Hovaneset

Like most of the saxifrages, the purple saxifrage is a typical mountain plant, most often found on calcium-rich bedrock in the high mountains. Purple saxifrage grows in Stord and some other places in the mountains, but is best known from the beach bedrock in Hovaneset north of Leirvik and in Krossvikane on the northwest island of Huglo; these are also the most westerly outposts for this species. When purple saxifrage and other mountain plants, such as yellow saxifrage, goldenroot and saxifrage cotyledon, thrive on beach bedrock, it is because of the good light conditions, lack of competition from other plants and high humidity in the relatively cool air. In a variety of ways these conditions resemble those of the high mountains. Purple saxifrage flowers quite early, already in March when the sun begins to warm the ground.