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SAXIFRAGACEJE. (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY.) 14-' 



the petals on the calyx. Ovaries 2 or sometimes 3-4, commonly 

 united below, and separate at the summit. Seeds few - many. Em- 

 bryo straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



SUBORDEK I. SAXIFRAGES. Herbs. Petals imbricated in the bud. 

 Stipules aduate to the petiole, or none. 



* Stamens as many as the sepals. 



1. LEPUROPETALON. Styles 3. Capsule 1-celled, beakless. 



2. HEUCHERA. Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled, 2-beaked. 



3. BOYKINIA. Styles 2. Capsule 2-celled, 2-beaked. 



* * Stamens twice as many as the sepals, 

 -i- Capsule 2-celled. 



4. SAXIFRAGA. Flowers perfect. Stamens 10. Leaves entire or lobed. 



5. ASTILBE. Flowers polygamous. Stamens 10. Leaves ternately compound. 



i- -i- Capsule 1-celled. 



6. TIARELLA. Stamens 10. Petals 5, entire. 



7. MITELLA. Stamens 10. Petals 5, pinnatifid. 



8. CHRYSOSPLENIUM. Stamens 8 -10. Petals none. 



SUBORDER II. ESCALLONIE2E. Shrubs. Petals valvate in the bud. 

 Stipules none. Leaves alternate. 



9. ITEA. Stamens and petals 5. Flowers in a dense raceme. 



SUBORDER III. HYDRANGIEJE. Shrubs. Petals valvate or convolute 

 iu the bud. Leaves opposite. Stipules none. 



10. HYDRANGEA. Petals valvate. Stamens 8 - 10. Styles distinct. 



11. DECUMARIA. Petals valvate. Stamens 20 or more. Styles united. 



12. PHILADELPHUS. Petals convolute. Stamens 20 or more. Styles 4. Capsule 4- 



valved. 



SUBORDER IV. RIBESIE^E. Shrubs. Leaves alternate, palmately 

 veined or lobed. Stipules none. Fruit baccate. 



13. RIBES. Flowers in axillary racemes. Stems mostly spiny. 



1. LEPUROPETALON, Ell. 



Calyx tube turbinate, cohering with the lower portion of the ovary, 5- 

 parted. Petals 5, minute, spatulate. Stamens 5, very short. Styles 3. 

 Capsule globular, 1-celled, with 3 parietal placenta, many-seeded, loculici- 

 dally 3-valved at the apex. A very small (' high) tufted annual herb, with 

 alternate spatulate leaves, and solitary terminal white flowers. 



1. L. spathulatum, Ell. Close damp soil, Georgia (near Savannah) 

 and South Carolina. March - April. 



2. HEUCHERA, L. ALUM-ROOT. 



Calyx campanulate, coherent with the base of the ovary, 5-cleft. Petals 5, 

 spatulate. Stamens 5. Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled, with 2 parietal placentae, 

 many-seeded, 2-beaked, opening between the beaks. Seeds rough or hispid. 

 Perennial herbs, with erect scape like steins. Leaves chiefly radical, long- 

 petioled, roundish cordate, lobed or toothed. Stipules aduate to the petioles. 

 Flowers small, pauicled. 



