316 



THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 



Petals and stamens 5 ; in the British species almost hypogynous, but 

 in many exotic ones decidedly perigynous. Styles 3 or 4, each divided 

 into 2. Capsule 1 -celled, opening into 3 or 4 valves, sometimes split 

 into twice that number. Seeds several, with albumen, inserted on 3 

 or 4 parietal placentas in the centre of the valves. 



The Sundews are rather numerous in species, and found in nearly all 

 parts of the globe where there are bogs. The curious glandular hairs 

 of the leaves distinguish them from all other British genera, inde- 

 pendently of their floral characters. Associated with a few exotic 

 genera, all remarkable for the same glandular hairs, but differing 

 chiefly in number of stamens, or of the valves of the capsule, or in the 

 insertion of the ovules, they form a distinct group, usually considered 

 as an independent family among Tlialamiflores ; but a considerable 

 number of species have their flowers rather perigynous than hypogy- 

 nous, and they appear much more naturally associated with Saxifrages 

 as a somewhat anomalous tribe of that family. 



Leaves obovate or orbicular, as broad as long ...... 1. Common S. 



Leaves obovate-oblong, three or four times as long as broad . 2. Oblong S. 

 Leaves linear-spathulate, five or more times as long as broad . 3. 'English S. 



1. Common Sundew. Drosera rotundifolia, Linn. (Fig. 388.) 



(Eng. Bot. n. 867 in the text, 868 on the plate.) 



Rootstock short and slender, the leaves 

 on long stalks, nearly orbicular, 3 to near 

 6 lines in diameter, covered on the upper 

 surface with long, red, viscid hairs, each 

 bearing a small gland at the top. Flower- 

 stems slender, erect, and glabrous, 2 or 

 3 to 5 or 6 inches high, the upper por- 

 tion, consisting of a simple or once- 

 forked unilateral raceme, rolled back 

 when young, but straightening as the 

 flowers expand. Pedicels nearly a line 

 long, without bracts. Calyx near 2 lines. 

 Petals white, rather longer, expanding 

 in sunshine. Seeds spindle-shaped, 

 pointed at both ends, the loose testa 

 several times longer than the small, 

 ovoid albumen. 



In bogs, and wet, heathy ground, 

 throughout central and northern Europe, and Russian Asia; from 

 northern Spain to the Arctic regions. Abundant in all parts of Britain 

 where there are considerable bogs. Fl. summer and early autumn. 



