CHAPTER XXVII 

 The Rockfoil or Saxifrage 



THE Saxifrages form a very large and important 

 class of alpines, and, owing to their beauty and 

 extraordinary variety, are quite the most valuable of 

 all plants available for the rock garden. The various 

 kinds which constitute the group have a long flowering 

 period, commencing with Burser's Rockfoil (S. Burseriana) 

 in the beginning of the year, continuing through the 

 spring and summer, with numerous others, and closing 

 with Fortune's Saxifrage (S. Fortunei) in October. So 

 numerous and distinct are the various Saxifrages that 

 they have been separated into several groups, accord- 

 ing to their natural affinity. The natural order is 

 Saxifragaceae. 



For general purposes the most valuable kinds may 

 be classified into five groups : (i) Silvery or Encrusted 

 (Euaizoonia) ; (2) Mossy (Dactyloides) ; (3) Large-leaved 

 (Megasea) ; (4) Small tufted Silvery (Kabschia) ; and 

 (5) the Oppositi/olia section (Porphyrion) . In addition to 

 these groups there are a few others well known and 

 grown in gardens such, for instance, as those of the 

 London Pride group, Saxifraga umbrosa, and its many 



forms. 



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