CULTURAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON THE GENUS SAXIFRAGA. 45 



Var. major (pyrenaica), with much larger flowers, and 

 vigorous growth. Hab. Pyrenees. Var. alba, with milky- white 

 flowers. Hab. The Alps. Var. splendens, with bright purple 

 flowers ; exceedingly free-growing. Hab. The Alps. 



S. retusa, Gouan. — Leaves imbricate, oblong ; stem, creep- 

 ing ; flowers sessile, purple. Hab. The Alps at very high alti- 

 tudes on gneiss. 



S. biflora, All. — This much resembles S. oppositifolia, but 

 the leaves are less dense, stem more erect, and flowers deep 

 purple. Hab. The Alps at very high altitudes on moraines of 

 gneiss, granite, &c. 



Sect. Hirculus, Tausch. 



Nearly all species of this section are natives of the Himalaya 

 at altitudes of 12,000 feet to 15,000 feet, growing in very damp 

 and cool places. Only few of these are at present in cultivation. 



S. Hirculus, L. — Leaves lanceolate or spatulate, with a 

 creeping stem ; flowers sessile, bright or deep yellow. Hab. 

 Alps of Tyrol, Arctic regions, also a native of Great Britain in 

 damp situations. 



S. diver sifolia, Wall. — Leaves ovate ; flowers racemose, deep 

 yellow. Hab. Himalayas. 



Other species of this section, natives of the Himalayas, are 

 8. palpebrata, S. cordigera, S. lychnitis, and S. latiflora. 



Sect. Dactyloides, Tausch. 



This includes a great many kinds known under the popular 

 name of Mossy Saxifrages. They are principally grown on 

 account of their evergreen foliage and neat habit, forming dense 

 green carpets. They grow easily in almost any kind of soil or 

 situation, and are very useful for edging, &c. Increased by 

 division and seed. The best of them are the following : — 



S. muscoides, var. atropurpurea. — With pretty, small, purple 

 flowers ; very neat and distinct. Hab. Swiss Alps. 



S. Camposii, Boiss. (S. Wallacei, Hort.). — Leaves flabellate, 

 5-cleft ; flowers large white. Hab. Spain. 



S. Maiveana. — Leaves orbicular, 3-cleft ; flowers white. A 

 very pretty and rare plant. Requires a damp, shady position. 

 Hab. Tetuan. 



h 2 



