Saxifraga. ] XXXIL SAXIFRAGACEA., 163 
XXXII. SAXIFRAGACEA, THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 
Herbs, or, in exotic genera, trees or shrubs, with alternate or 
opposite leaves, and no stipules. Calyx free, or more or less 
adherent to the ovary, with 4 or 5 (rarely more) lobes or seg- 
ments. Petals as many, perigynous or none. Stamens as 
many, or twice as many (rarely more), perigynous. Ovary 
elther adherent or inserted on a broad base, either 2- or 
4-celled, or 1-celled, with 2 or more parietal placentas, often 
lobed at the top, with as many (rarely twice as many) styles or 
stigmas as: cells or placentas. Fruit a capsule. Seeds several, 
usually many, to each cell or placenta; the albumen usually 
copious, rarely none. 
An extensive family, ranging over nearly the whole world, and in- 
cluding many shrubs and trees, such as the Hydrangeas, Escallonias, 
Philadelphuses (Syringas), Deutzias, &c., of our gardens, of which the 
British herbaceous genera can give very little idea. The characters of 
the Order are moreover somewhat complicated, there being several 
exceptions among exotic genera, besides those alluded to in the above 
‘general character. The three British genera differ from each other in 
many essential points, but are all distinguished from Rosacee by the 
definite stamens and want of stipules, from them and from Crassulacee 
by the carpels united into a single ovary, and from Lythrariee by the 
distinct styles and the more adherent ovary. 
Petals none . : : ; 3 ‘ : : : : . 2. CHRYSOSPLENIUM. 
Petals 5. 
Stamens 10, all bearing anthers. Styles2 . ‘ : . 
Stamens 5, bearing anthers; 5 barren, with a tuft of 
globular-headed filaments. Stigmas 4 ; : . 3. PARNASSIA. 
I. SAXIFRAGA. SAXIFRAGE. 
Herbs, either annual or more commonly with a perennial tufted stock, 
with radical or alternate or rarely opposite leaves, no stipules, and ter- 
minal flowers either solitary or in cymes or panicles. Calyx free, or 
more or less adherent at the base, with 5 teeth or segments. Petals 5. 
Stamens 10, inserted with the petals at the base of the segments of the 
calyx. Ovary 2-celled, superior or more or less inferior, with 2 distinct 
styles. Seeds several in each cell, with a small embryo in a fleshy 
albumen. 
A numerous genus, consisting chiefly of mountain or rock plants, 
abundant in all the great mountain-chains of the northern hemisphere, 
some ascending to the highest Alpine or most Arctic regions, others 
extend from the northern Andes to Tierra del Fuego, whilst still others 
inhabit the hot limestone rocks of the Mediterranean region. 
Leaves all opposite and small. Low spreading plant. Flowers 
purple . ‘ ; 5 : : : : ; : 
Leaves alternate or radical. 
Flowers yellow. 
Calyx spreading, adherent at the base. Stem bearing several 
flowers . ‘ ; : : ‘ : ; : : ‘ 
Calyx refiexed, free. Stems 1-flowered 
Flowers white or pink. 
1. SAXIFRAGA. 
Ll. S. oppositifolia. 
S. aizoides. 
. S. Htreulus. 
oo No 
