176 ALPINE PLANTS 
a particularly desirable plant which will cover a wide- 
spreading area, and tumble over borders of rock, draping 
them with slender, wiry stems clothed with bronzed foliage 
which even in winter is effective, whilst from early May 
to midsummer the whole mass is converted into a sheet 
of lovely rosy pink flowers, starlike in form, and backed 
by inflated calyces of bronzy green. The plant is easily 
raised from seed, and once planted will spread itself over 
a large area, and maintain health and vigour for an in- 
definite period if occasionally mulched with gritty compost. 
S. cespitosa is also rosy pink, of close growing, tufted 
habit, delighting in a sunny position, and capable of 
enduring a good deal of drought. 
A hybrid between the two species already named is 
S. Boissieri, the flowers of which are of the same rosy 
shade but are of comparatively large size, often approxi- 
mating an inch in diameter. Cuttings of young growth 
will root readily enough in spring. There are yellow 
Saponarias which afford interesting variety, both lutea 
and bellidifolia being suitable for rock work. S. pulvinaris 
is another distinct plant of diminutive growth, but bearing 
a profusion of brilliant red blossoms. 
t SAXIFRAGA.—Whenever alpine plants are written or 
lectured upon, or even discussed by a couple of enthusiasts, 
we may be sure Saxifragas will come in for some share of 
attention, and quite naturally so, for there surely is no 
family that has a greater number of good claims to un- 
stinted affection and widespread cultivation. In point 
of varied form, character and cultural demands the Saxi- 
fragas leave the majority of plant genera far behind. In 
