8AIfBAGACE^E. 5 



ORDER XXXIII. SAXIFRAGA'CEjE. (SAXIFRAGE P.) 



Herbs or shrubs, distinguished from Rosacese chiefly in 

 having opposite as well as alternate leaves, and usually no 

 stipules ; stamens only as many or twice as many as the 

 (usually 5) petals ; and the carpels fewer than the petals 

 (mostly 2), and usually more or less united with each other. 

 Stamens and petals generally inserted on the calyx. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



1. Ri'bes. Shrubs, sometimes prickly, with alternate and palmately- 



veined and lobed leaves, which are plaited in the bud. Calyx 

 5-lobed, the tube adherent to the ovary (superior). Petals 5, small, 

 inserted on the calyx. Stamens 5. Styles 2. Fruit a many-seeded 

 berry. 



2. Parnas'sia. Smooth herbs, with entire and chiefly radical leaves, 



and solitary flowers terminating the long scapes. Petals 5, large, 

 veiny, each with a cluster of sterile filaments at the base. Proper 

 stamens 5. Stigmas 4. Pod 4-valved. Calyx free from the 

 ovary. 



3. Saxifraga. Herbs with clustered root-leaves. Flowers in close 



cymes. Calyx-lobes hardly adherent to the ovary. Petals 5. 

 Stamens 10. Fruit a pair of follicles, slightly united at the base. 



4. Mitel'la. Low and slender herbs, with round-heart-shaped radical 



leaves, those on the scape (if any J opposite. Flowers in terminal 

 racemes. Calyx 5-lobed, adherent to the base of the ovary. Petals 

 5, slender, pinnati/id. Stamens 10, short. Styles 2. Pod 2-beaked, 

 but 1-celled. 



5. Tiarel'la. Slender herbs, with radical heart-shaped leaves, and 



leafless scapes, bearing a simple raceme of flowers. Calyx bell- 

 shaped, 5-parted. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 10, long and slender. 

 Pod 2-valved, the valves unequal. 



6. Heu'chera. Perennial herbs with round -heart -shaped radical 



leaves ; those on the stem (if any) alternate. Greenish or purple 

 flowers, clustered in a long narrow panicle. Petals 5, small, 

 spathulate, entire. Stamens 5. Styles 2. Pod 2-beaked. 



7. Chrysosple' ilium. Small and smooth herbs, with mostly opposite 



roundish leaves. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary. Petals none. 

 Stamens twice as many as the calyx-lobes (8-10), inserted on a 

 conspicuous disk. Pod 2-lobed. 



1. RI'BES, L. CURRANT. GOOSEBERRY. 



1. R. Cynos'bati, L. (WILD GOOSEBERRY.) Stem with 

 small thorns at the bases of the leaves, the latter downy, on 



