112 
on the high mountains of Aberdeenshire by Dr. Graham, as 
stated in British Flora, ed. 2, p. 195.—H.] 
38. Saxifraga hirta.—l could never find a Sazifrage in 
Wales sufficiently hairy to justify this name, or in that respect 
at all approaching to cespitosa. When it acquires rounded 
petals, and the ribs are furnished with lateral veins, it becomes 
S. platypetala. When the segments of the leaves are narrow 
and widely spreading, it then passes for S. leptophylla. 
After a careful and minute examination of a great number 
of specimens from Wales, and of plants in a cultivated state, 
I have come to the conclusion that Saxifraga hirta, platypetala, 
leptophylla, and hypnoides, are varieties of one species; they 
are, moreover, so intimately connected by. intermediate states, 
that it is hardly practicable to define their limits, even as varieties. 
The following arrangement is the best that I can think of :— 
.. Saxifraga hypnoides.—Examined January, 1829. ) 
Speciric Cuar. Radical leaves 3- or 5-cleft; those of the 
- procumbent shoots undivided, or 3-cleft; all bristle-pointed, 
and more or less fringed. - Segments of the calyx ovate, 
pointed. Petals roundish, obovate, or oblong, 3-ribbed, 
with or without lateral veins. 
a. S. hypnoides.— Eng. Fl. v. 2. p. 277.—Leaves of the trailing 
shoots undivided, sometimes with axillary buds. Stem bearing 
from three to seven, usually erect, sometimes drooping flowers. 
Petals elliptical, entire, 3-ribbed; sometimes as broad as those 
of S. platypetala, and like them furnished with lateral veins; 
sometimes very narrow, notched, or pointed. The procumbent 
shoots in this variety are sometimes very short, and sometimes 
destitute of axillary buds, which appear to be neither a con- 
stant character nor confined to this variety. A root exactly 
answering to S. hypnoides of Eng. Fl. from Dove Dale in 
Derbyshire, is not altered by culture, except that the axillary 
buds on the shoots are not so numerous as in wild — 
from the same place. 
—.. &- S. platypetala and dentine Ii Fl.— Leaves of the pro- 
cumbent shoots either undivided or 3-cleft. Petals usually 
broad, with or without lateral veins. _ 
This is closely connected with the preceding and fol- 
