SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. Saxifragaceae. 



SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. Saxifragaceae. 



A large family, almost all herbs, living usually in tern- 

 perate regions. They have no very peculiar characteristics 

 and resemble the Rose Family, but sometimes their leaves 

 are opposite, usually they have no stipules and have fewer 

 stamens than Roses, not more than twice as many as the 

 sepals, and usually the pistils, from two to five in number, 

 with distinct styles, are united to form a compound ovary, 

 which is superior or partly inferior; sepals usually five; 

 petals four, five, or rarely none, alternate with the sepals; 

 petals and stamens borne on the calyx; fruit a dry pod or 

 berry, containing numerous seeds. The Latin name means 

 "rock breaker," as many grow among rocks. 



There are several kinds of Parnassia, of north temperate 

 and arctic regions; smooth perennials; leaves toothless, 

 almost all from the root; flowers single; sepals five; petals 

 five, each with a cluster of sterile filaments, tipped with 

 glands, at the base; fertile stamens five, alternate with the 

 petals; ovary superior, or partly inferior, with a very short 

 style, or none, usually with lour stigmas; fruit a capsule, 

 containing numerous winged seeds. These plants were 

 called Grass of Parnassus by Dioscorides, but are not grass- 

 like. They resemble the other members of this family so 

 little that they have been made into a separate family by 

 some botanists. 



A charming plant, with several slender 



stems, about a foot tall, springing from a 



Pamdssia large cluster of handsome, very smooth, 



fimbriata glossy leaves. The flowers are about an 



White inch across and have cream-white petals, 



delicately veined with green and prettily 

 Northwest 



fringed towards the base, and pale yellow 



anthers. At the base of each petal there is a queer little 

 stiff cluster of sterile filaments, like a tiny green hand. 

 This grows on banks of streams and in moist places, 

 reaching an altitude of eleven thousand feet. P. Califor- 

 nica is similar, but the petals not fringed. 



There are several kinds of Leptasea, perennials, with 

 alternate, thick or stiffish leaves; flowers white or yellow, 

 single or in terminal clusters; sepals five; petals five, with 

 claws or claw-like bases ; stamens ten ; ovary mostly superior. 



