198 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Saxifraga atrorubens, Bertoloni. 

 Saxifraga crocea, Haworth. 

 Leptasea aizoides, Haworth. 

 Leptasea aizoides, crocea, Haworth. 



" The European Saxifrages are divided into no fewer than 

 forty-two genera and one hundred and eighty species, besides 

 which there are recognised by various authorities a multitude 

 of sub-species and varieties. In view of the characteristics of 

 their habitat, therefore, it is a little surprising, on inquiring 

 more closely into the particulars of their distribution in three 

 of the regions perhaps best known to botanists in Europe — 

 namely, the Alps, Scandinavia, and our own country — to find 

 that, out of these, only eighteen species, to which are added 

 four varieties, should be found in Britain. 



"Saxifraga aizoides is one which is common to all three 

 regions, and is without doubt a true denizen of the mountains, its 

 range being from beyond the North Cape to the Alps. It was first 

 recorded for Britain in Ray's Catalogue in 1753 as being found 

 on the sides of Ingleborough Hill, Yorkshire, and also in West- 

 moreland. The plant is well known to all frequenters of our 

 own hill districts, and my reason for exhibiting it is to show 

 the three forms which it assumes in northern Scandinavia, as 

 a sort of commentary on its synonymy. These three forms, 

 which are to be seen everywhere — on the roadsides, on the 

 rocks, on the river banks, and on the high mountains of the 

 Dovref jeld — are by Professor Blytt described as Saxifraga 

 aizoides typica, aurantia, and purpiirea. Typica, with corolla, 

 anthers, and styles yellow, the petals having dusky spots ; 

 aurantia, dusky yellow with bright yellow spots, anthers and 

 styles orange red ; and purpurea with dark purple corolla. Blyth 

 does not mention it, but many of the specimens of purpurea I 

 have examined have also purple stamens. These were sometimes 

 to be seen growing in separate clumps or cu.shions ; sometimes 

 typica and aurantia were to be found together as if in one clump ; 

 occasionally, but more seldom, typica and purpurea; not infre- 

 quently aurantia and typica were associated in the same way, 

 and in some places the Avhole three were to be seen together. 

 Now it is quite evident that a plant having three distinctly- 



