Rock purpusia

Purpusia saxosa Brandegee, Bot. Gaz. 27: 447. 1899; Potentilla osterhoutii (A. Nelson) J. T. Howell var. saxosa (Brandegee) J. T. Howell

Inflorescences (1–)5–30(–150)-flowered, (0.5–)2–14 cm diam. Flowers: hypanthium turbinate, ± 2 times as deep as wide; petals white; anthers 1–1.5 mm.

Flowering summer. Dry, rocky outcrops of mainly volcanic origin, usually in crevices of more or less vertical protected cliffs or boulders, in sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woodlands; of conservation concern; 1500–2100 m; Nev.

Variety saxosa is known from scattered locations in the North and South Pahroc ranges, Lincoln County, and on Pahute Mesa, Nye County, Nevada. Reports of this variety in the Sheep Range of Clark County, Nevada (N. H. Holmgren 1997b; T. L. Ackerman et al. 2003), are probably based on var. arizonica.