SAXIFKAGACEAE 499 



inferior, with 3 or 4 parietal placentae. Styles very short. Stigmas 3-4, over the 

 placentae. Ovules anatropous, numerous. Capsule membranous, 1-celled, 

 loculicidally 3-4-valved at the apex. Seeds numerous, winged, the testa loose. 

 Endosperm wanting. Embryo straight, terete. 



1. PARNASSIA L. 



Characters of the family. GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS. 



Leaf-blades longer than broad : petals sessile. 1. P. grandifolia. 



Leaf-blades broader than long : petals with claws. 2. P. asartfolia. 



1. Parnassla grandlfblia DC. Leaf-blades suborbicular to ovate, rounded or obtuse 

 at the apex, narrowed or cordate at the base, entire ; petioles as long as the blades or 

 longer : scapes erect, solitary or several together, 3-6 din. tall, with a bract at the middle 

 or much below it : sepals reflexed, ovate, obtuse, striped : petals white or cream-colored 

 with dark parallel nerves and dark reticulated veins on either side near the base, oval to 

 elliptic, 2-2.5 cm. long, sessile : staminodia 3-5 in each set, filiform, about 1 cm. long, 

 twice longer than the stamens : filaments recurved at maturity: capsule oval, 1-1.5 mm. 

 long. 



In wet soil, Virginia to Missouri, Florida and Louisiana. Summer and fall. 



2. Parnassla asarifolia Vent. Leaf-blades reniform to orbicular-reniform, 5-10 cm. 

 broad, rounded at the apex, entire, cordate at the base, deeper green above than beneath ; 

 petioles somewhat longer than the blades or much longer : scapes erect, solitary or tufted, 

 2-4 din. tall, bearing a clasping bract below the middle : sepals ovate or oblong, 4-5 mm. 

 long, obtuse : petals cream-colored striped with green, 1.5-2 cm. long, the blades broadly 

 ovate to suborbicular, obtuse or notched at the apex ; claws about as long as the blades or 

 shorter : staminodia 3 in each set : stamens about as long as the staminodia : capsule ovoid, 

 6-10 cm. long. 



In wet mountain brooks, Virginia to middle Georgia. Summer and fall. 



FAMILY 5. SAXIFRAGACEAE Dumort. SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 



Caulescent or acaulescent herbs, with glabrous or variously pubescent foli- 

 age. Leaves alternate or opposite : blades often thick. Flowers perfect or 

 polygamo-dioecious, solitary, racemose, paniculate or cymose. Perianth usually 

 of 2 series. Calyx of 5, or rarely 4 or more sepals, usually persistent. Corolla 

 of usually 4-5 distinct petals, or wanting. Disk normally present. Androecium 

 of as many or twice as many epigynous or perigynous stamens as there are petals, 

 or in apetalous species as many or twice as many as there are sepals. Filaments 

 distinct, thickest below the middle or above it. Gynoecium of 1 or several dis- 

 tinct or united carpels. Styles as many as there are carpels, or cavities in the 

 ovary. Ovules numerous, anatropous. Fruit a capsule or follicle. Seeds com- 

 monly numerous, with copious fleshy endosperm. Embryo terete. 



Leaf-blades 3-ternate : flowers polygamous. 1. ASTILBE. 



Leaf-blades simple, lobed or ternate : flowers perfect. 

 Capsules 2-celled : placentae axile. 



Stamens 5. 2. THEROFOH. 



Stamens 10. 



Corolla regular : petals all alike or nearly so. 3. MICRANTHES. 



Corolla irregular : petals various, 2 with narrow blades, 3 with sagittate 



or lanceolate blades. 4. SPATULARIA. 



Capsules 1-celled : placentae basal or parietal. 



Placenta basal. 5. TIARELLA. 



Placentae parietal. 



Placentae 3 : styles 3. 6. LEPUROPETALON. 



Placentae 2 : styles 2. 



Petals present : terrestrial plants. 



Stamens 5 : petals entire. 7. HEUCHERA. 



Stamens 10 : petals 3-cleft or pinnatifid. 8. MITELLA. 



Petals wanting : aquatic plants. 9. CHRYSOSPLENIUM. 



1. ASTILBE Hamilt. 



Perennial caulescent herbs, resembling Aruncus. Leaves alternate : blades thrice com- 

 pound, petioled ; leaflets toothed. Flowers usually polygamo-dioecious, in terminal 

 panicled spikes or racemes. Sepals 5, or rarely 4, imbricated. Petals 5, or rarely 4, or 

 wanting, narrow, inserted at the base of the calyx. Stamens 10, inserted with the petals : 



