226 THE SAXIFRAGE FAMIXT. 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES. 



1 Grass of Paknassus — [Parndssia j^aliistris.) 



Hale Moss, at the further end, abundant. Wet moory ground, 



near Kinder Scout, plentiful. Cobden Edge, above Strines. Abundant 



in a field between two roads at Spons, the high hill near the further 



entrance to Lyme Park, visible from Hazle Grove, and looking over 



Kettlesham. (Mr. Isaac Williamson.) Fl. August, September. 



Curtis, iii. 470 ; E. B. ii. 82 ; Baxter, i. 70. 



One of the loveliest of our English wild-flowers, yet not more remarkable for 

 the beauty of its pearly cups, and exquisite little golden-beaded nectaries, than 

 for the curious economy which promotes the fertihzing of the ovules. The 

 stamens, like those of the Kalmia and the berbery, have the power of self- 

 movement. While the flower is but recently expanded, they lie back from the 

 pistil and against the petals ; as soon, however, as they are ready to discharge 

 their pollen, they rise up slowly, and incline gracefully over to the stigma, 

 across which they i^lace themselves, give it a kiss, and then resume their first 

 position. They do not all advance at once, but the three first of them one at a 

 time, the second coming forwards as the first retires, and the third as the second 

 draws away; and when the third begins to recede, the fourth and fifth come up 

 together. The grass of Parnassus is one of the very few white flowers which 

 retain their purity when dried for the herbaidum. 



2. White Meadow Saxifrage — {Saxifraga granuldta.) 

 By brook-sides in low meadows, in shady woods, and among the 

 little trees on secluded river-banks, tolerably common. Agecroft. 

 Woods on the banks of the BoUin, between Ashley and Cotterill. 

 Banks of the Goyt, sparingly. In a field at Hazle Grove, near Nor- 

 bury Church. (Mr. Isaac Williamson.) Plentiful about Mobberlcy, 

 Ringway, and Jackson's Boat ; and very abundant at Monton, in the 

 meadows just over the bridge, growing as thick as May-flowers, and 

 blooming at the same time. 



Curtis, i. 30 ; E. B. vii. 500. 



Very common in gardens, with the flowers double, and then immediately 

 recognized by the clusters of small bulb-like tubers, covered with brown or 

 wliitish hairy scales, which constitute the perennial basis of the plant. 



3. Rue-leaved Wall Saxifrage — {Sax'tfraga tridactylites.) 



On the yard-wall at Hough-End Hall, but very small and poorly 



developed, and of late years much diminished in quantity. Fl. April, 



May. Annual. 



.Curtis, i. 101 ; E. B. vu. 501. 



