This interesting and rare Saxifrage has been sent to Dr 
Wallich, from Katmandu, by the Hon. Colonel Gardner, 
(the individual to whom I am indebted for many of the most 
valuable subjects figured in my Musci Exotici), and by Mr 
Smith from Sylhet, in the year 1819. The liberal Director of 
the Calcutta Botanic Garden, forwarded it in a living state to 
Mr Shepherd of Liverpool, from the valuable collection of 
plants under whose care, it was sent to me in flower, in Janua- 
ry 1823. The accompanying figure was taken from those spe- 
cimens, aided by an accurate sketch of the growing plant, also 
sent by Mr H. Shepherd. 
There is a striking resemblance between this plant and the 
Saxifraga crassifolia of Siberia ; but, besides the different 
shape of their leaves, the margins of those of S. ligulata are 
singularly ciliated, and the flowers are larger and more showy, 
not being very dissimilar in form and hue from a cluster of the 
blossoms of the crab-apple. The structure of the inflorescence, 
indeed, is the same with that of S. crassifolia^ and its pe- 
culiarities have given rise, in conjunction with the whole ha- 
bit of the plant, to the formation of a new genus, Bergena of 
McENCH, Geryonia of Schranck, and Megasea * of Ha- 
worth. 
Mr Haworth, without being aware that this species was 
described by the excellent Wallich, bestowed on it the ex- 
pressive appellation of ciliata. 
The name by which this plant is known at Nepaul is 
Shanpe-Soak ; at Katmandu it is called Atia Torongsing. 
Surely the Megasea cordifoUa, and M. media of Mr Ha- 
worth, must be considered as mere varieties of 31. crassi- 
folia. If such be the case, this family or genus only consists 
of Saxifraga crassifolia and S. ligulata. 
The blossoms of this plant diffuse a very agreeable, prim- 
rose-like scent. 
Fig. 1. Flower, from which the petals are removed. Fig. 2. Pistil. Fig. 3. 
Portion of the calyx, to shew the point of insertion of the Petals and 
Stamens. — All more or less magjiified. 
* CcU. campanulato-5-lobatus, inferne melliferus. Pet. 5, persistentia. Stam. caljci 
coadunata, usque ejus lobos. Germen superum. CapmlcB birostratse basi solum coalita>. 
~Haiv. sub Megaseam. 
