THE ROGKFOIL OR SAXIFRAGE 181 



being scarcely an inch in height, whilst the highest alpine 

 form of S. oppositifolia is S. biflora, with more fleshy 

 leaves and beautiful large flowers. 



Mention should be made of the London Pride section, 

 represented by Saxifraga umbrosa, native of Western 

 Europe, which is valuable for edging or for growing 

 under the shade of trees. The plants of this group are 

 evergreen, and produce light and graceful inflorescences 

 in May. The latest to flower come from Japan, and 

 are sometimes injured by early frost. The best known is 

 S. Fortunei, with large, rounded leaves on long stalks, and 

 branching panicles of unequal flowers, two petals being 

 long, while the other two are very short. It blooms in 

 late autumn. 



