244 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



species of so popular a genus from reading alone, it having 

 been so extensively treated of, and the classifications being so 

 varied. Its study, when the species are being cultivated, is 

 simply delightful, compared with the confusion of book study 

 alone; and yet it is no uncommon thing, when forming a 

 collection of Saxifrages, to receive three or four different forms 

 from different sources under the same name, and each perhaps 

 more or less anthorised. The student by growing this genus of 

 plants will reap other pleasures than that of identification, and 

 in a few years time will find in his own garden (as the outcome 

 of growing allied species) new forms springing from seed, and 

 scattered about the beds and walks in a pleasing and suggestive 

 manner. (See Fig. 84.) 



The present subject has bell-shaped flowers, arranged in short- 

 branched panicles, each flower fin. across, and sometimes, when 

 well expanded, quite an inch; the colour is a delicate pink-tinted 

 white ; petals obovate and concave, inserted in the calyx, clawed, 

 sometimes notched and even lobed ; stamens long as petals, 

 inserted in throat of calyx, stout, green changing to pink ; 

 anthers large and brick red when young; styles massive, 

 joining close together, turgid, nearly long as stamens, and pale 

 green ; stigmas, simple, beardless, turning to a red colour ; calyx 

 bell-shaped, five-parted, wrinkled; segments slightly reflexed 

 and conniving or joining; scapes 4in. to 6in. high, stout and 

 smooth, excepting solitary hairs ; bracts, leaf -like ; leaves oval or 

 cordate, 2in. to 4in. long, wrinkled, slightly waved, and toothed, 

 conspicuously ciliated or haired on the margin, whence the 

 specific name " ciliata" Both surfaces are also furnished with 

 short stiff hairs, the whole leaf being stout and flatly arranged ; 

 leaf stalks short, thick, and furnished with numerous long hairs, 

 and ample stipules, which are glabrous, but beautifully ciliated. 

 Roots, woody, and slightly creeping on the surface. Habit of 

 foliage reflexing, forming flat masses ; smaller or supplementary 

 scapes are sent up later than the main scape, from the midst 

 of the stipules, bearing flowers in ones and twos. The blossom, 

 which is effective and very beautiful, is also sweetly scented, 

 like the hawthorn. 



As already hinted, this is not one of the most hardy Saxifrages, 

 but I have twice wintered it out on gritty beds, well raised, also 

 on rockwork, under a warm south wall ; and, as such positions 

 can be found or made in most gardens, it would be advisable to 

 try and establish this distinct and lovely spring bloomer. 

 Lime and sandstone grit mixed with loam and leaf soil I find to 

 be the best compost I have yet tried for it ; in fact, until a dry 

 situation and a little lime were given, it proved a shy bloomer. 

 It is now quite the reverse, notwithstanding that the roots were 

 divided during the previous autumn. Fogs and rain are its 

 greatest plagues, owing to its hairy nature ; the glass and wire 



