Astilbe SAXIFRAGACKAK Hydrangea 



Key to the Species 



Petals linear, pale rose or white: tomentum on axes of infi. dense, 



fuscous, glandular 1 • A. austrosirwnsis 



Petals broadly spatulate, white: tomentum eglandular 2. A. japonica 



1. Astilbe austrosinensis Hand.-Mazz. f|-J# (Sheng Ma; Rising Hemp) (H.-M. 7:414). 

 Erect herb, to Ira.; lis. pink-red, V-VII; fr. VI-VIII; lfts. rounded at base. 

 China; locally in An., Che., Hon., Ki. Mountain meadows. 



2. Astilbe japonica (Morr. & Decne.) A. Gray &$&:£: ( p 'ao Sheng Ts'ao; Flourishing 

 Herb) (B.M. 483). Erect herb, to lm.; fls. cream-white, VI-VII; lfts. cuneate 

 at base. Japan, China; locally in An. Mountain meadows. 



2. Saxifraga Linn. Saxifrage tfm^.% (Hu Erh Ts'ao Shu) 

 Weak herbs, mostly with a perennial caudex: lvs. simple, crenate or cleft, often 

 basal or clustered; stem lvs. alternate: fls. bisexual, in terminal panicles; petals 5, 

 entire; stamens 10; carpels 2. 400 species, in temperate and subarctic regions; 20 

 in China. (Latin: saxnm, a rock; and frangere, to break.) 



A 



1. Saxifraga sarmentosa Linn. Strawberry Geranium f^t^W- (Hu Erh Ts'ao; 

 Tiger's-ear Herb) (B.M. 487). Erect herb, 3-5 dm. high; fls. white or pinkish; 

 petals very unequal. China, Japan; locally in An., Che., Hup., Ki., Ku, Moist 

 shaded rocks. Fig. 142. 



3. Parnassia Linn. Grass of Parnassus SH^M (Pai Hsu Ts'ao Shu) 

 Glabrous perennial herbs with simple entire lvs.: fls. solitary, on scapes; calyx 

 lobes, petals and stamens 5; petals marcescent: fr. a capsule. 15 species, in north 

 temperate and arctic regions; 11 in China. (From Mt. Parnassus of Greece.) 



1. Parnassia foliosa Hook. f. & Thorns. &MM- (Pai Hsu Ts'ao; Whitebeard Herb) 

 (H.F. 2:402). Erect herb, 1-4 dm. high; fls. white, VIII; petals fimbriate. Eastern 

 Asia; locally in Ki. Mountain meadows. 



4. Chrysosplenium Linn. Golden Saxifrage fgg^ M (Mao Yen Ts'ao Shu) 

 Weak succulent herbs: fls. axillary and terminal; petals none: capsule dehiscing 

 crosswise at the top. 22 species, in north temperate regions; 12 in China. (Greek: 

 chryso, golden; and splen, spleen; referring to the form of the leaves.) 



1. Chrysosplenium alternifolium Linn. fg-.&lllffiM£ (Mao Erh Yen Ching Ts'ao; 

 Cat's-eye Herb) (Le. F. 2:226). Succulent herb, 5-20 cm. high; fls. VI. Northern 

 Eurasia; locally in An. Moist meadows. 



5. Hydrangea Linn. /UiilftfM (Pa Hsien Hua Shu; Eight-fairies' Flower Genus) 

 Shrubs or small trees with simple opposite lvs.: fls. in terminal clusters, the 

 marginal ones often enlarged and sterile, formed of 3-4 sepals. 35 species, in eastern 

 Asia and the western hemisphere; over 20 in China. (Greek: hydor, water; and 

 aggeion, vessel, referring to the shape of the capsule.) 



Key to the Species 



Infi. paniculate, not flat-topped 1. H. paniculata 



Infi. flat-topped or hemispherical. 



Infi. hemispherical: lvs. broadly ovate, 7-15 cm. long 2. H. macrophyllum 



var. hortensia 



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