662 SAXIFRAGACE^. Leptarrhena. 



5-celled capsule, with 5 diverging beaks, dehiscent by the separation of the 

 beak with a part of the back of each carpel. Seeds numerous, minute. — 

 Erect perennial (N. American and Chinese) herbs, not succulent, with alter- 

 nate membranaceous and serrate leaves, and yellowish flowers, unilateral on 

 the simple branches of the cyme. 



1. P. sedoides (Linn.) : stem somewhat branched, angular above; leaves 

 lanceolate, acute at each end, almost sessile ; branches of the cyme many- 

 flowered ; seeds scobiform, elliptical. — Gronov. ! I. c. ; Linn. act. Ups. 

 (1774) p. 12, t. 2; Michx..' fl. 1.^.278; Pursh.' fl. I. p. 328; Twr. ! 

 ft. 1. p. 463; DC. ! prodr. 3. p. 414 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 281. 



Ditches and wet places, Canada! to Georgia and Louisiana; common. 

 July-Sept. — Flowers pale greenish-yellow, the petals often wanting. — 

 Virginia Stone-crop. 



Order LXVI. SAXIFRAGACE^. Juss, 



Sepals 4-5 (very rarely fewer or more numerous) united or nearly 

 distinct, imbricate or valvate in aestivation. Petals as many as 

 the sepals and alternate with them. Stamens as many (very rarely 

 fewer) or twice as many as the petals, rarely more numerous or in- 

 definite, and inserted with them into the throat of the calyx : anthers 

 introrse. Ovary either free from the calyx or coherent with its 

 tube, of 2, or sometimes 3-5 or more carpels, which are either 

 partially or completely united, l-celled with parietal placentae, or 

 with as many cells as carpels and the placentae in the axis : ovules 

 mostly numerous : styles distinct or more or less united. Fruit cap- 

 sular, with septicidal or rarely loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds ana- 

 tropous, usually small and numerous. Embryo straight, in the 

 axis of fleshy albumen, which it usually nearly equals in length : 

 radicle cylindrical : cotyledons short. — Herbs or shrubs, with alter- 

 nate or opposite (sometimes stipulate) leaves. Inflorescence various, 

 often cymose. 



Suborder I. SAXIFRAGES. DC. 



^Estivation of the petals imbricate. Capsule usually beaked 

 with the distinct summits of the carpels, opening along the inner suture 

 of each, or septicidal. — Herbs, with alternate or opposite leaves ; 

 the base of the petioles sometimes dilated and stipuliform. 



1. LEPTARRHENA. R. Br. in Parry's 1st voy. suppl. p. 273 ; Hook, 

 fl. Bor.-Am. l.p. 256, t. 89. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-parted, the base adherent to the ovary. Petals 5, 

 entire. Stamens 10, inserted into the calyx-tube : filaments subulate : 



