L. saxicola are notably shorter (1.4-3.4 mm long) than those of the other species (mainly 3.4-7 mm long). Also, Lindernia saxicola grows only on scoured rocks in streams; L. monticola grows in damp spots or in seepage on flatrocks, and thus in rather still water. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Though RAB (1968) and some older references considered this as a good species, most recent references have lumped it into L. monticola. However, Weakley (2020) does feel that it merits species status, though stating that: "L. saxicola has been considered to be merely a form of L. monticola, the leafy stems the result of the basal leaves being covered by silt deposited by floodwaters (Qualls 1984; Lewis 2000); this needs additional study". Though one of the website editors (Sorrie) feels that "The distinctions are not robust and we will wait for the dust to settle before recognizing it", it seems best to include this taxon on the website, as Weakley (2020) does -- knowing full well that such a decision is open to question.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Rock False Pimpernel | |
| State Rank | SH [SX] | |
| Global Rank | G1Q | |
| State Status | W2 | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
