162 OUE ROCK-GARDEN 



saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium a plant 

 to be found on boggy ground fairly commonly 

 in Scotland and much more rarely in England. 

 The golden saxifrages we have two of them in 

 Britain are closely allied botanically to the other 

 saxifrages, though one or two differences in structure 

 suffice to place them in a separate genus. The 

 second golden saxifrage, C. oppositifolium, is very 

 similar to the plant we illustrate, and it is a plant 

 of more frequent occurrence. The distinction that 

 at once enables us to discriminate between them 

 is conveyed in their specific titles, the alternate- 

 leaved and the opposite-leaved : in the plant we 

 figure, the leaves being arranged singly on the 

 stem, while in the other they are always in pairs. 

 The generic name, Greek in its construction, was 

 bestowed on the plants by Linneus, and signifies 

 the golden plant that is a medicine for the spleen. 

 Gerard, we see, says that " the vertues of the 

 golden Saxifrage are yet vnto vs vnknowne, not- 

 withstanding I am of this minde that it is a singular 

 wound herbe, equall with Sanicle." Why he should 

 be " of this minde " he gives us no inkling of. It 

 would appear to be what schoolboys call a "shot," 

 not even rising to the dignity of a happy guess. 



The two golden saxifrages are each great lovers 

 of moist ground, and those who would cultivate 

 them must give good heed to this or they will 

 find them quickly perishing. We have had both, 



