8oo 



SAXIFRAGA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



S. peltata make it unique among Saxi- 

 frages ; and on this account some have 

 referred the plant to a section under the 

 name Peltiphyllum. From a thick and 

 fleshy creeping root-stock rise stout erect 

 leaf-stalks, at the ends of which grow 

 the target-like leaves, i ft. or more in 

 diameter. The white or pale pink flowers 

 appear in spring, a little before the leaves, 

 on stalks i to 2 ft. high, and in loose 

 clusters, 3 to 6 in. in diameter. It 

 is found in the neighbourhood and in 

 the beds of quick-running streamlets 

 throughout the Sierra Nevada of Cali- 



small rocky or elevated borders. Any 

 good, free, moist, loamy soil suits it, and 

 in London it thrives on borders, but 

 should always be exposed to the full sun, 

 associated with the choicest spring flowers 

 and alpine plants. Austria. Seeds or 

 careful division. S. coriophylla is similar 

 but not so valuable. 



S. sancta. A beautiful species, forming 

 a dense carpet-like mass of deep green 

 foliage, studded in early spring with 

 numerous bright yellow blossoms on stems 

 an inch or so high. It seems to grow 

 freely in any position in the rock-garden. 



Saxifraga Wallace!. 



fornia, and is best in a deep moist border ' 

 of peaty soil. Division or seeds. 



S. purpurascens is the finest of the 

 Megasea section. The stem is 10 to 12 in. 

 high, and the flowers are produced in pen- 

 dent masses of red and purple. Succeeds 

 best in a moist peaty soil in a rather sheltered 

 spot. High elevations about Sikkim. 



S. Rocheliana (Rachel's Saxifrage}. 

 A compact and dwarf kind, forming dense 

 silvery rosettes of tongue-shaped leaves, 

 with white margins and distinct dots. In 

 spring appear large white flowers on sturdy 

 little stems. There is no more exquisite 

 plant for the rock-garden, pans, and for 



S. sarmentosa (Mother of Thousands]. 

 A well-known plant, with roundish 

 leaves and numbers of creeping, slender 

 runners, producing young plants Straw- 

 berry fashion. It grows freely in the dry 

 air of a sitting-room, and may often be 

 seen gracefully suspended in cottage- 

 windows, but is most at home running 

 wild on banks or rocks in the cool green- 

 house or conservatory. In mild parts of 

 England it lives in the open air, and 

 may be used in graceful association with 

 Ferns and other creeping plants. China. 

 Flowers in summer. Closely allied is 

 the delicate S. cuscutasformis with its 



