SAXIFRAGACEJE. 



331 



The small flowers of Lepuropetalon spathulatum 1 are formed nearly 

 as in the Saxifrages, with a deep receptacle lodging a half-inferior 

 ovary in its concavity, and bearing on its edges five sepals, five petals, 

 and five alternipetalous stamens. The placentation is exceptional in 

 this order ; there are three multiovulate parietal placentas in the 

 one-celled ovaiy, with as many branches to the style. The fruit 

 opens above into three triangular flaps, each surmounted by a branch 

 of the style, revealing the seeds inserted on a line continuous with 

 this branch. The seed-coats are rugose outside, and surround the 

 fleshy albumen, with a little axile embryo. This curious annual, of 

 minute size," inhabits the United States and Chili ; it is ramified, 

 glabrous, almost fleshy, with alternate or subopposite exstipulate 

 leaves, and solitary terminal flowers. 



Leptarr/iena* on the contrary, is inform of receptacle and organiza- 

 tion of gynseceum analogous to the Saxifrages with an almost 

 superior ovary and independent carpels. But the ten stamens have 

 one-celled anthers, and the placentas are confined to the lower part 

 of the carpels. These last are in the fruit dry and coriaceous, erect, 

 rostrate, and dehiscing ventrally. The seeds are prolonged into a 

 long narrow point above and below, so as to be very elongated and 

 spindle-shaped. L. pirolifolia R. Br., 4 owes its name to the form of 

 its so-called radical leaves, which are petiolate, coriaceous, persistent, 

 obovate, and serrate. Its flowers are in cymes, ending an erect scape. 

 This plant is found in Kamschatka, and about the same latitude in 

 North America. 



To! mica' represents the irregular form of the preceding types ; the 

 receptacle and perianth together form a cornet cleft right down its 

 anterior edge, with its mouth very obliquely bevelled downwards 

 and forwards. In front it is edged by the two small sepals ; behind 



I 



1 Ell., Carol., i. 370.— DC, Prodr., iv. 53.— 

 Endl.. Gen., n. 4637.— B. H., Gen., 639, n. 

 18. — Cn/plopetahtm pusillum Hook. & Arn., 

 Pot. Misc., iii. 314. 



2 It is sometimes a centimetre in height, with 

 a single terminal flower that appears almost 

 radical, and several subjacent leaves, usually 

 covered with little elongated brownish glands. 

 In other cases, branches, also ending in a flower, 

 develope in the axils of these leaves, and so on. 

 Specimens occur wherein the solitary flower alone 



forms above half the bulk of the aerial part of 

 the plant. 



3 II. Br., in Parry's First Voy., Suppl., 273, 

 obs. — DC, Prodr., iv. 48. — Ejsdl., Gen., n. 

 4635.— B. H., Gen., 634, n. 3. 



4 Loc. cit.— Hook., Fl. Bor.-Amer., i. t. 89. — 

 Walp., Rep., v. 827. — Saxifraga pirifolia 

 Sternb., Saxifr., Suppl., t. 2. 



5 Torr. & Gray, Fl. N.-Amer., i. 582 (nee 

 Hook.). — Endl., Gen., u. 4639 1 . — B. H., Gen., 

 638, n. 15. 



