Saxifrages A stilb e. 



179 



flowers are small, pure white, in large branching racemose 

 panicles ; branches red. It blooms in the open air towards the 

 end of May ; but its chief value is for forcing for conservatory 

 and window decoration. A native of Nepal and Japan. 



Two or three other species are less frequently grown : 

 A. decdndra, about two feet high, with biternate leaves and 

 white flowers, from Carolina ; A. rivularis, with reddish flowers, 

 from Nepal. Heuckera, Mitella^ and Tiarella are allied 

 genera of less interest, with rose or white flowers. 



2. SAXIFBAGA. 



Perennial or annual herbs, of various habit. Leaves small 

 and rosulate or rarely large, with sheathing petioles. Calyx- 

 tube short or long, free or adnate to the base of the ovary, 

 5-lobed. Petals 5, rarely unequal, sometimes fringed or glan- 

 dular, perigynous or nearly hypogynous. Stamens 10, rarely 

 5, inserted with the petals. Capsule 2-celled, with 2 beaks, 

 seeds numerous. About 160 species, chiefly from the moun- 

 tains of the north temperate zone 

 and arctic regions, a few extend- 

 ing to South America. The name 

 is from the Latin saxum, a stone 

 or rock, and frango, to break, 

 from the reputed property of 

 some species to break stone in 

 the bladder, or the rocks they 

 grow upon. 



1. S. crassifolia (fig. 96). 

 About a foot high, with dark 

 green glossy leaves and pink or 

 purplish flowers, rarely exceeding 

 the leaves, and appearing in 

 March. This is a native of 

 Siberia, and a common plant in 

 gardens. S. ligulata, 8. ciliata; 

 and S. cordifolia belong to this 

 group. The first has strap-shaped 

 glabrous fringed leaves and red 

 or white flowers in May, and is Fi 

 a native of Nepal ; the second, 

 from the same country, has roundish hirsute and ciliate leaves 

 and purplish flowe rs ; and the third has deeply cordate leaves 



K 2 



Saxifraga crasBifolia . (inat . siz e.) 



