SAXIFRAGA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SAXIFRAGA. 



797 



smaller form of ovata, with rather broader 

 leaves and a more branching habit ; and 

 media, a distinct variety, with large dark, 

 shining green leaves and clusters of 

 bright rosy-pink flowers on strong stems. 

 There is also a variety called aureo- 

 marginata, with variegated foliage. 



S. Cymbalaria. Little tufts of this 

 Rockfoil form, in early spring masses of 

 bright yellow flowers set in light green, 

 glossy, ivy-like leaves, the whole not 

 above 3 in. high. Instead of fading, it 

 preserves its little rounded pyramids of 

 golden flowers until autumn, when it is 

 about 12 in. high. It is an annual or 

 biennial, sows itself abundantly, and is 

 suitable for moist spots on or near the rock- 

 garden or on level ground, and in large 

 pleasure-grounds ; is readily naturalised 

 on the margins of a rocky stream and 

 elsewhere. 



S. flagellaris is distinct and free in 

 growth. Like its ally, S. Hirculus, it has 

 large bright yellow blossoms. Each 

 rosette throws off thread-like stolons, 

 which root at the tips, and in moist, 

 peaty, and gritty soil quickly form new 

 rosettes. One of the most arctic of 

 plants. 



S. Fortune! has large panicles of white 

 blossoms which rise in profusion from 

 rosettes of dark green rounded leaves. 

 It is a desirable plant, for it flowers in 

 autumn and is not particular as to treat- 

 ment. 



S. granulata (Meadow Saxifrage]. 

 A lowland plant, with several small scaly 

 bulbs in a crown at the root, and numer- 

 ous white flowers three-quarters of an 

 inch across. It is common in meadows 

 -and banks in England, its double form 

 being very handsome ; also useful as a 

 border plant in the spring-garden or in 

 the rougher parts of the rock-garden. 



S. hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage] is a 

 very variable plant as regards stems, 

 leaves, and flowers, but usually forms 

 mossy tufts of the freshest green, and no 

 plant is more useful for forming carpets 

 of glistening verdure in winter. For this 

 reason it is suited for the low rocky bor- 

 ders frequent in town and villa gardens. 

 It thrives in the rock-garden or on level 

 ground, either in half-shady positions or 

 when fully exposed to the sun. When so 

 exposed it forms the fullest tufts, flower- 

 ing profusely in early summer. It is also 

 suitable for dwarf verdant carpets in the 

 flower garden or the rock-garden with a 

 view to placing plants above it. Nothing 

 can be easier to grow or to increase by 

 division. Under this species may be 

 grouped S. hirta, S. affinis, S. incurvifolia, 



S. platypetala, S. decipiens, and several 



others, all showing differences which 



i some think sufficient to mark them as 



species. They are as free as S. hyp- 



! noides, and appear to suffer only from 



drought or drying winds. If when first 



planted a few rather large stones are 



I buried in the earth round each, the plants 



! will soon lap over them and preserve 



the moisture in the tufts. S. densa and 



S. \Yhitlavi are the best free-growing 



species, and, being compact and always 



green, are suitable for a margin. 



S. juniperina (Jtmiper Saxifrage] is 

 \ one of the most desirable, with spine- 

 pointed leaves densely set in cushioned 

 masses. The yellow flowers appear in 

 summer, and are arranged in spikes on a 

 I leafy stem. S. juniperina thrives in moist, 

 sandy, firm soil in the rock-garden, and 

 in every collection of alpine plants ; should 

 be grown in pots. Caucasus. Seed and 

 careful division. 



S. lantoscana. One of the finest of 

 the incrusted-leaved section. Though 

 similar to the pyramidal variety of S. 

 Cotyledon, it is smaller, its leaves narrower 

 and more crowded in the rosette, whilst 

 i its flower-spike, which is not erect but 

 ! slightly drooping, is more densely fur- 

 nished with flowers. It is easily grown 

 in a fully-exposed position in a well- 

 formed rock-garden, in a well-drained 

 gritty soil. It remains long in flower, 

 and is one of the best of rock-garden 

 plants. 



S.ligulata (Nepaul Rockfoit).'t^& has 



1 broadly obovate leaves, bearing flowers 



| in small cymose panicles. The flowers 



i are white, with a rosy tint towards the 



| margin of the petals ; and the anthers 



I before expansion are deep crimson. Its 



i tendency to early spring growth makes it 



I liable to injury. from frosts, which, occur- 



| ring in three or four consecutive seasons, 



I will ultimately prove fatal. It should 



therefore be given a sheltered situation 



j and a little shade also. The varieties 



rubra and speciosa, particularly the latter, 



I are in every way finer than the type. S. 



ligulata may be associated with others of 



the Megasea section. 



S. longifolia. This Pyrenean plant 

 has single rosettes often 6, 7, and 8 in. 

 in diameter. Its grayish leathery leaves 

 are beautifully dotted with white on the 

 margins, and in early summer it pushes 

 up fox-brushlike columns of white flowers, 

 from i to 2 ft. long, the stems covered 

 with short, stiff, gland-tipped hairs. It is 

 perfectly hardy, and may be grown in 

 various ways. On some perpendicular 

 chink in the face of a rock-garden, where 



