Part II. SAXIFRAGA. 321 



SAXIFRAGA EETXTSA. — Retuse-leaved Saxifrage. 



A PURPLISH species, closely allied to our own ^. oppositifolia, 

 but, in addition to the different character of the leaves, dis- 

 tinguished by the flowers having distinct stalks, and being 

 borne two or three together on their little branches. The 

 small, opposite, leathery leaves are closely packed in four ranks 

 on the stems, which form dense prostrate tufts. A native of the 

 Alps and Pyrenees, flowers in early summer, may be cultivated 

 with great success in the same way as .J. oppositifolia, and well 

 merits a place in the rock-garden. It is also easily grown in a 

 pan in a cold frame. 



SAXTFRAOA EOCHELIANA.— J?cc-^«/V Saxifrage. 



A VERY compact and dwarf kind, forming dense silvery rosettes 

 of tongue-shaped white-margined leaves, with distinctly im- 

 pressed dots. It is distinguished among the dwarf silvery Saxi- 

 frages by producing large white flowers on sturdy little stems in 

 spring. I know no more exquisite plaiit for rockwork, for culture 

 in pans, or for small rocky or elevated borders. Any free, good, 

 moist, loamy soil will suit it, and I have seen it thriving very 

 well on borders in London. It should always be exposed to the 

 full sun, and deserves to be associated With the choicest spring 

 flowers and alpine plants. A native of Austria ; increased by 

 seeds or careful division. 



SAXrPRAGrA SARMENTOSA.— Cr«^/z»^ Saxifrage. 



A WELL-KNOWN old plant, with roundish leaves, mottled above, 

 red beneath, with numbers of creeping, long, and slender runners, 

 producing young plants strawberry fashion. Striking and sin- 

 gular in leafage, it is also ornamental in bloom, and growing 

 freely in the dry air of a sitting-room, may be seen gracefully 

 suspended in numerous cottage windows. It perhaps is most at 

 home running wild on banks or rocks, in the cool greenhouse or 

 conservatory ; however, it lives in the open air in mild parts of 

 England, and, where this is the case, may be used in graceful 

 association with ferns and other creeping plants. A native of 

 China, flowering in summer. Closely allied to S. sarmentosa 

 is the delicate dodder-like Saxifrage, S. cuscutceformis, so called 

 from having thread-like runners like the stems of a dodder, and 



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