172 SAXlFRAGACE^. (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY.) 



with 2 parietal many-seeded placentae, 2-beaked, opening between the beaks. 

 Seeds oval, with a rough and close seed-coat. — Perennials, with the round 

 heart-shaped leaves principally from the rootstock ; those on the stems, if any, 

 alternate. Petioles with dilated margins or adherent stipules at their base. 

 Flowers in small clusters disposed in a prolonged and narrow panicle, greenish 

 or purplish. (Named in honor of John Henri/ Heucher, a German botanist of 

 rtie beginning of the 18th century.) 



* Flowers small, looseli/ panicled ; stamens and styles exserted ; calyx regular. 



1. H. villosa, Michx. Stems (1-3° high), petioles, and veins of the 

 acutely 7 - 9-lobed leaves villous with rusty hairs beneatli ; calyx H" long ; pet- 

 als spatulate-linear, about as long as the stamens, soon twisted. — Rocks, Md. to 

 Ga., west to Ind. and Mo. Aug., Sept. 



2. H. Rugelii, Shuttlw. Stems slender, |^ - 2° high, glandular-hirsute, as 

 well as the petioles, etc. ; leaves round -reniform, with 7-9 short and broad 

 rounded lobes ; flowers very small (1" long) ; petals linear-spatulate, twice as 

 long as the calyx-lobes ; fruit narrow. — Shaded cliffs, S. 111. to Tenn. and N. C. 



3. H. Americana, L. (Common Alum-root.) Stems (2-3° high), 

 etc., glandular and more or less hirsute with short hairs ; leaves roundish, with 

 short rounded lobes and crenate teeth ; calyx very broad, 1" long, the spatxdate 

 petals not longer than its lobes. — Rocky woodlands, Conn, to N. C, west to 

 Minn., Mo., and Miss. 



* * Flowers larger, in a very narrow panicle ; calyx (3-4" long) more or less 



oblique ; stamens short; leaves rounded, slightly 5 — 9-lobed. 



4. H. hispida, Pursh. Stems 2-4° high; hispid or hirsute with long 

 spreading hairs (occasionally almost glabrous), scarcely glandular; stamens 

 soon exserted, longer than the spatulate petals. — Mountains of Va. and N. C, 

 west to Minn, and E. Kan. May, June. 



5. H. pubescens, Pursh. Stem (1-3° high) and petioles granular- 

 pubescent or glandular aboiie, not hairy, below often glabrous; stamens shorter 

 than the lobes of the calyx and the spatulate petals. — Rich woods, in the moun- 

 tains, from Penn. to Ky., and southward. June, July. 



8. CHRYSOSPLENIUM, Tourn. Goldex Saxifrage. 



Calyx-tube coherent with the ovary ; the blunt lobes 4-5, yellow within. 

 Petals none. Stamens 8-10, very short, inserted on a conspicuous disk. 

 Styles 2. Capsule inversely heart-shaped or 2-lobed, flattened, very short, 1- 

 celled with 2 parietal placentae, 2-valved at the top, many-seeded. — Low and 

 small smooth herbs, with tender succulent leaves, and small solitary or leafy- 

 cymed flowers. (Name compounded of xpt'coy, golden, and air\-^v, the spleen ; 

 probably from some reputed medicinal qualities.) 



1- C. Americanum, Schwein. Stems slender, decumboU and forking; 

 leaves principally opposite, roundish or somewhat heart-shaped, obscurely cre- 

 nate-lobed ; florcers distant, inconspicuous, nearly sessile (greenish tinged with 

 yellow or purple). — Cold Avet places, N. Scotia to N. Ga., west to Minn. 



2. C. alternifolium, L. Stemserect; leaves alternate, Temiorm-coTdate, 

 doubly crenate or somewhat lobed ; floicers corymbose. — Decorah, Iowa, west 

 to the Rocky Mts., and north through Brit. Amer. (Eu., Asia.) 



