SAXIFRAGACEZ. 
Calyx either superior or inferior, of 4 or 5 sepals (f. 42. a. f. 
43. a.), which cohere more or less at their base. Petals 5 (f. 
42. b. f. 45. d.) or wanting, inserted between the lobes of the 
calyx. Stamens 5-10, inserted either into the calyx or beneath 
the ovarium; therefore they are either perigynous or hypogy- 
nous ; anthers 2-celled, bursting lengthwise. Disk either hypo- 
gynous or perigynous, sometimes obsolete, sometimes annular 
and notched, rarely consisting of 5 scales. Ovarium inferior, or 
nearly superior, usually consisting of 2 or 5 carpels (f. 42. d. f. 
46. e. f, 48. e.) or follicles, cohering more or less on the inner 
side, but distinct at the apex; sometimes 2-celled, with a cen- 
tral placenta; sometimes 1-celled, with parietal placentas, 
rarely 4-5-celled. Styles none; stigmas sessile on the tips of 
the lobes of the ovarium (f. 42. e. f. 52.c.). Fruit generally a 
membranous 1-2-celled capsule, with 2 bracteas, rarely a 4-5- 
celled 4-5-valved capsule, and sometimes a 4-celled berry. Seeds 
numerous, very minute, usually with long hexagonal reticula- 
tions on the side of a transparent testa. Embryo terete, in the 
axis of a fleshy albumen, with the radicle next the hylum.— 
Shrubs or herbs, variable in habit. Leaves simple, either divided 
or entire, alternate, without stipulas. Flower-stems simple, 
often naked. : 
The plants of this order agree in some respects with the her- 
baceous part of Rosdcee, with which they agree in habit, and 
from which they differ in their polyspermous partially concrete 
carpella, albuminous seeds, and want of stipulas. From Cunoni- 
ace they are divided by their habit, and by the want of 
To Caryophjllee their habit allies them; but they 
differ in the insertion of their stamens, the situation of the em- 
bryo, and otherwise. Grossularite agree very much in the 
structure of the flowers, but differ from them in the capsular 
fruit, usually 2-celled ovarium, in the seeds being without aril, 
furnished with a short podosperm, not gelatinous on the outside, 
and in the more fleshy albumen and habit. From Crassulacee 
they differ in the fewer carpella, which are joined together, and 
usually with the calyx; and in having no glands on the inner 
side of the carpella. From Umbellifere they are easily distin- 
guished in the carpella or cells of the ovarium being dehiscent 
and many seeded, not indehiscent and 1-seeded, in the form of 
the petals, in the absence of vittee, and in habit. From Vibir- 
nee, to which the tribe Hydrángeæ comes very near, in the fruit 
being capsular, not baccate, and in the styles being exserted, not 
wanting, &c. From Vaccinièæ, Campanulacee, Ericee, Gen- 
tidnee, in the corolla being polypetalous, not gamopetalous. 
The genus Drumméndia has the stamens equal in number to the 
petals, and opposite them; thus indicating some analogy to the 
monopetalous Primulacee. 
According to De Candolle the whole order is more or 
less astringent. The root of Heuchéra Americana is a power- 
ful astringent, whence it is called in North America alum- 
root, Barton, 2. p. 162. Otherwise they possess no known 
properties ; for the old idea of their being lithontriptic ap- 
pears to have been derived from their name, rather than their 
virtues. 
stipulas. 
Synopsis of the genera. 
Trige I. 
Saxirra‘ceH (plants agreeing with Saxifraga in being herba- 
ceous). D. C. prod. 4. p. 17.—Sazxifràgeæ, R.Br. gen. rem. 
exclusive of Hydrangea. 
§ 1. Stamens twice the number of the petals or sepals. 
1 Saxrrraca. Calyx 5-parted (f. 41. a. f. 42. a.) Pe- 
tals 5 (f. 41. b. f. 42. b. f. 46. c.), on short claws, entire. 
Stamens 10 (f. 42. c. f. 46. d.). Capsule adnate to the calyx or 
free, composed of 2 carpella (f. 42. d.), which are usually joined 
even to the style, many seeded (f. 42. f.). 
2 Ertoey'nta. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals 5, hardly unguiculate. 
Stamens 20, monadelphous at the base. Ovaries 4-6, free, con- 
nected together by dense wool. Carpels distinct, 4-6, free from 
the calyx, many seeded. 
3 LEPTARRHE'NA. Calyx 5-parted (f. 47. a.). Petals 5 (f. 
47. b.), entire, on short claws. Stamens 10; anthers (f. 47. c.), 
1-celled, 2-valved. Capsule composed of 2 carpels (f. 47. e.), 
which are joined at the base, many seeded. 
4 CurysospLe‘nium. Tube of calyx adhering to the ovarium; 
limb 4-5-lobed. Petals wanting. Stamens 8-10. Styles 2. 
Capsule 2-valved and 2-beaked, at length 1-celled and many 
seeded. 
5 Mire’ta. 
Stamens 10. 
many seeded. 
6 Tr’tuma. Free part of the calyx inflated, 5-toothed (f. 
49. b.), the adhering part conical. Petals 5 (f. 49. c.), jagged. 
Stamens 10 (f. 49. a.). Styles 2-3, distinct. Capsule (f. 49. /.), 
1-celled, 2-valved at the apex. 
7 Drumménpia. Calyx with an obconical tube (f. 50. b.), 
and a 5-cleft limb. Petals 5 (f. 50. c.), pinnatifid. Stamens 5. 
Stigmas 2, spreading, 2-lobed. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, 
many seeded (f. 50. d.). 
8 Tiarn'tia. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, unguiculate, entire. 
Stamens 10. Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, adnate to 
the bottom of the calyx ; valves unequal, dehiscing between the 
styles. Seeds numerous. 
9 Astrtee. Calyx deeply 4-5-parted, coloured. Petals 
wanting. Stamens 8-10, Styles 2; stigmas truncate. Capsule 
2-celled, 2-beaked, many seeded. 
Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, jagged or toothed. 
Styles 2, joined. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, 
§ 2. Stamens equal in number to the petals, or fewer, and 
alternating with them. 
10 Hevcne’ra. Calyx 5-cleft (f. 51. b.). Petals 5 (f. 51. a.), 
undivided. Stamens 5. Styles 2 (f. 51. c.), very long, distinct. 
Capsule crowned by the dead flower, 1-celled, dehiscing between 
the styles (f. 51. d.). Seeds rough. 
11 Downa rtia. Tube of calyx turbinate; limb truncate, with 
2 opposite acuminated triangular teeth. Petals 9 (8-10, Forst.), 
narrow. Stamens 3. Styles 3-5. Ovarium 2-3-celled; ovula 
numerous, Fruit capsular. 
