The family Saxifragaceae consists of about about 30 genera and 580 species worldwide. Most members of the Saxifrage family are herbs, and usually have a flower cluster held well above the basal whorl of leaves. Many of its members grow in rocky places, whence the scientific name, which means 'stone-breaker'. Economically speaking, the family is important only for such ornamentals as Saxifraga, Heuchera, and Bergenia.
The Saxifragaceae is primarily north temperate, although it does have representatives in the southern hemisphere. The leaves, which, as mentioned above, are primarily basal, are simple but palmately lobed or cleft.
The flowers are radially symmetric, and have a distinct calyx and corolla of 5 (less
frequently 4) separate petals and petals. There are generally twice as many stamens as petals, but there may be more. Pistils are usually divided into 2 (rarely 4). The ovaries may be fused only at the base, making it look as if there are two simple pistils, or they may be fused almost to the stigmas. The ovary can be either superior or inferior.
The fruit is a capsule with a lot of seeds.