SAXIFRAGACE^]. 



309 



white, rather large, 3 to 6 together, in 

 rather close terminal cymes. Calyx ad- 

 herent 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 east- 

 ward into central, but perhaps not into 

 [Russian Asia. Abundant in several 

 parts of England, Ireland, and southern 

 Scotland, but scarcely penetrates into the 

 Highlands. Fl. spring and early summer. 



Fig. 377. 



7. Drooping Saxifrage. Saxifraga cernua, Linn. (Fig. 378.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 664.) 



In many respects allied to the meadow 

 S., 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 in the 

 meadow S. 



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 Fig. 378. 



seldom flowers, and is now almost extinct. 



8. Brook Saxifrage. Saxifraga rivularis, Linn. (Fig. 379.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 2275.) 



A glabrous plant, still smaller than the drooping S., which it much 

 resembles in foliage. Perennial stock small, and seldom forming bulbs ; 



