SAXIFEAGACEiE. 227 



XXXIII. SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. SAXIFEAGACE^. 



Herbs, or, in exotic genera, trees or shrubs, with alternate 

 or opposite leaves, and no stipules. Calyx free, or more or 

 less adherent to the ovary, with 4 or 5 (rarely more) lobes or 

 segments. Petals as many, perigynous, or none. Stamens as 

 many, or twice as many (rarely more), perigynous. Ovary 

 either adherent or inserted on a broad base, either 2- or 

 4-celled, or 1-celled, with 2 or more parietal placentas, often 

 lobed at the top, with as many (rarely twice as many) styles or 

 stigmas as cells or placentas. Fruit a capsule. Seeds several, 

 usually many, to each cell or placenta ; the albumen usually 

 copious, rarely none. 



An extensive family, ranging over nearly the whole world, and includino' 

 many shrubs and trees, such as the Hydrangeas, Escallonias, Philadel- 

 2}huses CSi/ringasJ, Deiitzias, etc., of our gardens, of which the British her- 

 baceous genera can give very little idea. The cliaracters of the Order are 

 moreover somewhat comj^lieated, there being several exceptions among 

 exotic genera, besides those alluded to in the above general character, and 

 the limits to be assigned to it are by no means satisfactorily settled. The 

 four British genera differ from each other in many essential points, but 

 are all distinguished from the Rose family by the definite stamens and want 

 of stipides, from that and the Crassula family by the carpels united into a 

 single ovary, and from the Lythrum family by the distinct styles and the 

 more adherent ovary. 



Petals none 2. Chetsosplene. 



Petals 5. 



Stamens 10, all beari-g anthers. Styles 2 1. Saxipkage. 



Stamens 5, bearing anthers; 5 barren, with a tuft of globular- 

 headed tilaments. Stigmas -t 3. Pabnassia. 



Stamens 5 only. Styles 6 or 8 (3 or 4, each deeply 2-oleft) . . 4. Sumdew. 



I. SAXZFRAGE. SAXIFEAQA. 



Herbs, either annual or more commonly with a perennial tufted stock, 

 with radical or alternate or rarely opposite leaves, no stipules, and terminal 

 flowers either solitary or in cymes or panicles. Calyx free, or more or less 

 adherent at the base, with 5 teeth or segments. Petals 5. Stamens 10, 

 inserted with the petals at the base of the segments of the calyx. Ovary 

 2-oelled, superior or more or less iioferior, with 2 distinct styles. Seeds 

 several in each cell, with a small embryo in a fleshy albiuuen. 



A numerous genus, consisting chiefly of mountain or rock plants, abun- 

 dant in aU the great mountain-chains of the northern hemisphere, some 

 species ascending to the highest alpine or furthermost Arctic stations, others 

 extend along the great chain of the Andes to tlie Antarctic circle, whilst a 

 few descend to the hot limestone rocks of the Mediterranean region. 



Leaves all opposite and small. Low, spreading plant. Flowers 



purple • • • 1. Fiirple 8. 



Leaves alternate or radical. 

 Flowers yellow. 

 Calyx spreading, adherent at the base. Stem bearing several 

 flowers 2. Telhw S. 



