| Chrysosplenium.] XXXII, SAXIFRAGACER. 171 
Stamens 8, rarely 10, inserted at the base of the calyx-segments, Ovary 
adherent to near the top, where it is divided into 2 short, conical lobes, 
each with a short style, and surrounded by a crenated disk within the 
stamens, Capsules 1-celled, opening at the top in 2 short valves. Seeds 
several, attached to 2 parietal placentas. Albumen copious, with a small 
embryo. 
A small genus, spread over the temperate and colder regions of both the 
northern and southern hemispheres. 
Leaves opposite - : é : ‘ F é > P » 1, C. oppositifolium, 
Leaves alternate . ‘ . . ° . . . 2 C. alternifolium, 
1, C. oppositifolium, Linn. (fig. 387). Opposite Chrysosplene, Golden 
Saxifrage—The loose, leafy tufts often spread to a considerable extent ; 
the stems scarcely rising above 4 or 5inches from the ground, simple or 
forked near the top. Leaves all opposite, 3 or 4 to 6 or 8 lines in 
diameter, slightly crenated or sinuate, and notched at the base, with a few 
stiff hairs on the upper surface. Flowers small and sessile, in little com- 
pact cymes, surrounded by leaves like those of the stem, but smaller, 
more sessile, and often of a golden yellow. Calyx-segments obtuse and 
spreading. 
In moist, shady places, along the sides of rivulets, dispersed over the 
greater part of Europe and Russian Asia. Abundant in Britain. 7. 
spring. 
2,C. alternifolium, Linn. (fig. 387). Alternate Chrysosplene.— 
Closely resembles C. oppositifolium, but is usually of a paler colour ; the 
leaves are always alternate, and the lower ones on longer stalks and rather 
more of a kidney shape. 
In similar situations as C. oppositifolium, and much more common in 
Continental Europe, Russian and central Asia, and northern America, 
extending into the Arctic regions. In Britain, on the contrary, much less 
common than C. oppositifolium, although pretty generally distributed. | #7. 
spring. ‘The two species are frequently found growing together, but appear 
always to retain their characters. | 
III. PARNASSIA. PARNASSIA. 
Herbs, with a perennial stock, entire leaves, mostly radical, and erect, 
annual flowering stems, usually bearing a single leaf, and a single terminal 
flower. Calyx in the British species almost free, with 5 segments. Petals 
5, perigynous. Stamens perigynous, 5 perfect, and 5 imperfect bearing, 
instead of anthers, w tuft of globular-headed filaments. Stigmas 4, rarely 
3, sessile. Capsule 1-celled, opening in 4, or rarely 3, valves. Seeds very 
numerous, without albumen, inserted on 4, rarely 3, parietal placentas, 
opposite the styles, and in the centre of the valves. 
A few species are inhabitants of bogs and wet places in Europe, Asia, 
and North America. The above characters are so well marked, that the 
genus is not easily confounded with any other, but its place in the Natural 
System has been much disputed. It has been most generally placed 
amongst TZhalamiflore, with the Droseracee, next to Violacee and 
Polygalee ; but its close affinity with Saxifraga and Chrysosplenium has 
now been fully proved, especially by the recent publication of several 
curious Himalayan species, 
