444 SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY) 



SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY) 



Herbs or shrubs, of various aspect, distinguishable from Rosaceae by having 

 copious albumen in the seeds, opposite as well as alternate leaves, and usually 

 no stipules, the stamens mostly definite, and the carpels commonly fewer than 

 the sepals, either separate or partly so, or all combined into one compound 

 pistil. Calyx either free or adherent, usually persistent or withering away. 

 Stamens and petals almost always inserted on the calyx. Ovules anatropous. 



Tribe I. SAXIFRAGEAE. Herbs. Leaves alternate (rarely opposite in nos. 4, 7, and 8). Fruit 

 dry, capsular or follicular, the styles or tips of the carpels distinct. 



* Ovary 2(rarely 3)-celled with axile placentae, or of as many nearly distinct carpels. 



1. Astilbe. Flowers polygamous, panicled. Stamens (8 or 10) twice as many as the small 



petals. Seeds few. Leaves decompound. 



2. Sullivantia. Flowers perfect. Stamens 5. Calyx nearly free. Seeds wing-margined. 



3. Boykinia. Flowers perfect. Stamens only as many as the petals, which are convolute in 



the bud and deciduous. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary. Seed-coat close. 



4. Saxifraga. Flowers perfect. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Seeds numerous, with a close coat. 



* * Ovary 1 -celled, with 2 parietal placentae alternate with the stigmas. 



5. Tiarella. Calyx nearly free from the slender ovary. Petals entire. Stamens 10. Placentae 



nearly basal. 



6. Heuchera. Calyx bell-shaped, adherent to the ovary below. Petals small, entire. Sta- 



mens 5. 



7. Mitella. Calyx partly adhering to the depressed ovary. Petals small, pinnatifld. Sta- 



mens 10. 



8. Chrysosplenium. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary. Petals none. Stamens 10. 



* * * Ovary 1-celled, with 3-4 parietal placentae opposite the sessile stigmas; glanduliferous scales 

 alternating with the stamens. 



9. Parnassia. Sepals, petals, and proper stamens 5. Peduncle scape-like, 1-flowered. 



Tribe II. HYDRANGEAE. Shrubs. Leaves opposite, simple. Ovary 2-5-celled; the calyx 

 adherent at least to its base. Fruit capsular. 



* Stamens 20-40. 



10. Philadelphia. Calyx-lobes conspicuous. Petals 4-5, convolute in the bud. Filaments 



linear. Styles 3-5. 



11. Decumaria. Calyx-lobes small. Petals 7-10, valvate in the b'ud. Filaments subulate. 



Style 1. 



* * Stamens 8 or 10. 



12. Hydrangea. Calyx -lobes minute in complete flowers. Petals valvate in the bud. 



Tribe III. ESCALLONiEAE. Shrubs. Leaves alternate and simple. Ovary 2-5-celled. Fruit 

 capsular. 



13. Itea. Calyx 5-cleft, free from the 2-celled ovary, which becomes a septicidal capsule. 



Tribe IV. RIBESlEAE. Shrubs. Leaves alternate and simple, with stipules adnate to the 

 petiole or wanting. Fruit a berry. 



14. Ribes. Calyx-tube adnate to the 1-celled ovary. Placentae 2, parietal, many-seeded. 



1. ASTILBE Hamilton. FALSE GOAT'S BEARD 



Flowers dioeciously polygamous. Calyx 4-5-parted, small. Petals 4-5, 

 spatulate, withering-persistent. Ovary almost free, many-ovuled ; styles 2, 

 short. Capsule 2-celled, separating into 2 follicles. Seed-coat loose and thin, 

 tapering at each end. Perennial herbs, with twice or thrice ternately-com- 

 pound ample leaves, cut-lobed and toothed leaflets, and small white or yellowish 

 flowers in spikes or racemes, which are disposed in a compound panicle. (Name 

 composed of d- privative and a-r/XjS?/, sheen, because the foliage is not shining.) 



