DICOTYLEDONES— CALYCIPLOB^ 



337 



sloviacece, Cunoniacece, and Rihesiacece, in the order Saxifra- 

 gacecB, and arrange the whole in the following suh-orders : — 

 1. SaxifragecB. 2. Francoew. 3. Escalloniece. 4. Philadelphece 

 or Sydramgece. 5. Cimoniece. 6. Sibesiece. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are exclusively natives of 

 the northern parts of the world, where they chiefly inhabit 

 moiintainous districts, and sometimes grow as high as 16,000 

 feet above the level of the sea. Illustrative Genera : — Saxifraga, 

 Linn. ; Heuchera, Linn. There are about 320 species. 



Fig. 1104. 



Fig. 1105. 



Fig. 1106 



Fi'i, 1104. Scaifraija Iridacliililes. The leaves are trlfld and wedge-sliaped, 



and the flowers aiTanged iu a cyme. Fig. 1105. Vertical section of the 



flower. Fig. 1106, Vertical section of the seed. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of the order are all more 

 or less astringent. This is remarkably the case with the root of 

 Heuchera americana, which is much employed for its astringent 

 properties in the United States under the name oi Alum-root. 



Order 123. FeancoacejE, the Francoa Order. — Character. 

 Stemless herbs. Leaves exstipulate. Calyx 4-partite. Petals i, 

 persistent. Stamens hypogynous or nearly so, four times as 

 many as the petals, the alternate ones sterile, and commonly 

 termed scales. Ovary superior, 4- celled ; ovules numerous ; 



VOL. II. ^ 



