Micranthes nivalis is a species of saxifrage. It is commonly called snow saxifrage or (ambiguously) "alpine saxifrage". Found on irrigated rocks or open vegetation in shaded sites, often on mountain ledges and crags with base rich substratum. This species is not very tolerant of competition and so is found in damp crevasses where it survives in small pockets. M. nivalis is a perennial species which has been found to set seed in Scotland but not in Cumbria where the populations are small and threatened.