SAXIFRAGACEJS. 



313 



stalk somewhat flattened, have been 

 gathered near Killarney. They have 

 been published as species, under the 

 names of S. hirsuta (Eng. Bot. t. 2322) 

 and 8. elegans (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2892), 

 whilst others consider them as hybrids. 

 In favour of the latter supposition there 

 appears to be but little evidence, and 

 they are probably mere varieties of the 

 Kidney S. 



Fig. 384. 



II. CHRYSOSPLENE. CHEYSOSPLENIUM. 



Delicate herbs, perennial and creeping at the base ; the short flower- 

 ing stems ascending, and often of a golden yellow at the top ; with 

 orbicular leaves, no stipules, and small yellow flowers, in short, leafy 

 terminal cymes. Calyx adherent, with 4, or rarely 5, short, free seg- 

 ments. Petals none. 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. Capsule 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 1. Opposite C, 



Leaves alternate 2. Alternate C. 



1. Opposite Chrysosplene. Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, 



Linn. (Fig. 385.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 490. Golden Saxifrage.) 



The loose, leafy tufts often spread to a considerable extent ; the 

 stems scarcely rising above 4 or 5 inches from the ground, simple or 

 VOL. I. 2 B 



