421 



each flower-stalk, a,t first small, compressed, and protecting the flower 

 with its foot-stalk; but afterwards becoming larger, and unfolding 

 into lobes, like those of the fig, which are thickish, smooth, internally 

 of a deep glaucous green, externally of a whitish glaucous colour 

 with frequent veins, most conspicuous on the outside; on petioles 

 which are flat and slightly grooved on the inside, and convex on the 

 outside. Three or four flower-stems arise from each root, and are 

 surrounded at the base by oblong, meinbranaceous, tender, striated 

 scales: the root, leaves, and flowers have no smell. It is a native of 

 America, and flowers here in the beginning April. 



There are varieties with single flowers, with semi-double flowers, 

 and full flowers. 



Culture. This plant is readily increased by parting the roots, 

 and planting them out in the borders or other places where they 

 are to remain, in the autumnal season, when the leaves and stems 

 decay. 



They should have a loose soil, with a mixture of bog earth and 

 rotten leaves, and sheltered situation, not too much exposed to the 

 sun : the roots should not be parted of lener than every two years. 



They afford variety in the borders, clumps, and other parts among 

 other low-growing bulbous-rooted plants. 



2. SAXIFRAGA CRASSIFOLIA. 



OVAL-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE. 



THIS genus contains plants of the low hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Decandria Digynia, and ranks 

 in the natural order of Succulents. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a one-leafed perianth, five- 

 parted, short, acute, permanent : the corolla has five petals, spread- 



