80 TYPICAL FLOWERS OF ALPINE PASTURES 



both yellow and about the same length, so that at 

 first sight the flower appears to have ten petals. 



The Star-leaved Saxifrage {S. stellaris, Linn.) has 

 thin egg-shaped or oblong leaves, toothed at the top, 

 and borne in tufts near the ground, while the flower- 

 ing shoots are entirely destitute of leaves. A small 

 flower-leaf or bract is found at the base of each flower- 

 stalk. The petals are white, two yellow spots 

 occurring on each. It is a British plant, not 

 uncommon in our mountains. 



The Saxifrages last mentioned, and also the Eound- 

 leaved Saxifrage {S. rotundifolia, Linn.), are members 

 of this genus which love damp, shady spots, and thus 

 difier in their choice of habitat from many of the 

 other Alpine species, which flourish on dry stony 

 ground, or on exposed rocky ledges. This difi'erence 

 is indicated by their leaves, which are much larger 

 and thinner. 



The Kound-leaved Saxifrage [S. rotundifolia, Linn.) 

 has large, thin, heart- or kidney-shaped leaves, lobed 

 and toothed, and white petals spotted with yellow 

 and red. It is often a foot or more in height 

 and much branched. The numerous flowering shoots 

 bear leaves similar to those below, but smaller. The 

 flowers of the Eound-leaved Saxifrage are interesting 

 from the manner in which the stamens shed their 

 pollen, one by one — a peculiarity which is, however, 

 shared by many other plants, including the Grass-of- 

 Parnassus (p. 216). When the flower first opens, the 

 stamens are as yet unripe, and they bend backwards 



