SAXIFRAGACE.^. 1 39 



inches high, branching into handsome panicles of creamy-white 

 flowers. There is a handsome double-flowered variety which 

 forms a very superior border-plant worthy of a place in the 

 choicest collections. Both double and single may be natural- 

 ised on sunny banks and glades amongst other spring and early 

 summer flowers. Flowers in May and June. 



S. Hirculus {Marsh S.) — This is a peculiar and ornamental 

 species affecting marshy habitats on the mountains in a few 

 localities in Britain. It has weak prostrate stems, clothed with 

 oblong narrow smooth leaves, quite entire on the margin. The 

 flower-stems are nearly erect, about 6 inches high, bearing a 

 solitary yellow flower. The plant is handsome under con- 

 genial circumstances — that is, in very moist peaty soil, or even 

 in loam when wet — but is otherwise unworthy of culture for 

 ornament. Native also of western Europe, and many countries 

 of Asia. 



S. hypnoides (Mossy S.) — This species is related to ccespitosa, 

 and, in the bright verdure of the leaves and general aspect of 

 the plant, strongly resembles that species. But it has a freer 

 and more spreading habit of growth, and rarely assumes the 

 cushion-like tufts of the Tufted S. The branches spread out 

 weakly, trailing and matting freely. The leaves are sometimes 

 entire, but often also cleft in three or five parts, and are bright 

 green. The flower-stems are erect, about 6 inches high, bear- 

 ing several large white flowers in April, May, and June. A 

 rather abundant native of Britain and other countries of 

 Europe on the mountains. It is not an uncommon species in 

 gardens in one or other or several of its varieties. Like ccespitosa, 

 it is a variable plant, and the varieties of both are vended and 

 circulated as species, and are often confounded with each other, 

 and indeed it is not easy always to distinguish them ; but it 

 may be said of all that they are quite worthy of a place in any 

 collection, being all beautiful border or rock plants, and not 

 very fastidious about soil, provided it is tolerably moist, yet 

 well drained. The following names are those applied to cer- 

 tain more or less well-marked forms of this plant or reputed 

 allied species, having the authority of botanists both British 

 and Continental, but which are all too much alike to merit 

 places in collections of ornamental plants, on the score of 

 adaptability to produce distinct eftects : .S. affinis, decipiefis, 

 elongeHa, hirta, incurvifolia, leptophylla^platypetala, scndpiikkella: 

 the first and last of these are perhaps the most distinct and 

 beautiful of the group, and the most dissimilar from hypnoides, 

 speaking floriculturally. 



S. longifdlia, {Lo?ig-}eaved S.) — This species is a near relative 



