SAXIPHAGAXJE*. 75 



Order XXXIII. SAXIPRAGA'CEiE. (Saxifrage F.) 



Herbs or shrubs, distinguished from Eosacese chiefly in 

 having opposite as well as alternate leaves, and usually no 

 stipules; stamens only as many or twice as many as the 

 (usually 5) petals ; and the carpels fewer than the petals 

 (-mostly 2), and usually more or less united with each other. 

 Stamens and petals generally inserted on the calyx. 



Syiioitsi!! of the Genera. 



1. Rl'bes. Shrubs, sometimes prickly, with alternate and palmately- 



veined and lobed leaves, which are plaited in the hud. Calyx 

 5-lobed, the tube adherent to the ovary (superior). Petals 5, small, 

 Inserted on the calyx. Stamens 5. Styles 2. Frnit a many -seeded 

 J berry. 



2. Pnrnas'sla. Smooth herbs, with entire and chiefly radical leaves, 

 J; and solitai'y flowers terminating the long scapes. Petals .5, large, 



veiny, each loith a cluster of sterilejilaments at the base. Proper 

 stamens 5. Stigmas i. Pod 4-valved. Calyx free from the 

 ovary. 



3. Saxirraga. Herbs with cltistered root-leaves. Flowers In close 



cymes. Calyx-lobes hardly adherent to the ovary. Petals 5. 

 Stamens 10. Fi-uit a pair of follicles, slightly united at the base. 



4. mitel'Ia. Low and slender hei'bs, with round-heart-shaped radical 



leaves, tlwse on tJie scape (if any ) opposite. Flowers in terminal 

 racemes. Calyxi-lobed, adherenttothebaseof tbeovary. Petals 

 5, slender, p«««af«^d. Stamens 10, sAorJ. Styles 2. Poda-beaked, 

 butl-celled. 



5. Tlarel'Ia. Slender hei'bs, with radical heart-shaped leaves, and 



leafless scapes, bearing a simple raceme of flowers. Calyx bell- 

 shaped, .'i-parted. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 10, long and slender. 

 Pod 2-valved, tlie valves unequal, 



C. Heii'cbera. Perennial herbs with I'ound- heart -shaped radical 

 leaves ; those on the stem (if any) alternate. Greenish or purple 

 flowers, clustered in a long narrow panicle. Petals 5, small, 

 spathulate, entire. Stamens 5. Styles 2. Pod 2-beaked. 



7. Chrysosplc'iiliini. Small and smooth herbs, with mostly opposite 

 roundish leaves. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary. Petals none. 

 Stamens twrice as many a."! the calyx-lobes (8-10), inserted on a 

 conspicuous disk. Pod 2-lobed. 



1. RI'BES, L. CUBRAHT. SOOSBBERRY. 



1. R. Cynos'bati, L. (Wild Qoosbekrry.) Stem with 

 small thorns at the bases of the leaves, the latter downy, on 



