JLg2 SAXIFRAGACE^. .Siui/rayu. 



OuDEU XXXIV. SAXIFRAGACE^. (Hy A. Quay.) 



Herbs, sliruLs, or soiuetinicis small tiws, disLiiiguislietl from Jiosacea^ by albumi- 

 nous seeds and small embryo ; usually by dcliuite stamens, not more tliiiii Iwieo 

 the number of the calyx-lobes; commonly by the want of stipules; sometimes by 

 the leaves being ojiposite ; and in most by the partial or complete union of the 2 to 

 5 carpels (even when free from the calyx) into a compound ovary, with either axile 

 or parietal placentie. Seeds usually indelinitely numerous. Petals and stamens 

 perigynous. Styles inclined to be distinct. Only the Hydrangieoi have numerous 

 stamens. 



A laiye and polyiiioriihmis onlor, of about 75 genera iinil five or six hundred species, mainly 

 of the cooler jarts of the world, u.speciaily in the noitliein heniisiihere. The Pucilic and 

 the Atlantic States have about the same number of genera, of whicli four or five are peculiar 

 to each. 



TitiBE I. SAXIFKAGK/E. Herbs. Leaves mostly alternate and without distinct stipules. 

 Styles or tips of the carpels distinct and soon divergent. Fruit capsular. 



♦ Ovary with 2 or rarely more cells and jdacentic in the axi.s, or of as many distinct carjicls : 



fruit capsuhir or follicular. 



1. Saxifraga. Stamens 10 (rarely more). Tclala f), dilated. 



2. Boykinla. Slanu us f). FcImIh f), dilated, dccidiu)us. Calyx-tubo adnale to the ovary. 



3. Bolaiidra. Stiimens b. I'etals 5, liliforni-subulate, i)ersistent. Calyx free. 



• ♦ Ovary l-celled, with 2 or 3 jjarietal (or sometimes nearly basal) placentiB alternate with the 



styles or stigmas : no sterile filaments. 



4. Tolmiea. Stamens oidy 3. Calyx long and narrow, gibbous at base. Petals filiform, en- 



tire. Capsule tapering into a stalk-like base. 



5. Tellima. Stamens 10, included. Petals cleft or loljed, rarely entire, conspicuous. Styles 



2 or 3, very short. 



6. Tiarella. Stamens 10 and styles 2 ; both long, filiform and exserted. Petals small, entire, 



in ours inconspicuous and almost filiform. Cai)sule early and very unetjually 2-valved 

 to the base. 



7. Mitella. Stamens 10 or in ours 5, very short. Pet^ds pinnatifid or 3-clefl into capillary 



divisions. Styles very short. Capsule depressed. 



8. Heuchera. Stamens 5, and styles 2, both commonly slender. Petals entire, small, some- 



times minute or none. Capsule ovate, 2-beaked, fully half inferior. 

 CnRYSdSPi.KNiUM, if found in California, may be known by the prostrate habit, want of 

 petals, and obcordate compressed capsule. 

 » ♦ ♦ Ovary l-celled with 3 or 4 parietal placenta' directly under as many (d)tuse sessile stigmas: 

 a cluster of united sterile filaments alternate with the stamens, 

 y. Parnassia. Calyx 5-i»arted. I'etals 5, large. SUunens 5. Flower solitary. 

 TlUBE II. HYDRANC;iE/E. Shrubs. Leaves opposite, simple : no stipules. Fruit capsular. 

 ♦ Stamens 20 or more : seeds numerous. 



10. Philadelphus. Calyx-tube adnate to the 4 - 5-celled ovary. Petals convolute in the bud. 



11. Ccirpenteria. Calyx nearly free from the 5 -7-celled ovary and capsule. 



♦ * Stamens fewer : seeds and ovules solitary in the cells. 



12. Whipplea. Calyx nearly free from the 3 -5-celled ovary : styles distinct. 



Tliiuii III. (UlOSSUIiAHlF.K. Shrubs. Leaves alti-rnate, simple: stijiules adnate to the 

 petiole or wanting. Fruit a berry. 



13. Ribes. Calyx-tube adnate to the 1 -celled ovary : jdacentic 2, parietal, many-seeded. 



1. SAXIFRAGA, Linn. S.^xiKUACiE. 

 Calyx 5-lobed or parted, free, or its tube more or less coherent with the lower 

 part of the ovary. Petals 5, entire, imbricated in the bud, either withering-persist- 

 ent or deciduous. Stamens 10 {rarely more), inserted with ur below the petals ou 



