DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 351 



exposed to the sun, and it, without much care afterwards, 

 continued to flourish a number of years. With a peat 

 soil, the surface covered with moss, and occasional sup- 

 plies of water, I have no doubt but it would succeed very- 

 well, if not in a very dry situation. 



SAXIFRAGA.— Saxifrage. 



[Named from saxurn, a rock, and frango^ to break, many of the species 

 growing in the clefts of rocks.] 



A genus which comprises a number of Alpine plants, 

 which have long been favorites in European gardens, but 

 not much cultivated in this country. Many of them are 

 quite easy to cultivate, and though naturally mountaineers, 

 are not incapable of breathing the more impure air of 

 towns and villages, others are delicate and difficult to 

 rear. Most of the species are perennial, with either 

 fibrous or granular roots, and a few are annuals. 



Saxifras^a Vir^illi^nsis. — This fragrant well-known 

 plant is one of the earliest flowers upon rocks and dry 

 hills. The leaves are mostly radical, spreading, fleshy, 

 elliptical, a little downy and serrate ; stem erect, fleshy, 

 nearly destitute of leaves. Flowers numerous, crowded, 

 white, arranged in corymbs on the ends of the branches, 

 which, collectively, form a sort of panicle; April and 

 May ; perennial. This sweet flower is associated with my 

 youthful floral rambles for May flowers. 



S. crassifolia. — A hardy perennial border flower with 

 broad, thick leaves, rising from the root, from which are 

 thrown up thick fleshy stems one foot high, with panicles 

 of pink flowers in May and June. 



S. umbrosa. — London-Pride. — This is a beautiful peren- 

 nial, growing about one foot high. Tlie flowers are in 

 panicles, white or flesh color, dotted with yellow and dark- 



