168 THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. [Saxifraga. 



more or less covered with short spreading hairs, which become glandular 

 in the upper part of the plant. Radical and lower leaves on long stalks, 

 reniform, obtusely crenate or lobed, the upper ones few and small, more 

 acutely lobed or entire. Flowers white, rather large, 3 to 6 together, 

 in rather close terminal cymes. Calyx adherent to about the middle of 

 the ovary, with rather obtuse divisions, about half the length of the 

 petals. 



In meadows, pastures, and on banks, throughout temperate Europe, 

 extending northward into Scandinavia, and eastward into central and 

 northern Asia. Abundant in several parts of England and southern 

 Scotland, but scarcely penetrates into the Highlands ; rare in Ireland. 

 Fl. spring and early summer. 



7. S. cernua, Linn, (fig. 382). Drooping S. — In many respects allied 

 to S. granulata, of which it may be a starved alpine variety. It is 

 weaker, more glabrous, and slender ; the stock does not always form 

 distinct bulbs ; the leaves are smaller, angular or broadly lobed, and 

 the upper ones have often little bulbs in their axils. Flowering stems 

 more or less drooping at the summit, with 1 to 3 flowers, rather smaller 

 than S. granulata. 



At great elevations, in a few of the larger mountain-ranges of Europe 

 and Asia, and all round the Arctic Circle. In Britain, only known on 

 the summit of Ben Lawers, where, however, it very seldom flowers, and 

 is now almost extinct. 



8. S. rivularis, Linn. (fig. 383). Brook S. — A glabrous plant, still 

 smaller than S. cernua, which it much resembles in foliage. Perennial 

 stock small, and seldom forming bulbs ; radical leaves on long stalks, 

 deeply 3- or 5-lobed. Flowering stems weak, only 2 to 3 inches long, 

 with very few small leaves, and 1 to 3 flowers, like those of S. cernua, 

 but much smaller, the petals scarcely exceeding the calyx. 



A high alpine or Arctic species, with nearly the same geographical 

 range as S. cernua, but not so scarce. In Britain it occurs sparingly on 

 Ben Lawers and Ben Nevis, and more abundantly on Lochnagar. 

 Fl. July. 



9. S. tridactylites, Linn. (fig. 384). Rue-leaved S. — A little erect 

 annual, 2 to 5 inches high, simple or branched, and more or less clothed 

 with a glandular down. Radical leaves very small, entire, and stalked. 

 Stem-leaves either entire and linear-oblong or more frequently 3-lobed. 

 Flowers small, white, growing singly on rather long pedicels. Calyx 

 adherent, with ovate segments not half so long as the petals. 



On walls and rocks, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from the 

 Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. Frequent in England, Ireland, and 

 southern Scotland, less so farther north, especially on the western side. 

 Fl. spring and early summer. 



10. S. nivalis, Linn. (fig. 385). Alpine S. — Perennial stock short and 

 simple, but thick and hard, crowned with a tuft of spreading, obovate, 

 toothed leaves, rather thick and leathery, and narrowed into a stalk at 

 the base. Stems simple, erect, 2 to 5 inches high, slightly hairy in the 

 upper part, leafless, or with 1 or 2 small leaves close under the flowers. 

 These are small, collected together in little terminal heads. Calyx 

 adherent to about half-way up the oxary, with shortly oblong spreading 

 segments, about the length of the obovate, white petals. 



In the mountains of northern and Arctic Europe and Asia, and on the 



