62 SAXIFRAGES. [ Sempervivum. 



7. S. rupestre, Linn. Rock Stone-crop. Leaves glaucous, 

 spurred at the base, those of branches awl-shaped, erect, in five 

 close rows ; flowers imperfectly cymose ; segments of the calyx 

 elliptical, obtuse. Br. Fl. I. p. 211. E. Fl. v. ii.p. 321. E. 

 Bot. t. 170. 



Plentiful on an old wall by a footwav between Dundrura and Rath- 

 farnham; Mr. D. Moore. Fl. July. % — Rather smaller than 

 the last. Leafy, branches very numerous, erect, crowded, obtuse, 

 thickly clothed with upright, awl-shaped, acute, very glaucous leaves, 

 imbricated in five rows, spurred and unconnected at the base : those on 

 the flowering stems scattered, broader and more tumid, often red. All 

 the parts of the flowers are liable to an increase in number, even in wild 

 specimens. 



3. Sempervivum. Linn. Houseleek. 



Calyx 12-cleft. Petals 12. Capsules 12. — Name derved from 

 semper, always, and vivo, to live, always green. 



Dodecandria. Dodecagynia. 



1. S. teclorum, Linn. Common Houseleek. Leaves ciliated ; 

 offsets spreading ; petals entire and hairy at the margins. Br. 

 Fl 1. p. 219. E. Fl. v. ii. p. 350. E. Bot. t. 1320. 



House-tops and on walls. Fl. July. %. — The flowers of this well 

 known plant, as Doctor Hooker observes, are no less beautiful than 

 they are curious in their structure. " The number of their stamens is 

 in reality twenty-four, of which twelve, inserted one at the base of each 

 petal, are perfect ; the rest alternating with the petals, small and abor- 

 tive ; some bearing anthers, opening longitudinally and laterally, pro- 

 ducing, instead of pollen, abortive ovides ! others resemble a cuneate 

 pointed scale, in the inside of which, upon a longitudinal receptacle, 

 are likewise ranged abortive ovules, in the same manner as in the real 

 germen ; — thus exhibiting the most complete transition from stamens 

 to germens, in the same individual flower." See the plate in Fl. Lond. 

 ed. 2. Hook. 



Ord. 21. SAXIFRAGES. Juss. Saxifrage Family. 



Sepals 5, rarely 3 — 7, more or less cohering ; the tube altoge- 

 ther, or in part, adnate with the ovary, or free ; the limb toothed 

 or lobed, generally persistent. Petals usually as many as there 

 are sepals, inserted upon the tube of the calyx, alternate with 

 its lobes, rarely none. Stamens inserted on the calyx, equal in 

 number with the petals, and alternate with them, sometimes 

 double, and then half opposite the petals, and half alternating 

 with them : filaments subulate : anthers ovate 2-celled. Ovary 

 generally of 2 carpels, rarely 3 — 5, united : styles equal in 

 number with the ovaries, distinct or combined, persistent: 

 stigma capitate or clavate. Fruit capsular, generally of 2 



