SAXIFRAGA OpposiTiFOLIA, — PunPLE SAXIFRAGE. 
Linn. Gen. PL... DECANDRIA Dicynia. 
Cal. 5-partitus. Cor, 5-petala. Caps. 2-rofiris, 1-locularis, polyfperma. 
Rau Syn. Gen. 24. HERBZ PENTAPETAL& VASCULIFERA. 
SAXIFRAGA oppofitifolia foliis caulinis oppofitis imbricatis, fummis ciliatis. Linn. Sy. Vegetad. i 14. 
Murr, p. 413. Sp. PL p. 575. Fl. Suec. ed. 2. 5. 142. Hudf. Fl. Angl. ed. 2, 
p. 180. Purple Saxifrage, Lightfoot, Scot. v. 1. b. 223. 
SAXIFRAGA folis ovatis quadrangulo imbricatis ramis procumbentibus. Linn. FJ. Lapp. 179. 
SAXIFRAGA caule repente, foliis quadrifariam imbricatis, cartilagineis ciliatis. Ha//. Hif?. 980. 
SEDUM alpinum ericoides cceruleum. Bawb. Pin. 284. et purpurafcens. ¢/u/d. 
SAXIFRAGA alpina ericoides flore coeruleo. Tourn. Imfl. 253.. Ra Syn. p. 353. ed. 3. Mountain 
Heath-like Sengreen, with large purple Flowers. 

RADIX perennis, fibrofa, fufca. ROOT perennial, fibrous, of a brown colour. 
CAULES plurimi, procumbentes, repentes, teretes, 0 STALKS numerous, procumbent, creeping, round, 
inferne nudi, fufci, e petris et rupibus fepe 
dependentes funiculorum inflar. 
FOLIA alterne oppofita, circa caules floriferos im- 
bricatim denfe collocata, fubconnata, obovata, 
concava, fubcarnofa, ad margines ciliata, 
apicibus depreffis callofis albidis, furculorum 
magis remota. 
below naked, brown, often hanging down 
like ftrings from ftones and rocks. 
LEAVES alternately oppofite, thofe on the flowering 
ftalks clofely imbricated, uniting nearly at 
the bafe, inverfely ovate, concave, fomewhat 
flefhy, fringed on the edges, tops flattened, 
callous’ and whitifh, thofe on. the young 
fhoots more remotely fituated. . 
FLOWERS on the tops of the ftalks, feffile, folitary, 
large, fhewy, at firft of a lively purple colour, 
finally blueifh. 
CALYX: a PEzR1ANTHIUM of five leaves, which are 
I ovate, edged with hairs, coloured, unequal, 
and very like thofe of the flalk, fg. 1. 
FLORES in fummis caulibus feffiles, folitarti, magni, 
{peciofi, primum lete purpurei, demum 
cGrulefcentes. — — 
CALYX: PrniANTHIUM pentaphyllum, foliolis ova- 
tis, ciliatis, coloratis, inzqualibus, caulinis 
perquam fimilibus, fg. 1. 
COROLLA: Perara 5, fubrotunda, unguibus bre- ? COROLLA: 5 roundifh PzrALs, furnifhed with 
vibus inftruéta, jig. 2. fhort claws, fz. 2. 
NECTARIUM: fubftantia glandulofa ad bafin ger- § NECTARY: a glandular fubftance at the bafe of the 
minis neCtar copiofe fundens. germen, affording much honey. 
STAMINA: FirAMENTA 10, ere&ia, fubulata, pur- T 
STAMINA: 10 Filaments, upright, tapering, pur- 
|; purafcentia ; Ax THER & ovales, comprefie, phíh; Anruer« oval, flattened, purple; 
purpuree; PoLLEN aurantiacum, jig. 3. 
PoLLeN orangé-coloured, jig. 9. 
PISTILLUM: Germen inferum; Sryu1 duo, fubulati, ¥ PISTILLUM : Germen beneath; Sry es two, taper- 
erecti, longitudine. flaminum, inferne flave- 
ing, upright, the length of the ftamina, below 
{centes, fuperne rubelli; SriGMATA duo ca- yellowifh, above bright red; SriGwATA 
pitata, villofa, rubra, fe. 4. two little villous red heads, jig. 4. 
Doo OD DOS DW QO! OQ Co Co MND DD D1 DD QO Gi 
De DC Di QQ 
This fpecies of Saxifrage, the only Britifh one with purple flowers, is found plentifully on the fummits 
of our higheft mountains in England, Scotland, and Wales; we have obferved it both on Ingleborough and 
Pennigent in Yorkíhire, Mr. Ligurroor on moft of the Scotch mountains, and Mr. Lawyp abundantly on 
Snowdon. | 
It flowers much earlier than any of the genus, empurpling and enlivening the barren rocks (from which in 
fome fituations it hangs pendent to a great length): April and May; in our gardens near London it blows 
ufually in February and March; when the bloffoms firft expand they are of a bright purple colour, as they 
go off they incline to blue; this variation in their colour has induced fome Botanifts to make two fpecies of 
it. It is faid to vary with white flowers; we do not know that any fuch variety has been feen in this country. 
The plant itfelf 1s very liable to vary from fituation; when it grows expofed, the whole plant affumes a more 
compact appearance, the flalks are fhorter, the leaves more clofely imbricated, the flowers more numerous; 
this is its natural, and moft beautiful fate; in fhady and more fheltered fituations, the flalks fhoot to a greater 
length, the leaves are placed at greater intervals, affume a greener hue, and refemble fomewhat thofe of wild 
Thyme, 1n fuch fituations few or no flowers are produced. NON 
No mention is made of this plant by Gen ARD», or PAnxiNSON ; in their time botanical refearches had. not 
been pufhed to the extent they have fince been; RicHAnRnDsoN and Luwyp, in the time of Ray, were active 
in exploring the mountains of Yorkfhire and Wales, it was referved for Mr. Licurroor to penetrate further 
North, to vifit the untrodden heights of Caledonia, and gather it. 
"[is only within a few years that this beautiful native* has been cultivated as an ornamental plant; fmall 
pots of it are now regularly brought to Covent-Garden-Market, the latter end of February and beginning of 
March, where they are fold from one to two fhillings each. v 
Though it be a hardy plant, and of ready growth, as moft of the Saxifrages are, yet it will not flower in 
perfection, as we have found by long experience, but under certain management, which is this, about the latter 
end of March divide a plant, which has filled a pot the preceding year, into many [mall pieces, taking care 
that each has a few fibres to it, plant about fix of thefe in the middle of a fmall pot, filled with a compofition 
of loam and rotten leaves, or bog earth, in equal parts, water them and fet them by in a fhady place for about 
a week, then plunge them in an open border, expofed not more than one half of the day to the fun; in ver 
weather be particularly careful to water them once a day, they require no other attention, but this they will 
not difpenfe with ; the enfuing fpring, each pot will be covered with a profufion of bloom; to continue them in 
perfection they muft be treated thus yearly. ASI | 
Mr. MiLLER recommends a fhady fituation for this plant, which we have ever found injurious, the fhelter of 
a green-houfe quickly draws it up and fpoils it; it is indeed one of thofe plants which reyolts at all tender 
treatment. | 
One of its leaves when magnified becomes a curious obje&t, bearing a great refemblance to thofe of fome 
of the Fig-Marigolds. 
* Pulchre plante clegantiam difficile eft aut verbis exprimere aut penecillo, Hall. Hi. 
