SAXIFRAGACE^. (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY.) 109 



Tribe IV. RIBESIE^E. Shrubs. Leaves alternate and simple, with stipules adnate 



to the petiole or wanting. Fruit a berry. 

 14. Kibes. Calyx-tube adnate to the 1-celled ovary. Placentas 2, parietal, many-seeded. 



1. ASTILBE, Don. FALSE GOATSBEARD. 



Flowers dioaciously polygamous. Calyx 4-5-parted, small. Petals 4-5, 

 spatulate, small, withering-persistent. Stamens 8 or 10. Ovary 2-celled, almost 

 free, many-ovuled ; styles 2, short. Capsule 2-celled, separating into 2 follicles, 

 each ripening few seeds. Seed-coat loose and thin, tapering at each end. 

 Perennial herbs, with twice or thrice ternately-compound ample leaves, cut-lobed 

 and toothed leaflets, and small white or yellowish flowers in spikes or racemes, 

 which are disposed in a compound panicle. (Name composed of d- privative 

 and O-TI'ATJ, a bright surface, because the foliage is not shining.) 



1. A. decandra, Don. Somewhat pubescent (3-5 high); leaflets 

 mostly heart-shaped ; petals minute or wanting in the fertile flowers ; stamens 

 10. Rich woods ; mountains of S. W. Va. to N. C. and Ga. Closely imitating 

 Spiraea Aruncus, but coarser. 



2. SAXIFBAGA, L. SAXIFRAGE. 



Calyx either free from or cohering with the base of the ovary, 5-cleft or 

 parted. Petals 5, entire, imbricated in the bud, commonly deciduous. Sta- 

 mens 10. Styles 2. Capsule 2-beaked, 2-celled, opening down or between the 

 beaks, or sometimes 2 almost separate follicles. Seeds numerous, with a close 

 coat. Chiefly perennial herbs, with the root-leaves clustered, those of the stem 

 mostly alternate. (Name from saxum, a rock, and frango, to break ; many 

 species rooting in the clefts of rocks.) 



* Stems prostrate, in tufts, leafy ; leaves opposite ; calyx free from the capsule. 



1. S. Oppositif61ia, L. (MOUNTAIN SAXIFRAGE.) Leaves fleshy, ovate, 

 keeled, ciliate, imbricated on the sterile branches (1-2" long): flowers soli- 

 tary, large ; petals purple, obovate, much longer than the 5-cleft-calyx. 

 Rocks, Willoughby Mountain, Vt., and northward. (Eu.) 



* * Stems ascending ; leaves alternate, calyx coherent below with the capsule. 



2. S. rivularis, L. (ALPINE BROOK-S.) Small; stems weak, 3-5- 

 flowered; lower leaves rounded, 3- 5-lobed, on slender petioles, the upper lan- 

 ceolate ; petals white, ovate Alpine region of the White Mts., to Lab. (Eu.) 



3. S. aizoides, L. (YELLOW MOUNTAIN-S.) Low (3-5' high), in tufts, 

 with few or several corymbose flowers; leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, fleshy, 

 distantly spinulose-ciliate ; petals yellow, spotted with orange, oblong. N. Vt. 

 to S. W. New York, N. Mich., and northward. June. (Eu.) 



4. S. tricuspidata, Retz. Stems tufted (4 - S' high), naked above ; flow- 

 ers corymbose , leaves oblong or spatulate, with 3 rigid sharp teeth at the summit ; 

 petals obovate-oblong, yellow. Shore of L. Superior, and northward. (Eu.) 



# * # Leaves clustered at the root ; scape many-flowered , erect, clammy-pubescent. 



H- Petals all alike. 



5. S. Aiz6on, Jacq. Scape 5-10' high; leaves persistent, thick, spa tula te, 

 with white cartilaginous toothed margins; calyx partly adherent ; ^petals oh- 



