598 SAXIFRAGA. CcLASS x. order ii. 



2. C opposilifo' Hum, Linn. (Fig. 678.) Opposite-leaved Golden 

 Saxifrage. Leaves opposite, roundish, heart-shaped or wedge-shaped, 

 sub-crenated. 



English Botany, t. 490.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 260. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 194. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 66. 



Root fibrous. Stem branched at the base, spreading, and putting 

 out roots from the axis of the branches and leaves, angular, more or 

 less downy, especially below. Leaves opposite, on short broad foot- 

 stalks, channeled above, roundish, heart-shaped, or more frequently 

 wedge-shaped at the base, yellowish green above, paler beneath, the 

 margin entire, waved or crenated, scattered over with hairs, and not 

 unfrequently smooth. Flowers terminal, sessile, solitary, or several 

 together in a sub-umbelJate manner, the perianth cleft into four obtuse 

 spreading segments. Stamens mostly eight, inserted into a glandular 

 disk, the filaments slender, short, of irregular lengths, with ovate 

 anthers, of two cells. Styles short, simple, spreading, persistent, and 

 forming beaks upon the top of the single celled capsule, which is sur- 

 rounded with the persistent perianth. Seeds numerous, small, round. 



Habitat. — Damp and shady places near streams ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



This species is readily distinguished from the former by its opposite 

 leaves, which are smaller, and scarcely crenated ; and though some- 

 times heart-shaped at the base, they are, for the most part, in a wedge- 

 shaped form. The meaning of the word Chrysosplenium will point 

 out the medicinal virtues which the plants of this genus were once 

 supposed to possess ; but in modern times they have lost their repu- 

 tation as medicinal plants, and have been used from their mildness as a 

 sallad. 



GENUS VIII. SAXl'FRAGA.— Linn. Saxifraga. 



Nat. Ord. Saxifra'ge^. Juss. 



Gen. Char. Calyx of five segments, free, or attached to some part of 

 the ovary. Corolla of five petals, rarely irregular. Styles two, 

 persistent. Capsule free, or attached to the calyx, two beaked, 

 two celled, opening between the beaks. Seeds numerous, smooth, 

 or rough, the receptacle in the middle of the disseppiments. — 

 Name from saxum, a stone ; and frango, to break ; from some of 

 the species having been used for the cure of stone in the bladder 

 or perhaps from many of the species growing on rocks, and their 

 roots penetrating the crevices. 

 Sect. 1. PoRYPHYRioN. Tausch. Hort. Canal, fasc. 1. De Cand 

 prod. p. 4. p. 17. Stem leafy. Leaves opposite, small, thick, 

 leathery, persistent. 



