232 THE SAXIFEAGE FAMILY. 



In shady places, in Portugal, western Spain, and the higher Pyrenees, 

 and reappearing in south-western Ireland. Cultivated from an early period 

 in our gardens, it appears to have established itself in some localities in 

 northern England and south-western Scotland. Fl. early summer. 



13. Kidney Saxifrage. Saxifraga Geum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1561, and Suppl. t. 2893.) 



Closely allied to the London-pride S. in its habit and flowers, this spe- 

 cies only differs in its leaves, which are oi-hicular, usually notched or cordate 

 at the base, with long stalks, less flattened than in the last species, and usually 

 very hairy ; the leaves themselves also have often a few scattered hairs on 

 both surfaces. 



The geographical range is the same as that of the London-pride S., but 

 it appears generally to prefer lower altitudes. FL early summer. Specimens 

 in some naeasure intermediate between this and the last species, with the 

 leaves orbicular or nearly so, but not cordate, and the stalk somewhat flat- 

 tened, have been gathered near Killarney. They have been pubhshed as 

 species, under the names of S. liirsuta (Eng. Bot. t. 2322) and S. elegans 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2892), whilst others consider them as hybrids. In 

 favour of the latter supposition there appears to be but Uttle evidence, and 

 they are probably mere varieties of the kidney S. 



II. CHRYSOSPLENE. CHEYSOSPLENIUM. 



Delicate herbs, perennial and creeping at the base ; the short flowering 

 stems ascending, and often of a golden yeUow at the top ; with orbicular 

 leaves, no stipules, and small yellow flowers, in short, leafy terminal cymes. 

 Calyx adherent, with 4, or rarely 5, short, free segments. Petals none. 

 Stamens 8, rarely 10, inserted at the base of the calyx-segments. Ovary 

 adherent to near the top, where it is divided into 2 short, conical lobes, 

 each with a short style, and surrounded by a crenated disk within the 

 stamens. Capsule 1-celled, opening at the top in 2 short valves. Seeds 

 several, attached to 2 parietal placentas. Albumen copious, with a small 

 embryo. 



A small genus, spread over the temperate and colder regions of both the 

 northern and southern hemispheres. 



leaves opposite 1. Opposite C. 



Leaves alternate 2. Alternate C, 



1. Opposite Chrysosplene. Chrysospleniunx oppositifoliiuu, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 490. Golden Saxifrage.) 



The loose, leafy tufts often spread to a considerable extent ; the stems 

 scarcely rising above 4 or 5 inches from the ground, simple or forked near 

 the top. Leaves aU opposite, 3 or 4 to 6 or 8 lines in diameter, slightly 

 erenat«d or sinuate, and notched at the base, with a few stiff hairs on the 

 upper siu-face. Flowers small and sessile, in httle, compact cymes, sur- 

 roimded by leaves hke those of the stem, but smaller, more sessUe, and 

 often of a golden yellow. Calyx-segments obtuse and spreading. 



In moist, shady places, along the sides of rivtdets, dispersed over the 

 greater part of Europe and Russian Asia. Abimdant in Britain. Fl. spring. 



