VOL. II.] SAXIFRAGE FAMILY, 



2. Mitella nuda L,. Stoloniferous or 



Naked Bishop's Cap or Mitrewort. 



(Fig. 1849.) 



Mitella nuda L. Sp. PI. 408. 1753. 



Stem usually stoloniferous, scape erect, very 

 slender, pubescent, 3 / -7 / high. Basal leaves reni- 

 form-orbicular, obtuse, cordate at the base, crenate 

 or doubly crenate, i'-i%' wide, pubescent with 

 scattered hairs on both sides; stem-leaves usually 

 none; flowers pedicelled, greenish, about 2 /x broad; 

 capsule similar to that of the preceding species. 



In cold woods and peat-bogs, Newfoundland and 

 Labrador to the Pacific coast, south to New England, 

 Pennsylvania, Michigan, and in the Canadian Rocky 

 Mountains. Ascends to 3000 ft. in the Adirondacks. 

 Also in northeastern Asia. April-June, or blooming 

 again in the autumn. 



8. CHRYSOSPLENIUM L,. Sp. PI. 398. 1753. 



Low decumbent or erect somewhat succulent mainly semi-aquatic herbs, with petioled 

 opposite or alternate crenate leaves, with no stipules. Flowers minute, greenish, axillary or 

 terminal, solitary or clustered, perfect. Calyx-tube urn-shaped or obconic, adnate to the 

 ovary, its limb 4-5-lobed. Petals none. Stamens 8-10 (rarely 4-5 ), inserted on the margin of 

 a disk; filaments short. Ovary i-celled, flattish, 2-lobed; styles 2, short, recurved; ovules oo. 

 Capsule membranous, short, inversely cordate or 2-lobed, 2-valved above, few or many-seeded. 

 Seed-coat muricate or pilose. [Greek, golden spleen, from some reputed medicinal quality.] 



About 15 species, natives of the north temperate zone and southern South America. Besides 

 the following, 2 others occur in northwestern America. 



Lower leaves opposite ; flowers mostly solitary. 

 Leaves all alternate; flowers corymbose. 



1. C. Americanum. 



2. C. alternifolium . 



i. Chrysosplenium Americanum Schwein. 

 Golden Saxifrage. Water Carpet. (Fig. 1850.) 



Chrysosf>lenium oppositifolium Walt. Fl. Car. 140. 1788. Not L. 

 C. Americanum Schwein.; Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 242. 1832. 



Stems slender, decumbent, forked above, glabrous or very 

 nearly so, 3'-8' long. Lower leaves opposite, the upper often 

 alternate, broadly ovate, orbicular or somewhat reuiform, ob- 

 tuse or truncate at the base, rounded at the apex, crenate or 

 obscurely lobed, 2 // -io // wide; flowers sessile, axillary, usu- 

 ally solitary, about i" broad; calyx-lobes commonly 4, yel- 

 lowish, or purplish within; stamens commonly 8; anthers 

 orange-red. 



In wet, shaded places, Nova Scotia to the Saskatchewan region, 

 south, along the mountains to Georgia, and to Ohio, Michigan and 

 Minnesota. March-June. 



2. Chrysosplenium alternifolium L,. Alternate- 

 leaved Golden Saxifrage. (Fig. 1851.) 



Chrysosplenium alternifolium L. Sp. PI. 398. 1753. 



Flowering stems erect, glabrous or pubescent, 2 / -6 / high, 

 branched above. Leaves all alternate, the basal ones long- 

 petioled, reniform, or cordate, often pubescent on the upper sur- 

 face, 3 // -i8 // wide, or crenate with 5-11 rather broad lobes; 

 flowers mainly terminal, corymbose; calyx-lobes commonly 4, 

 orange-yellow within; stamens usually 8. 



Decorah, Iowa (according to S. Watson), and in arctic America, 

 south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and to British Columbia. 

 Also in northern Europe and Asia. May-June. 



