Chrysosplenu-m. SAXIFRAGACE.-E. 259 



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



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

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

 sk. 1. p. 511 ; Torr. ft. 1. p. 445 ; Bigel. ft. Bast. p. 154, not of Linn. 



Root perennial. Stems spreading and often forming a dense mat ; the flowering branches 

 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 w?" 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 

 p,ointed out the difference between the two species. 



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

 from the summit of ea^h cell. Statnens as many as the petals (or numerous in 

 Fothergilla) and lobes of the adherent calyx. 



Order XL VII. HAMAMELACE J^. R. Br. The Witch-hazel Tribe. 



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

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

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

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

 Ovary comfx^scd of 2 united carpels, the summit free from the calyx : styles 

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

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

 Shrubs or small trees, with alternate simj)Ie feather-veined leaves and deciduous 

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



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