Part 11. SAXIFRAGA. 319 



SAXIFRAGA JtTNIPEEINA.— 7««z>>«r Saxifrage. 



This is one of the most distinct and desirable kinds in culti- 

 vation, having spine-pointed leaves, densely set in cushioned 

 masses, looking, if one may so speak, like Juniper-bushes com- 

 pressed into the size of small round pin-cushions, and with little 

 seen but the prickly points of the leaves. The flowers are 

 yellow, arranged in spikes on a leafy stem, and appear in summer. 

 It thrives very well in moist, sandy, firm soil, and is well worthy 

 of a place in the rock-garden, and also in every collection of 

 alpine plants grown in pots. A native of the Caucasus ; propa- 

 gated by seed and careful division. 



SAXIFRAGA l^O^GrXWOIAK.— Long-leaved Saxifrage. 



The single rosettes of this are often six, seven, and eight inches 

 in diameter, and, while retaining all the charms of its con- 

 geners, it boldly spreads forth into an object as striking as 

 some of the prettier succulent plants of the New World or the 

 Cape. I have, indeed, measured one specimen more than a foot 

 in diameter. It may well be termed the Queen of the silvery 

 section of Saxifrages, and by that section are meant those 

 which have their greyish leathery leaves margined with dots of 

 white, so as to give the whole a silvery character. This is 

 so beautifully marked in that way that it is attractive at all 

 seasons, while in early summer it pushes up massive foxbrush- 

 like columns of ilowers from a foot to two feet long, the stem 

 covered with short, stiff, gland-tipped hairs, and bearing a mul- 

 titude of pure white flowers. 



' A native of the higher parts of the Pyrenees ; perfectly hardy 

 in this country ; not difficult of culture, and may be grown in 

 various ways. On some perpendicular chink in the face of 

 a rockwork into which it can root deeply, it is very striking when 

 the long outer leaves of the rosette spread away from the densely- 

 packed centre. It may also be grown on the face of an old wall, 

 ijeginning with a very small plant, which should be carefully 

 packed into a chink with a little soil. Here the stiff leaves will, 

 when they roll out, adhere firmly to the wall, eventually forming 

 a large silver star on its surface. It will thrive on a raised bed 

 or border, surrounded by a few stones to prevent evaporation 

 and to guard it from injury; It also thrives in a greenhouse 

 or frame, and perhaps the readiest way of getting a weakly 



