608 SAXIFRAGA. Cclass x. ordek ii. 



while flowers indicated that this plant was under the goTernment of the 

 moon, the roots must not, said the astrologer, be gathered, if their full 

 effects were desired, except at the time of that orb being full. We do 

 not, however, now find that under any circumstances the roots of the 

 Saxifrage are of any material benefit; and what little utility they may 

 be of, is to be attributed to the mucilaginous matter which they con- 

 tain, which may prove beneficial in an irritable state of the bladder. 



10. S. cernu'a, Linn. (Fig. 689.) Drooping Bulbous Saxifrage, 

 Stem solitary, erect, simple, or branched, the end single flowered ; 

 radical leaves on long footstalks, kidney-shaped, five to seven lobed, 

 those of the stem sessile, about three lobed, bearing numerous axillary 

 bulbs ; calyx with oblong lanceolate nearly free segments, much 

 shorter than the obovate oblong petals. 



English Botany, t. 664. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 27Jp. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 198. — Leiogyne ceruna, Don. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 68. 



Root of slender long branched fibres, from the base of a small scaly 

 bulb. Stem slender, erect, from three to four inches high, simple, or 

 rarely branched towards the top, and drooping, smooth, or slightly 

 hairy, scarcely glandulous, leafy. Leaves from the root and lower part 

 of the stem on slender footstalks, mostly long, smooth, or slightly 

 downy, alternate, kidney- shaped, deeply lobed in a palmate manner, 

 with more or less acute lobes, smooth, bright green, paler beneath, the 

 upper leaves nearly sessile, deeply lobed almost to the base, those near 

 the top of the stem simple, lanceolate, and bearing in their axis nu- 

 merous small granular bulbs (abortive flowers). Flowers solitary, 

 terminal, drooping, large for the size of the plant. Calyx in five ovate 

 lanceolate somewhat downy and nearly free segments. Corolla of five 

 ovate oblong obtuse or notched petals, beautifully veined in a palmate 

 manner, much longer than the calyx. Stamens with slender Jilaments, 

 and small two celled anthers, yellow. Style imperfect. Capsule 

 rarely perfected. 



Habitat. — Dry rocks on the highest Scotch mountains of the Bread- 

 albane range. Ben Lawers and Craigalleach, but not common. 



Perennial ; flowering from June to August. 



11. S. rivula'ris, Linn. (Fig. 690.) Alpine Brook Saxifrage. Stem 

 weak, ascending, branched, few flowered ; radical leaves on slender 

 footstalks, smooth, from three to five lobed, the upper ones of the stem 

 lanceolate ; calyx half superior, of five ovate segments ; petals ovate, 

 scarcely longer than the calyx ; styles very short ; stigmas capitate. 



English Botany, t. 2275. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 271. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 198. — Leiogyne rivularis, Don. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 68. 



Root with somewhat creeping underground stems, and putting out 

 numerous slender fibres. Stems slender, weak, ascending, mostly 

 downy and simple, or slightly branched at the top, from one to two 



