SAXIFRAGACE^E. (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY.) 141 



4. S. TELEPHIUM, L. (GARDEN ORPINE or LIVE-FOR-EVUR.) Steins 

 erect (2 high), stout; leaves oval, sen-ate, obtuse, toothed; cymes compound; 

 petals purple, oblong-lanceolate ; pods abruptly pointed with a short style. Rocks 

 and banks, escaped from cultivation, and spontaneous in some places. (Adv. 

 from Eu.) 



5. ACRE, L., the MOSSY STONE-CROP or WALL-PEPPER, of Europe, cul- 

 tivated for edgings, has become spontaneous in a few places near Boston. 



S. RHOD!OLA, a dioecious species, is indigenous in New Brunswick and 

 northward ; and therefore may grow in Maine. 



3. PtUVTHORUM, Gronov. DITCH STONE-CROP. 



Sepals 5. Petals rare, if any. Stamens 10. Pistils 5, united below, forming 

 a 5-angled, 5-homed, and 5-celled pod, which opens by the falling off of the 

 beaks, many-seeded. Upright weed-like perennials (not fleshy like the rest of 

 the family), with scattered leaves, and yellowish-green flowers loosely spiked 

 along the upper side of the naked branches of the cyme. (Name from TreVre, 

 Jive, and opos, a rule or mode, probably from the quinary order of the flower.) 



1. P. scdoides, L. Leaves lanceolate, acute at both ends. "Wet places, 

 everywhere. July -Oct. About 1 high, homely. 



SEMPERVIVUM TECTORUM, L., is the cultivated HOUSE-LEEK. 



ORDER 50. SAXIFRAGACE^E. (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with the pistils mostly fewer than the petals or divisions of 

 the calyx (usually 2, united below and separate or separating at the top) ; 

 and the petals witli the (mostly 4-10) stamens inserted on the calyx, which is 

 either free or more or less adherent to *\e 1 - ^-celled ovary. Calyx with- 

 ering-persistent. Petals rarely none. Stamens sometimes indefinitely 

 numerous. Pods several -many-seeded. Seeds small, anatropous, with a 

 slender embryo in fleshy albumen. A large family, of which we have 

 three of the suborders. 



SUBORDER I. SAXIFRAGES. THE TRUE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 



Herbs ; the petals imbricated or rarely convolute in the bud. Calyx 

 free or partly adherent. Stipules none or adherent to the petiole. 



* Pod 2-celled, 2-beaked, rarely 3-4-celled and beaked or pods 2 or 3. 

 - Stamens twice as many as the petals or sepals, 10, rarely 8. 



1. ASTILBE. Flowers polygamous. Seeds few, and with a loose coat. Leaves decompound. 



2. SAXIi'RAGA. Flowers perfect. Pod or follicles many -seeded Seed-coat close. 



<- -- Stamens as many as the petals or sepals, namely 5. 



8. BOYKINIA. Calyx-tube top-shaped, coherent with the ovary. Seed-coat close, rough. 



4. SCLLIVANTIA. Calyx bell-shaped, nearly free from the ovary. Seeds wing-margined. 



* * Pod one-celled with 2 parietal placentae. 



- Stamens as many as the lobes of the calyx, namely 5. 

 ft- HEUCHERA. Calyx bell-shaped, coherent with the ovary below. Petals small, entire. 



