Saxifraga.] xlix. saxifraqaceje (oliver). 383 



A large genus, chiefly characteristic of alpine or arctic regions in the Northern hemi- 

 sphere. 



The following appears peculiar to the Abyssinian highlands. 



1. S. hederaefolia, Hochst. > Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 317. A low diffuse 

 or decumbent herb, branched from the base, glabrous or with few scat- 

 tered hairs. Leaves radical and cauline, the former on lono* flaccid 

 petioles, reniform with about 5 (3-7) shallow broadly rounded lobes, 

 the median broadest, upper cauline leaves palmatiiid or 3-fid with 

 shorter petioles. Flowers solitary, " yellow," pedunculate, leaf-opposed. 

 Calyx deeply 5-fid, lobes ovate, obtuse, glandular. Petals obovate 

 or obovate-oblong, obtuse, 3-pliveined, subsessile, 2-3 times longer 

 than calyx. Ovary about J-| inferior ; styles short, divergent in fruit. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, at a great elevation, Schimper! Petit! 



Occasionally floating in rivulets, (Rich.). 



Allied to Saxifraga hederacea, Jacq. 



2. VAHLIA, Thunb.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 637. 



Calyx-tube campanulate or hemispherical, adherent throughout to 

 the ovary; limb 5-partite, lobes valvate. Petals epigynous, not or 

 scarcely exceeding the calyx. Stamens 5, epigynous. Ovary inferior, 

 1 -celled with 2 pendulous multiovulate placentas; styles 2, stigma 

 capitellate. Capsule many-seeded, dehiscing at the apex. — Herbs, 

 usually pubescent or glandular, erect or diffuse, annual or biennial. 

 Leaves opposite, entire. Flowers axillary, usually geminate, subsessile 

 or pedunculate. 



A small genus of Africa and the warmer parts of Asia. 



Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate. Flowers sessile . . . . 1. V. viscosa. 

 Leaves linear or nearly so. 



Flowers pedunculate. Calyx-lobes shorter than or not ex- 

 ceeding tube 2. F. oldenlandioides. 



Flowers sessile or pedunculate. Calyx-lobes exceeding tube 3. V. capensis. 



1. V, viscosa, Roxb.; Hook. f. et Thorn, in Journ. Linn. Soc. ii. 74. 

 Annual diffuse or erect branching glandular-pilose or pubescent herb, 

 J-l ft. or more in height. Leaves ovate, acute or obtuse, sessile or all 

 or the lower only ovate-lanceolate or oval narrowed to the base, h to 

 over 1 in. long in luxuriant specimens. Flowers sessile or subsessile, 

 geminate or solitary in nearly all or at least in the upper axils. Calyx- 

 teeth ovate, acute, equalling the campanulate tube. Petals nearly 

 equalling calyx-lobes, ovate-rotundate, slightly narrowed to broad base 

 or obovate-oblong, frequently apiculate. Filaments filiform, with a 

 very minute hairy scale at base. Styles equalling calyx-lobes. — V. 

 Weldenii, Eeichb. Icon. Bot. Exot. 91 ; DC. Prod. iv. 53 ; V. sessili- 

 Jlorcij DC. Prod. iv. 54, fide Hook. f. et Thorn. 1. c. Bistella geminiflora, 

 Delile, Voy. a Meroe, 97, t. ii. fig. 2. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Leprieur and Perrottet, Roger ! (A narrow-leaved 

 variety, regarded as V. rarnosissima, A. DC. -by M. Gay.) 

 North Central. Kouka, E.Vogel! 



