CiiRYsosPLENiuM. SAXIFRAGACE^. 259 



roundish-ovate, obscurely crenate-lobed ; flowers dichotomal, distant, nearly sessile. — 

 Schweinitz, mss. ; Hook. Jl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 242; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 270; Torr. ^ Gr. 

 fl. N. Am. 1. p. 5S9. C. opposilifolium, Michx. fl.l. p. 269 ; Pursh, fl. \. p. 299 ; Ell. 

 sk. 1. p. 511 ; Torr.fl. 1. p. 445 ; Bigel. fl. Best. p. 154, not oi Linn. 



Root perennial. Stems spreading and often forming a dense mat; the flowering branch':? 

 sometimes assurgent. Leaves about half an inch in diameter, often broader than long, abruptly 

 narrowed at the base into a distinct petiole. Flowers scarcely more than 2 lines in diameter, 

 on very short pedicels in the uppermost forks of the stem, and terminal. Calyx mostly 4- 

 clcft, green and slightly purple inside. Stamens mostly 8, very short : filaments inserted into 

 the indentations of the purplish disk : anthers at first orange-red, at length turning brown. 

 Styles divaricate. Capsule dehiscent between the two short beaks. Seeds 10 - 12, hispid, 

 brownish. 



About springs and in brooks, usually in shady places ; common. April - May. This 

 species was for a long time regarded as the C. opposilifolium of Europe. The latter is, 

 however, a much stouter plant, with larger yellow flowers. The late Mr. Schweinitz first 

 pointed out tlu difference between the two species. 



Group 17. Ovary compound, 2- (rarely 3 - 5-) celled, with a single ovule suspended 

 from the summit of each cell. Sta?nens as many as the petals (or numerous in 

 Fothergilla) and lohes of the adherent cahj.x. 



Order XL VII. HAMAMELACE^E. R. Br. The Witcii-iiazel Tribe. 



Calyx 4 - 5-cleft;, or with 5-7 obscure teeth ; the tube more or less adherent. 

 Petals 4-5, long and narrow, rarely wanting. Stamens either twice the 

 number of the petals, the alternate ones sterile and scale-like ; or (in Fother- 

 gilla) numerous and all fertile : cells of the anthers opening by valves. 

 Ovary composed of 2 united carpels, the summit free from the calyx : styles 

 2, distinct. Capsules cartilaginous or bony, 2-beaked, 2-celled, dehiscent at 

 the summit. Seeds bony. Embryo straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen. — 

 Shrubs or small trees, with alternate simple feather-veined leaves and deciduous 

 stipules. Flowers often polygamous, in sessile fascicles or heads. 



33* 



