SAXIFRAGES 325 



Saxifrages 



From the gardener's point of view the interest of this 

 order may be said wholly to gather into the typical 

 Saxifrages, so paramount being the value of that one 

 genus in comparison with that of the other eighteen. 

 The botanical characteristics of the order are : leaves 

 alternate (sometimes opposite), without stipules; inflor- 

 escence generally racemed or panicled, rarely solitary ; 

 calyx with five lobes ; petals five, regular or dimorphous 

 i. e. exhibiting two forms in one flower; stamens five or 

 ten; ovary with two beaked styles and containing minute 

 seeds. Jt is peculiar to the high mountains of the 

 northern hemisphere. 



Saxifraga 



"Eng. : Saxifrage; Fr. : Saxifrage; Ger. : Steinbrech. 



Whatever may be the reputed origin of the name, 

 nothing could be more appropriate for the genus par 

 excellence of the rock-garden, to which it has given more 

 varieties than any other, whose number is only equalled 

 by their surpassing intrinsic merits. Even the family of 

 Primulas, despite the typical genus and the Androsaces, 

 and the Gentianeae must take a second place. The 

 characteristics which differentiate the genus from the 

 order are : ten stamens, two styles which are persistent 

 and twin -beaked capsules containing cells or com- 

 partments. The almost innumerable number of varieties 

 exhibited has made classification a matter of sore trouble ; 



