SAXIFRAGACEJS. 149 SAXIFRAGA. 



Leaves alternate, acute, smooth, green on botli sides. Spikes several, termi- 

 nal, recurved, witli one-sided flowers, forming a sort of corymbose cyme. 

 Flowers greenish yellow, scentless, appearing in July. Virginian iStonc-crop. 



5. BRYOPHY'LLUM. 

 Sepals 4; petals 4, connate into a cylinder; seeds many. 



Gr. PgiJid, to grow, (pt/XXoi/, a leaf; if the leaves are laid upon damp earth 

 tliey put forth roots from their notches, whence proceed young plants. 



B. calyci'num. 



Leaves oval, crenate ; flowers long, pendulous, cylindrical. April — July. 

 A stout, fleshy plant, from E. India. In growing, it requires but very little 

 water, and the i)ot should be kept well drained. 



ORDER LXVI. SAXlFRAGACEiE. The Sax;f rage Tribe. 



Cal. — Sepals 4 or 5, cohering more or less, persistent. 



Cor. — Petals as many as the sepals, inserted between the lobes of the calyx. 



iSfa.— 5— 10. Anthers 3-celled, opening longitudinally. 



Om.— Inferior, usually of 2 carpels, cohering at base, distinct and divergent above. 



Fr. — Generally capsular, 1 — 2-celled, many-seeded. 



Herbs and .shrubs, small, but of elegant structure, native of temperate and frigid climes 

 in both continents. As a tribe, their roots are astringent. Several species are among our 

 most ornamental, cultivated plants. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



( not much exserted, . . Saxifrnsa. 1 



f stamen.s 10, \ manifestly exserted, . . Viarella. 4 



f entire ; | stamens 5, Heuchera. 2 



( petals 5, 1 peclinnlih ]inin;iiilid, Mitrlla. 5 



Herbs ; I Petals none. Aij\itiiir ; ilrjjirssed ; leaves opposite, . . Cri/iospkniifin. 2 



] PetaLs (not sepLdn) v;ilv;iti' ill aestivation, .... Hi/rlrnjigea. G 



Siirubs; ( Petals convolute in ajslivation, PhUadelplms. 7 



Suborder I, SAXIFRAGEiE. 



Petals imhricate in (estivation ; carpels united, the summits distinct, forming a 

 beaked capsule. Herbs. 



1. SAXIFRA'GA. 



Calyx of 5 sepals, more or less united; corolla 5-petaled, 

 entire; capsule 2-heaked, 2-celled, opening between the 

 diverging beaks; seeds many. 



Lat. saxum, a stone, andfrangere, to break; from its medicinal properties. 

 Cal. about half-inferior. Pet. spreading, narrow at base, attached to the cal. 

 Anth. '2-lobed, roundish, with a longitudinal dehiscence. Ova. ending in 2 

 short, spreading styles. — Perennial herbs. 



1. S. Virginie'ksis. 



Leaves mostly radical, cuniform-obovate, somewhat toothed, pubescent, 

 shorter than the stalk; stem, paniculate above. An interesting little plant, 

 blossoming in early spring, and growing mostly upon dry, rocky soil. Stem 

 €rect, pubescent, about half a foot high, bearing at top a panicle of numerous 

 white flowers. Leaves fleshy, tapering at base into the petioles. 



Early Saxifrage. 



N* 



