SAXIFRAGACE^ 151 



Saxifraga ccBspitosa L. 



Much stouter than the last and covered with short, glandular 

 hairs, and never with the procumbent, barren shoots of that 

 species ; the leaves are broader, more obtuse, and more frequently 

 lobed (3-5 segments), and the calyx-lobes are obtuse. The leaves 

 form very dense green tufts, closely packed together. Flowering- 

 stems 2-3 inches high, usually covered with short, glandular, downy 

 hair, and bearing i or 2 white flowers, or occasionally more, in a 

 loose terminal cluster. Flowers smaller than in hypnoid.es, being 

 about twice as long as the obtuse sepals. 



Rocks and stony mountains in Northern and Arctic Europe, and 

 in very small quantity on one or two high Scotch summits. May 

 to July. 



Saxifraga sponhemica Gmel. 



A very protean species, with the habit and lower leaves of 

 S. hypnoides, and like it in sending out long sterile runners. Stem- 

 leaves often trifid ; root-leaves with a narrow petiole, flat, with 

 3-5 Unear-lanceolate divisions, mucronate. Flowers 2-9 in a loose 

 panicle. Sepals lanceolate. Petals oboval, with 3 greenish veins, 

 twice as long as sepals or longer. 



Rocky hills in North- Western and Central Europe, and possibly 

 in Britain, as on Snowdon. June to August. 



Parnassia L. 

 Parnassia palustris L. Grass of Parnassus. (Plate VI.) 



Stem 6-12 inches high with a single perfoliate leaf below the 

 middle, with a solitary terminal flower. Root-leaves rather long- 

 stalked, broadly heart-shaped, acuminate, entire, glabrous. Flowers 

 white, large. Petals obovate, beautifully veined, spreading, twice 

 the length of the sepals, which are ovate and spreading. Imperfect 

 stamens at base of each petal, with a tuft of 10-12 white filaments, 

 each bearing a smaU, yellow, globular gland. Capsule globular, 3-4 

 valved. 



Damp heaths and bogs and wet places from sea-level in England 

 to 8000 feet in the Alps. But mostly sub-alpine. August, September. 



Distribution. — Central and Northern Europe, W. Asia, Thibet, 

 Japan, N. America. Common in Norway to above the birch limit. 



This very beautiful and hardy plant might be much more culti- 

 vated in bogs with heaths, etc., below the rockery. It has dis- 

 appeared from several places in the south of England, but can 

 still be seen within seven miles of the centre of Birmingham. 

 It is very common in Switzerland. 



One simple leaf, an emerald heart, 



Closes around its slender stem ; 

 Not all the witchery of art 



Could fashion such a faultless gem. — Alfred Hayes. 



