SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. Saxifragaceae. 
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. Saxifragaceae. 
A large family, almost all herbs, living usually in tem- 
perate regions. They have no very peculiar characteristics 
and resemble the Rose Family, but sometimes their leaves 
are opposite, usually they have no stipules and have fewer 
stamens than Roses, not more than twice as many as the 
sepals, and usually the pistils, from two to five in number, 
with distinct styles, are united to form a compound ovary, 
Wich is superior or partly inferior; sepals usually five; 
petals four, five, or rarely none, alternate with the sepals; 
petals and stamens borne on the calyx; fruit a dry pod or 
berry, containing numerous seeds. The Latin name means 
“rock breaker,’’ as many grow among rocks. 
There are several kinds of Parnassia, of north temperate 
and arctic regions; smooth perennials; leaves toothless, 
_almost all from the root; flowers single; sepals five; petals 
five, each with a cluster of sterile filaments, tipped with 
glands, at the base; fertile stamens five, alternate with the 
petals; ovary superior, or partly inferior, with a very short 
style, or none, usually with four stigmas; fruit a capsule, 
containing numerous winged seeds. These plants were 
called Grass of Parnassus by Dioscorides, but are not grass- 
like. They resemble the other members of this family so 
little that they have been made into a separate family by 
some botanists. 
A charming plant, with several slender 
bt stems, about a foot tall, springing from a 
Pasakisia large cluster of handsome, very smooth, 
fimbriata glossy leaves. The flowers are about an 
White inch across and have cream-white petals, 
Summer 
delicately veined with green and prettily 
fringed towards the base, and pale yellow 
anthers. At the base of each petal there is a queer little 
stiff cluster of sterile filaments, like a tiny green hand. 
This grows on banks of streams and in moist places, 
reaching an altitude of eleven thousand feet. P. Califor- 
nica is similar, but the petals not fringed. . 
There are several kinds of Leptasea, perennials, with 
alternate, thick or stiffish leaves; flowers white or yellow, 
single or in terminal clusters; sepals five; petals five, with 
claws or claw-like bases; stamens ten; ovary mostly superior. 
196 
Northwest 
