SAXIFRAGACEA. 545 
fruits in good condition have occasionally been imported into this country 
from Japan and South America. 
Mespilus germanica yields the fruit called the Medlar, of which there are 
several varieties. 
Pyrus.—Some species of this genus produce edible fruits.—Pyrus Malus 
and its varieties produce the different kinds of Apples.—P. communis is the 
Pear-tree, so well known for its fruit. The wood is also sometimes used by 
wood-engravers instead of Box.—P. Cydonia (Cydonia vulgaris) is the 
common Quince.—The fruit is frequently mixed with apples in making pies 
or tarts, and is much esteemed for the preparation of a kind of marmalade 
and for other purposes by the confectioner. . The seeds contain much 
mucilage, which is nutritive, emollient, and demulcent.—P. Aucuparia is 
the Mountain Ash or Rowan-tree. Its flowers, root, and bark yield hydro- 
eyanic acid, and therefore possess, in a slight degree, sedative properties.— 
P. Aria is the Beam-tree, the timber of which is used for axle-trees and 
other purposes.— P. domestica is the common Service-tree, and P. torminalis 
the Wild Service-tree. 
Order 4. SAXIFRAGACE, the Saxifrage Order.—Charac- 
ter.—Herbs with alternate leaves, which are entire or lobed (fig. 
Fic. 956.” Fig. 957. 
Fig. 956. Saxifraga tridactylites. The leaves are trifid and wedge-shaped, | 
and the flowers arranged in a racemose cyme.— fig. 957. Vertical section 
of the fower.— 7g. 958. Vertical section of the seed. 
956), stipulate or exstipulate. Calyx of 4 or 5 sepals, which are 
more or less united at the base (jig. 625), inferior or more or 
less superior (figs. 625 and 957). Petuls 4 or 5, perigynous, 
imbricate, alternate with the lobes of the calyx ( fig. 957), some- 
times wanting. Stamens 5—10, perigynous (fig. 957) or hypo- 
gynous; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal dehiscence. Disk 
- NN 
