SAXIFRAGACEiE. 309 



2. Saxifraga nivalis, Linn. 



Hab. Subalpine and wet places in the interior of Washington 

 Territory. 



3. Saxifraga peltata, Sp. Nov. (Tab. 5.) 



S. (Bergenia) rhizomate crasso repente; foliis longissime petiolatis erectis 

 amplis peltatis orbicularis ambitu lobatis et inciso-dentatis membra' 

 naceis; scapis nudis apice cymosis glandulosis; calyeis tubo brevis- 

 simo campanulato, lobis lato-ovatis obtusis; petalis obovato-oblongis ; 

 carpellis distinctis. 



Saxifraga peltata, Torr. in Benth. PL Hartw. p. 311. 



Leptarrhena inundata, Behr, in Proceed. Calif. Acad. 1, p. 45 & 57. 



Hab. Upper Sacramento and its tributaries, along and in the beds 

 of small swift-running streams; not uncommon through the Sierra. — 

 Rhizoma stout and fleshy, strongly marked with the vestiges of fallen 

 petioles. Leaves orbicular ; the lamina sometimes more than a foot 

 in diameter; peltate, with a funnel-shaped depression at the insertion 

 of the petiole, unequally 10-14-lobed, the lobes rounded and cre- 

 nately-serrate : petioles 1 to 2 feet long, roughened with minute dark- 

 brown glands. Scape 1£ to 4 feet high, naked, or with only a very 

 small leaf at the base of the cyme, roughly glandular like the peti- 

 oles. Cyme paniculate, 3 or 4 inches in diameter. Calyx nearly free, 

 much shorter than the petals; the lobes somewhat fleshy, oblong, 

 obtuse, at length reflexed, gland ularly pubescent. Petals pale rose 

 color, somewhat unequal, obovate-oblong, persistent. Stamens 10, 

 shorter than the petals : filaments subulate from a broad base : 

 anthers suborbicular, 2-celled. Ovaries distinct nearly to the base, 

 rarely 3, broadly ovate, attenuate above into a short thick style; 

 stigma reniform, oblique. Capsule coriaceo-membranaceous, the car- 

 pels ovate, inflated, abruptly rostrate with the short persistent style, 

 opening longitudinally the whole length of the ventral suture. Seeds 

 (immature) obovate, the testa apparently conformed to the nucleus. — 

 A remarkable species, but a genuine Saxifraga. The flowers appear 



78 



