306 



THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 



In moist alpine situations, in the higher mountain-ranges of Europe, 

 and Russian and central Asia, extending far into the Arctic regions. 

 Common in the Scotch Highlands, and also found, but sparingly, on 

 some of the higher Irish, Welsh, and northern English mountains. 

 Fl. spring and early summer. 



2. Yellow Saxifrage. Saxifraga aizoides, Linn. (Fig. 373.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 39.) 



Stock short, sometimes tufted, the 

 flowering stems ascending to about 6 

 inches high. Leaves alternate, narrow, 

 rather thick, smooth and shining, about 

 half an inch long, entire or rarely notched 

 with 1 or 2 teeth. Elowers yellow, in a 

 loose panicle of from 3 or 4 to a dozen 

 or more. Calyx-segments not much 

 shorter than the petals, and often nar- 

 row, like them and almost as yellow, 

 giving the flower the appearance of hav- 

 ing ten petals with a broad circular disk 

 in the centre. Capsule adhering, to 

 about half its length, to the short tube of 

 the calyx. 



On wet rocks or gravel, along rills 

 and springs, in almost all mountainous 

 districts of Europe, Eussian Asia, and northern America, to the Arctic 

 Circle, descending also much lower than the last. Abundant in Scot- 

 land, the north of England, and some parts of Ireland, but apparently 

 wanting in Wales. Fl. summer and autumn. 



Fig. 373. 



3. Marsh Saxifrage. Saxifraga Hirculus, Linn. (Fig. 374.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1009.) 



Perennial stock still shorter than in the last, and often reduced to a 

 small tuft. Leaves alternate, narrow-oblong or linear, and entire. 

 Flowering stems ascending, as in the yellow S., to about 6 inches, but 

 terminated by a single, rather large flower ; the calyx almost entirely 

 free, with oblong, reflexed divisions, not half so long as the erect, nar- 

 row-obovate or oblong, yellow petals. Capsule rather large, ending in 

 2 spreading beaks. 



