182 SAXIFRAGACEAE. {Vor II. 
9. PARNASSIA I, Sp. Pl. 273. 1753. 
Glabrous scapose herbs, with basal petioled entire leaves, usually with a single sessile 
leaf on the scape, and solitary terminal white or pale yellow flowers. Calyx 5-lobed nearly 
to the base, its short tube free from or adnate tothe ovary. Petals 5, spreading, marcescent. 
Fertile stamens 5, alternate with the petals. Staminodia (imperfect stamens) generally 
numerous, borne in clusters at the base of each petal. Ovary 1-celled; style very short or 
none; stigmas usually 4; ovules o. Capsule 1-celled, with 4 placentae projecting within, 
4-valved. Seedsnumerous. Seed-coat winged. [From the Greek mount; the plant called 
Grass of Parnassus by Dioscorides. ] 
About 12 species, natives of the north temperate and arctic zones. Besides the following, an- 
other occurs in northwestern America, 
Petals sessile; leaves ovate, oval, orbicular or cordate. 
Staminodia 3-5 at the base of each petal. 
Flower 9''-18'’ broad; petals much exceeding the calyx-lobes. 
Staminodia not longer than the stamens, stout. 
Staminodia longer than the stamens, slender. 
Flower 4''-5'' broad; petals equalling the calyx-lobes. 
Staminodia 7-15 at the base of each petal, slender. 
Flower 1’ broad; leaves cordate at base. 
Flower 4''-5'' broad; leaves narrowed at base. 
Petals clawed; leaves reniform; staminodia 3 at each petal. 
. P. Caroliniana. 
. P. grandifolia. 
. P. Kotzebuei. 
. P. palustris. 
. PB. parviflora, 
. P. asarifolia. 
Ane WhH 
1. Parnassia Caroliniana Michx. 
Carolina Grass-of-Parnassus. 
(Fig. 1852.) 
Parnassia Caroliniana Michx. F1. Bor. Am, 1: 
184. 1803. 
Scape 8/-24’ high, with a nearly sessile 
ovate clasping leaf below the middle. Basal 
leaves long-petioled, ovate, broadly oval or 
orbicular, obtuse at the apex, rounded or 
sometimes cordate-reniform at the base, or 
decurrent into the petiole, 1/-2’ long; flower 
9/’-18’’ broad; calyx-lobes ovate-oblong, ob- 
tuse, much shorter than the sessile broadly 
oval white greenish-veined petals; stamino- 
dia generally 3 in each set, stout; capsule 
4//-5/’ long. 
In swamps and low meadows, New Bruns- 
wick to Manitoba, south to Virginia, Illinois 
and Iowa. June-Sept. 
2. Parnassia grandifolia DC. 
Large-leaved Grass-of-Parnassus. 
(Fig. 1853.) 
Parnassia grandifolia DC. Prodr. 1: 320, 1824. 
Similar to the preceding species, the scape 
bearing an ovate clasping leaf at the middle 
or much below it, Basal leaves as in P. 
Caroliniana, but often larger and narrowed 
at the base; flower 1/-2’ broad; calyx-lobes 
shorter than the sessile white petals; stami- 
nodia 3-5 in each set, slender or almost fili- 
form, exceeding the anther-bearing stamens. 
In moist soil, southwestern Virginia to Flor- 
ida, Missouri and Louisiana. Ascends to 2200 
ft. in Virginia. July—Sept. 
