96 DIALYPETALOUS EXOGENS 



SUBORDER I. SAXIFRA V GEAE. 



Perennial herbs; calyx mostly adherent to the base of the ovary; petals imbricated 

 in the bud. 



g 1. Leaves mostly alternate, f Petals 5, entire. 



143. SAXIF'RAGA, L. 



[Latin, Saxum, a rock, &ndfrango, to break; often growing in the clefts of rocks.} 

 Calyx 5-parted. Stamens 10. Capsule 2-celled, or rather 2 con- 

 nate follicles, opening between the beaks. 

 J8=> Leaves chiefly att radical; flowers on a scape, cymose-paniculate. 



1. S. Tirginiensis, MX. Leaves oval-spatulate with a broad 

 petiole, crenate-dentate ; calyx slightly adherent to the ovary, not 

 half as long as the white petals. 



VIRGINIAN SAXIFRAGA. Early Saxifrage. 



Leaves an inch or inch and half long, thickish ; petioles half an inch to an inch 

 and half in length. Scape 4 to 12 inches high. 

 Hob. Rocky banks; woodlands, &c.: frequent. Fl. April. Fr. June. 



2. S. Peimsylvdnica, L. Leaves oblanceolate, obsoletely 

 toothed; calyx free, nearly as long as the greenish-yellow petals. 

 PENNSYLVANIAN SAXIFRAGA. Tall, or Swamp Saxifrage. 



Leaves 4 to 6 or 8 inches long, rather thin ; petioles 1 to 2 inches in length, mar- 

 gined, ciliate. Scape 2 to 3 (sometimes 4 or 5) feet high ; cymes at first in conglom- 

 erate heads, finally rather loose, in an open panicle 12 to 18 inches in length. 

 Hob. Swampy meadows : frequent. Fl. May. Fr. July. 



144. HEtICHE v RA. L. 



[Named in honor of John Henry Heucher, a German Botanist.] 

 Calyx 5-cleft. Stamens 5. Capsule 1 -celled, with 2 parietal pla- 

 centae, 2-beaked, opening between the beaks. Seeds numerous, 

 roundish-oval, not wing-margined. Leaves radical, on long petioles ; 

 scape mostly leafless, tall. 



1. H. Americana, L. Hairy and viscid ; leaves roundish-cor- 

 date, somewhat 7-lobed; panicle loose; stamens finally much ex- 

 serted. 

 AMERICAN HEUCHERA. Alum-root. 



Leaves 1 to 3 or 4 inches in length, and as wide as long; petioles 2 to 8 or 10 

 inches long. Scape 2 to 4 feet high (often 2 or 3 from the same root), rather slen- 

 der. Baceme 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, thyrsoid or paniculate; pedicels half an 

 inch to an inch or more in length, dichotomous, or often in threes. Flowers small, 

 whitish, with a tinge of purple. 

 Hob. Thickets ; fence-rows, &c.: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. The root of this plant is considerably astringent ; and is one 

 of the Indian remedies, reputed to cure cancers, and other ill- 

 conditioned ulcers. 



t f Petals 5,pinnatifid. 



145. MITEI/I.A, Tournef. 

 [Diminutive of Mitra ; the capsule resembling a little mitre.] 

 Calyx 5-cleft, short. Stamens 10, included. Capsule short, round- 

 ish, 2-valved at summit. Seeds erect, at the base of the capsule. 



