PARNASSIA. 



By Dr. W. W. Bailey. 



' I *HE plants of the Saxifrage family, to which old Dios- 

 ■*■ corides gave the name of grass of Parnassus, well de- 

 serves its divine title. It is easy to fancy it growing on the 

 heights aftected by the gods on the border of cloud-fed ponds. 



The beginner who first discovers its large and showy 

 flowers in late autumn, thinks at first that he has found a new 

 anemone. The five white petals, veined with delicate green or 

 yellow-ish lines, suggests that genus. Examination, however, 

 shows that our plant, unlike an anemone, has both calyx and 

 corolla, the sepals sometimes slightly united at base. 



Within the petals and at the base of each is a cluster of 

 sterile filaments tipped by glands. These secrete no nectar, but 

 Kerner tells us they deceive flies into approaching them and 

 thus getting dusted with the pollen of the five neighboring 

 proper stamens w-hich is then borne to the pistils of other 

 flowers of the same species. Some of our many young stu- 

 dents might do well to study any of our four species keeping 

 this matter in view. 



Paniassia Caroltniana, the one with which the writer is 

 acquainted, blooms at the time when the fringed gential is pre- 

 valent and the maidens' tresses (Spiraiifhes centita) fills the 

 air with its delicate fragrance. The species palustris occurs 

 also in Europe while P. asarifoUa is restricted to the high 

 mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. 



This pretty genus seems to intensify the feeling one has 

 of the very heterogeneous character of the Saxifragaceae. It 

 includes shrubs like Rihes and PJnladclplius, herbs wdth soli- 

 tary flowers like Paniassia and others with definite panicles like 

 Heuchera and Saxifraga. However, unlike they may be in 

 special features, there is. queerly enough, something ever 

 designative about them. One rarely makes a mistake when, 

 at first glance he exclaims — Saxifragaceae! 



Providence, R. I. 



69 



