SAXIFEAGACE^. 231 



less clothed with a glandular down. Radical leaves very small, entire, and 

 stalked. Stem-leaves either entire and linear-oblong or more frequently 3- 

 lobed. Flowers small, white, growing singly on ratlier long pedicels. Calyx 

 adherent, with ovate segments not half so long as the petals. 



On walls and rocks, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from the 

 Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. Frequent in England, Ireland, and 

 southern Scotland, less so further north, especially on the western side. 

 Fl. spring and early summer. 



10. Alpine Saxifrage. Saxifraga nivalis, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 440.) 



Perennial stock short and simple, but thick and hard, crowned with a 

 tuft of spreachng, obovate, toothed leaves, rather thick and leathery, and nar- 

 rowed into a stalk at the base. Stems simple, erect, 2 to 5 inches high, 

 slightly hairy in the upper part, leafless, or with 1 or 2 small leaves close 

 under the flowers. These are small, collected together in little terminal 

 heads. Calyx adherent to about halfway up the ovary, with shortly oblong 

 sjjreading segments, about the length of the obovate, white petals. 



In the mountains of northern and Arctic Europe and Asia, and on the 

 highest of the Sudetan mountains in Bohemia. Not imcommon in the 

 Scotch mountains, and found also, but much more sparingly, in the Lake 

 districts of northern England, and in North Wales. Fl. summer. 



11. Star Saxifrage. Saxifraga stellaris, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 167.) 



A perennial, but the stock is small, and has often an annual appearance ; 

 it is crowned by one or more tufts of spreading leaves, rather thin, varying 

 from oblong to obovate, with a few coarse teeth, and tapering at the base. 

 Wlien luxuriant these tufts are elongated into leafy branches of 1 or 2 

 inches. Stems erect, 3 to 6 inches, leafless, except a small, leafy bract 

 under each pedicel. Flowers from 2 or 3 to 8 or 10, rather small, white and 

 starlike, on slender, spreading pedicels, forming a loose terminal panicle. 

 Calyx fi-ee almost to the base, the segments closely reflexed on the pedicel. 

 Petals narrow and spreading. Capsule rather large, with 2 diverging beaks. 



On wet rocks, and along rivulets and springs, in all the mountain-ranges 

 of Europe and Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, 

 and also in northern America. Frequent in the Scotch Higlilands, and 

 foimd also in the mountains of northern England, North Wales, and Ire- 

 land. 



12. Iiondon-pride Saxifrage. Saxifraga umbrosa, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 663, and Suppl. t. 2891. London Pride. St. Patrick's Cabbage, 



None-so-pretty.) 

 Perennial stock shortly branched, crowned by the spreading leaves, form- 

 ing dense tufts, which in om- gardens will attain near a foot in diameter. 

 Leaves rather thick and leathery, usually glabrous, obovate, an inch or more 

 in length, bordered with cartilaginous crenatures or coarse teeth, and nar- 

 rowed at the base into a short, more or less flattened stalk, ciliated at the 

 edges. Stems erect, leafless, 6 mches to a foot high. Flowers small, pink, 

 elegantly spotted with a darker colour, in a loose, slender panicle. Calyx 

 free, with short segments closely reflected on the pedicel. Petals much 

 longer, ovate or oblong, and spreading. 



