184 NAT. ORDER. SAXIFRAGEjE. 



droug^ht to which the dry soils they inhabit peculiarly expose 

 them. 



Sedum Telephium, one of the species, is admitted in the Materia 

 Medica in the foreig^n pharmacopoeias ; it has not the acrid characters 

 of the various species here figxired, but on the contrary is bland and 

 mucilaginous. It is said to be diuretic, and, according to Dr. Wither- 

 ino-, is used with success to cure the piles. Simpei-vivum tectorum 

 (common house-leek) which is nearly allied to the Telephium in bo- 

 tanical affinity, hkewise abounds with a mucilaginous juice, said to be 

 an useful application to burns, creeping ulcers, and in apthous cases. 

 Cactus Opuntia (common Indian fig) and Portulnca ohcracca (garden 

 purslane) both of this natural order, afford a similar juice, which also 

 has been applied to medical purposes. 



PropagalAon and Culture. Saxifraga is a most extensive genus 

 of pretty alpine plants, the greater part of which are well adapted for 

 rock-work, or to be grown on the sides of naked banks to hide the 

 surface. Many of die more rare and tender kinds require to be grown 

 in pots, in light sandy soil, and placed among other alpine plants, so 

 that they may be protected by a frame in winter. The species be- 

 longing to sections Micranthes and Hirculm grow best in a peat soil, 

 which should be kept rather moist. The species belonging to the sec- 

 tion Porphyrcon are so very pretty little plants as to be worth growing 

 in pots for ornaments, being clothed with elegant litUe red flowers 

 early in the spring. A mixture of peat and sand suits them well. The 

 varieties are all well suited to ornament the borders of flower-gardens. 



