SAXIFRAGACEjE. 



311 



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 halfway up the ovary, 

 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 

 highest of the Sudetan mountains in 

 Bohemia. Not uncommon in the Scotch 

 mountains, and found also, but much 

 more sparingly, in the Lake districts of northern England, in North 

 Wales, and on Benbulben in Ireland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 381. 



11. Star Saxifrage. Saxifraga stellaris, Linn. (Eig. 382.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 167.) 



A perennial, but the stock is small, 

 and has often an annual appearance; 

 it is crowned by one or more tufts of 

 spreading leaves, rather thin, varying 

 from oblong to obovate, with a few 

 coarse teeth, and tapering at the base. 

 When luxuriant, these tufts are elon- 

 gated into leafy branches of 1 or 2 

 inches. Stems erect, 3 to 6 inches, leaf- 

 less, except a small, leafy bract under 

 each pedicel. Flowers from 2 or 3 to 

 8 or 10, rather small, white and starlike, 

 on slender, spreading pedicels, forming 

 a loose terminal panicle. Calyx free al- 

 most to the base, the segments closely 

 reflexed on the pedicel. Petals narrow and spreading, 

 ther large, with 2 diverging beaks. 



On wet rocks and along rivulets and springs, in all the mountain- 

 ranges of Europe and Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the 

 Arctic regions, and also in northern America. Frequent in the Scotch 

 Highlands, and found also in the mountains of northern England, 

 North Wales, and Ireland. 



Fig. 382. 



Capsule ra- 



