SAXIFRAGACE^E. 



205 



Calyx either superior or inferior, of 4 or 5 sepals (f. 42. a. f. 

 43. a.), which cohere more or less at their base. Petals 5 (f. 

 42. b. f. 45. d.) or wanting, inserted between the lobes of the 

 calyx. Stamens 5-10, inserted either into the calyx or beneath 

 the ovarium ; therefore they are either perigynous or hypogy- 

 nous ; anthers 2-celled, bursting lengthwise. Disk either hypo- 

 gynous or perigynous, sometimes obsolete, sometimes annular 

 and notched, rarely consisting of 5 scales. Ovarium inferior, or 

 nearly superior, usually consisting of 2 or 5 carpels (f. 42. d. f. 

 4C. e. f. 48. e.) or follicles, cohering more or less on the inner 

 side, but distinct at the apex ; sometimes 2-celled, with a cen- 

 tral placenta ; sometimes 1-celled, with parietal placentas, 

 rarely 4-5-celled. Styles none ; stigmas sessile on the tips of 

 the lobes of the ovarium (f. 42. e. f. 52. e.). Fruit generally a 

 membranous 1 -2-celled capsule, with 2 bracteas, rarely a 4-5- 

 celled 4-5-valved capsule, and sometimes a 4-celled berry. Seeds 

 numerous, very minute, usually with long hexagonal reticula- 

 tions on the side of a transparent testa. Embryo terete, in the 

 axis of a fleshy albumen, with the radicle next the hylum. 

 Shrubs or herbs, variable in habit. Leaves simple, either divided 

 or entire, alternate, without stipulas. Flower-stems simple, 

 often naked. 



The plants of this order agree in some respects with the her- 

 baceous part of Rosacece, with which they agree in habit, and 

 from which they differ in their polyspermous partially concrete 

 carpella, albuminous seeds, and want of stipulas. From Cunoni- 

 acece they are divided by their habit, and by the want of 

 stipulas. To Caryophylleee their habit allies them ; but they 

 differ in the insertion of their stamens, the situation of the em- 

 bryo, and otherwise. Grossulariece agree very much in the 

 structure of the flowers, but differ from them in the capsular 

 fruit, usually 2-celled ovarium, in the seeds being without aril, 

 furnished with a short podosperm, not gelatinous on the outside, 

 and in the more fleshy albumen and habit. From Crassulacece 

 they differ in the fewer carpella, which are joined together, and 

 usually with the calyx ; and in having no glands on the inner 

 side of the carpella. From UmbeUiferce they are easily distin- 

 guished in the carpella or cells of the ovarium being dehiscent 

 and many seeded, not indehiscent and 1 -seeded, in the form of 

 the petals, in the absence of villas, and in habit. From Vibur- 

 neae, to which the tribe Hydrangece comes very near, in the fruit 

 being capsular, not baccate, and in the styles being exserted, not 

 wanling, &c. From Vacciniece, Campanulacece, Ericece, Gen- 

 tianeee, in ihe corolla being polypetalous, not gamopetalous. 

 The genus Drummondia has ihe stamens equal in number to the 

 petals, and opposile them ; ihus indicaling some analogy to the 

 monopelalous Primulacece. 



According lo De Candolle ihe whole order is more or 

 less astringent. The root of Heuchera Americana is a power- 

 ful astringent, whence it is called in North America alum- 

 root, Barton, 2. p. 162. Otherwise they possess no known 

 properties ; for the old idea of iheir being lilhontriplic ap- 

 pears to have been derived from their name, rather than their 

 virtues. 



Synopsis of the genera. 



TRIBE I. 



SAXIFRA'GE* (plants agreeing with Saxifraga in being herba- 

 ceous). D. C. prod. 4. p. 17. Saxifragece, R. Br. gen. rem. 

 exclusive of Hydrdngece. 



1. Stamens twice the number of the petals or sepals. 



1 SAXI'FRAGA. Calyx 5-parted (f. 41. a. f. 42. a.). Pe- 

 tals 5 (f. 41. b. f. 42. b. f. 46. c.), on short claws, entire. 

 Slamens 10 (f. 42. c. f. 46. d.). Capsule adnate lo ihe calyx or 

 free, composed of 2 carpella (f. 42. d.), which are usually joined 

 even lo the style, many seeded (f. 42./.). 



2 ERIOOY'NIA. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals 5, hardly unguiculate. 

 Stamens 20, monadelphous at ihe base. Ovaries 4-6, free, con- 

 nected logelher by dense wool. Carpels distincl, 4-6, free from 

 ihe calyx, many seeded. 



3 LEPTARRHE'NA. Calyx 5-paried (f. 47. a.). Petals 5 (f. 

 47. &.), entire, on short claws. Stamens 10 ; anthers (f. 47. c.), 

 1-celled, 2-valved. Capsule composed of 2 carpels (f. 47. e.), 

 which are joined at the base, many seeded. 



4 CHRYSOSPLE'NIUM. Tube of calyx adhering to the ovarium; 

 limb 4-5-lobed. Petals wanting. Stamens 8-10. Styles 2. 

 Capsule 2-valved and 2-beaked, at length 1-celled and many 

 seeded. 



5 MITE'LLA. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, jagged or toothed. 

 Stamens 10. Styles 2, joined. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, 

 many seeded. 



6 TE'LLIMA. Free parl of ihe calyx inflated, 5-loothed (f. 

 49. &.), ihe adhering parl conical. Petals 5 (f. 49. c.), jagged. 

 Stamens 10 (f. 49. a.). Styles 2-3, distinct. Capsule (f. 49./.), 

 1-celled, 2-valved al ihe apex. 



7 DRUMMONDIA. Calyx with an obconical lube (f. 50. 6.), 

 and a 5-clefl limb. Pelals 5 (f. 50. c.), pinnaiifid. Stamens 5. 

 Stigmas 2, spreading, 2-lobed. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, 

 many seeded (f. 50. rf.). 



8 TIARE'LLA. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, unguiculate, entire. 

 Stamens 10. Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, adnate to 

 the bollom of ihe calyx ; valves unequal, dehiscing between ihe 

 slyles. Seeds numerous. 



9 ASTI'LBE. Calyx deeply 4-5-parted, coloured. Petals 

 wanting. Stamens 8-10. Styles 2 ; stigmas truncate. Capsule 

 2-celled, 2-beaked, many seeded. 



2. Stamens equal in number to the petals, or fewer, and 

 alternating with them. 



10 HEUCHE'RA. Calyx 5-cleft (f. 51 . b.). Petals 5 (f. 51. a.), 

 undivided. Stamens 5. Styles 2 (f. 51. c.), very long, dislincl. 

 Capsule crowned by the dead flower, 1-celled, dehiscing between 

 the slyles (f. 51. d.). Seeds rough. 



1 1 DONA' TIA. Tube of calyx lurbinale ; limb truncate, witli 

 2 opposite acuminated triangular teeth. Petals 9 (8-10, Forst.), 

 narrow. Slamens 3. Slyles 3-5. Ovarium 2-3-celled ; ovula 

 numerous. Fruil capsular. 



