THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 



439 



Tulip-wood {Physocalymma Jlorihunda). A small deci- 

 duous tree, native of Brazil, having panicles of purplish 

 flowers, which are produced before the leaves. The wood 

 is much esteemed by cabinet-makers, and is imported for 

 inlaying costly furniture. 



(Stackhousiack^.) 



A small family of probably 20 species of herbs, or small 

 frutlets, with simple alternate leaves, and small flowers in 

 terminal spikes or racemes, white or yellow. Stamens 5. 

 Pistils 3 or 5, united at the base. Fruit 3 to 5 winged, or 

 wingless. 



They are natives chiefly of Australia. Stackhousia australis 

 has yellow flowers, and has been grown at Kew. 



The Saxifrage Family. 



(Saxifragaceje.) 



Annuals or perennials, often frutlets, usually growing in 

 tufts ; having simple, entire, lobed, or much divided leaves ; 

 often moss-like, or rayed from the centre (rosulate). Flower 

 stems simple or branching. Flowers regular. Calyx in- 

 ferior (or partially superior?) Petals generally 5. Stamens 

 5 or 10, free. Pistils 2. Fruit a dry 1- or 2-ceried horned 

 capsule, containing numerous small seeds. 



This family contains above 300 species, natives chiefly of 

 the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere ; a few are 

 found in elevated situations within the tropics, and the 

 family is represented in Terra del Fuego and New Zealand 

 by Donatia. Saxifraga Jlagellaris is found within the Arctic 

 circle. They possess slightly astringent qualities, which 

 being powerful in Heuchera americana, it has received the 

 name of Alum Root. Many of them are favourite garden 

 plants, especially the genus Saxifraga, of which there are 

 nearly 100 species in garden collections, varying in habit and 

 character from the broad-leaved S. crassifolia to the rosulate 

 S. pyramidalis and tufty moss-like S. Hypnoides. They are 



