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SAXlFRAGEiF, 



polysymmctric and generally 5-merr)us /7('7fit';-,i- ; sepals 5, rarely 

 4, united at the base, and generally partlyadherent to the carpels ; 

 petals equal in ninnber and alternate to the sepals, imbricate, or 

 rarely absent ; stamens 4 — 10, perig\-nous ; carpels usually 2, 

 rarely 3 — 4, united below ; styles usually distinct ; ovules many ; 

 fniit of two follicles, a i — 2-chambered capsule, or a berry. 

 Most members of the Order have slightly astringent properties, 

 and some few are bitter and tonic. Se\-eral species of the genus 

 Ribes have berries with an agreeable acid flavour ; others are 

 mawkish. The extensive genus Saxifraga contains many tufted 

 mountain plants that contribute greatly'to the beauty of alpine 

 vegetation. 



1, S.\xiFR.\G.4. — Herbs ;/(•/(?/_? 5; stamejis 10, rarely 5; ovarv 

 2-chambered; styles 2. 



2. Chryscsplknium. — Small succulent herbs: petals absent; 

 stamens 8 or lo ; ovary i-chambered; stvles 2. 



3. P.ARN.\ssi.\. — Herbs ; floivers large, solitarv ; petals 5 ; 

 stamens 5, with fi\"e alternating staminodes ; ovarx r-chambered ; 

 stigmas 3 or 4. 



4, Rl'cES. — Shrubs : petals 4 or 5 ; stamens 4 or 5 ; ovarv 

 I -chambered ; styles 2 \ fruit a berry. 



I. S.axi'fraca (Saxifraga). — Herbs, mostly perennial ; a'ves 

 both radical and cauline, with sheathing /(•<'/()/('x ; flowers in cymes, 

 white, yellow, or rarely purple or red ; sepals 5, imbricate ; petals 

 5 ; stamens 10, rarely 5 ; earpels 2, united below, forming a superior. 



