166 SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 



* * Leaves clustered ; flowers more or less showy ; ovaries 2, or sometimes 

 3-4, almost separate, becoming as many nearly distinct pods. Exotic 

 species cult, for ornament. 



S. crassifdi/a, Linn. THICK-LEAVED S. Cult, from Siberia ; very smooth, 

 with fleshy and creeping or prostrate rootstocks, sending up thick, round- 

 ish-obovate, nearly evergreen leaves, 6'-9' long, and scapes (bracted mid- 

 way) bearing an ample, at first compact cyme of large, bright, rose-colored 

 flowers, in early spring. Sold also as S. SIBIRICA and S. CUNEIF6LIA. 



S. sarmentbsa, Linn. BEEFSTEAK S., also called STRAWBERRY GERA- 

 NIUM. Cult, from China and Japan as a house-plant, not quite hardy N. ; 

 rather hairy, with rounded heart-shaped or kidney-shaped and doubly 

 toothed leaves of fleshy texture, purple underneath, green-veined or 

 mottled with white above, on shaggy petioles, from their axils sending 

 off slender strawberry-like runners ; scapes bearing a light, very open 

 panicle of irregular flowers, with three of the petals small rose-pink and 

 yellow-spotted, and two much longer and nearly white ones lanceolate 

 and hanging. 



2. ASTILBE. (Name means not shining.} Flowers summer. ^ 



A. decandra, Don. A tall, rather pubescent herb, 3-5 high, imitat- 

 ing Spiraea Aruncus in appearance, but coarser ; leaflets of the decom- 

 pound leaves mostly heart-shaped, cut-toothed (2'-4' long) ; flowers 

 greenish-white, with petals inconspicuous or absent. Rich woods along 

 the Alleghanies from Va. S. 



A. Japdnica, Gray (or HOTE!A JAPONICA). Only l-2 high, with leaf- 

 lets of the thrice-ternate leaves lance-ovate or oblong, and crowded white 

 flowers of considerable beauty. Japan. 



3. TIARELLA, FALSE MITER WORT. (From tiara, a turban.) 11 



T. cordif61ia, Linn. Our only species, in rocky woods, especially N. ; 

 a low and hairy herb, spreading by summer leafy runners ; leaves 

 rounded heart-shaped, sharply lobed and toothed; flowers in a short 

 raceme on a leafless scape, bright white, in spring. 



4. MITELLA, MITER WORT, BISHOP'S CAP. (Name means a 

 little mitre, from the shape of the 2-cleft ovary and young pod.) Deli- 

 cate plants of moist woods, especially N. ; spreading by summer leafy 

 runners or rootstocks ; flowers late spring and early summer. Jl 



M. diphylla, Linn. COMMON or TWO-LEAVED M. Hairy, with 

 rounded heart-shaped and somewhat 3-5-lobed root-leaves on slender 

 petioles, and a pair of opposite, nearly sessile leaves on the scape below 

 the slender raceme of many white flowers. 



M. nuda, Linn. NAKED-STALKED M. A delicate little plant, with 

 roundish kidney-shaped doubly crenate leaves, and leafless scape (4M>' 

 high) bearing a few greenish blossoms. 



5. PARNASSIA, GRASS OF PARNASSUS. (Named for Mt. Par- 

 nassus.') Wild on wet banks ; the large white flower handsome, in 

 summer and autumn. 2Z 



P. Caroliniana, Michx. The only common species ; has the scape or 

 stem l-2 high, bearing one clasping leaf low down, and terminated with 

 a flower over 1' broad, the many- veined petals sessile, with 3 stout, small, 

 sterile filaments before each. Throughout. 



P. asarif61ia, Vent. Along the Alleghanies S. ; has rather kidney- 

 shaped leaves, and petals narrowed at base into a short claw ; otherwise; 

 like the first. 



