246 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



reader, by referring to the cut (Fig. 85), may form his own 

 opinion of such likeness ; however well founded or otherwise the 

 name may be, we have in this subject a gem for the rock garden. 

 It is a native of Albania, and belongs to that section of its 

 extensive genus having triquetrous and obtuse leaves, or blunt 

 three- sided foliage, as formed by a well developed keel. It is in 

 flower in the middle of March, at the height of 2in. All its 

 parts are of miniature dimensions, and yet when grown in a 

 suitable position it is effective. 

 The flowers are pure white, produced on leafy stems an inch or 



FIG. 85. SAXIFKAGA COBIOPHTLLA. 

 (One half natural size.) 



more high ; they are few, and open in succession ; petals round 

 and overlapping ; calyx large for the size of flower, and covered 

 with down ; sepals obtuse and tipped with a brown, almost red- 

 tint ; stamens short, having rather large yellow anthers, which 

 fill the throat of the corolla. The leaves are evergreen or silvery 

 grey, arranged in small rosettes, and ^in. long, of good substance, 

 rigid and smooth ; their shape is obtuse, concave, and keeled ; 

 they are furnished with marginal excavations, which present 

 themselves as dots ; the habit is compact, the rosettes being 

 crowded and forming cushioned- shaped specimens; the flowers 

 last for a fortnight in average weather. 



Between large stones in vegetable mould and grit, it both 

 thrives and shows to advantage ; it is also a charming subject 

 for the pot culture of alpines. In company with the red-stalked 

 and white-flowered 8. Burseriana, the purple S. opposiiifolia, and 

 the many other forms of the mossy section, all, or nearly all in 

 bloom about the same time, it offers a pleasing variety, as being 

 distinct in every way from its contemporaries, more especially in 



