The BRITISH HERBAL. 
189 
LinnrEUS places this among the decandria di^ynra ; tlie threads being ten in each flower, and tlie 
ftyles from the rudiment of the fruit two. 
I'iiis author joins the faxifrage and geum under the fame name; but they are diflinil genera. 
We have obferved that the cup in the fcixifrage is formed of a fingle piece, divided into five feg- 
ments ; but that of the gcum is formed of five feparate leaves; and from this difference of ftruclure, 
refults an obvious diflindtion in the placing and appearance of th? feed veflcl ; for in the faxifrage it 
grows to the entire part of the cup ; whereas in tlie geum, there being no fuch entire part of the cup, 
it is feparate. 
This is an eHcntial and obvious cliarafter, and it is the more needful to be preferved, becaufe both 
the faxifrage and the geum have very numerous fpecies. The blending thefe together, as Linnseus 
'has done, by confounding the two genera, muft therefore encre.ife the difficulty of the fcience. 
It is fingular that IMr. Ray, Ids accurate than Linnscus in his examinations of the more minute 
parts of plants, thougli more fo in his choice of clallical diftindions, fliould have obferved this, 
while the other either overlooked it, or did not pay it that regard which was due to its utility. 
DIVISION I. 
BRITISH SPECIES. 
I. Common white Saxifrage. 
Saxifraga alba vulgaris. 
The root is compofed of a great many fmall, 
oval, or roundifli tubercles, of a fl'^fhy fubfl:ance 
and redifb colour ; and of a multitude of long 
and flender fibres, iOliing from their furface, and 
from a Imall head, to which they alfo grow. 
The leaves rife in little cluffers, and are of a 
very fingular and pretty form : they are rounded, 
but a little' part of the circular figure is wanting 
where the ifalk is inferred ; and they are of a 
ffcllry fubllance, a pale green colour, and indent- 
ed at the edges : their footflalks are long and 
flender, and they ffand tolerably ereft. 
The ftalk rifes in the midfl of this clufler, and 
is round, flefhy, upright, and about a foot high. 
The leaves are placed alternately on it ; and 
they have long footftalks, and refemble thofe 
from the root. 
The flowers are large, beautiful, and of a fnov; 
white i and they are fometimes found naturally 
double : they ftand on fiiort footftaljcs at the tops 
of the ftalks, and on little flioots rifing from the 
bofoms of the upper leaves. 
The feed-veirel is oval, and has a double beak 
at the top : tlie feeds are numerous and fmali. 
It is common in our paflrures, and flowers in 
May. About Wandfor and toward Pcckham 
there is a great deal of it; and, when in flower, 
it gives thofe fields a very beautiful afpeft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Saxijraga rotundifolia alba. 
J. Bauhine, Saxifraga alba radice granulofa \ and 
others, plainly Saxijraga alba. 
This plant is an excellent diuretick. An in- 
fufion of the whole herb, roots, leaves, and 
ftalks, works powerfully, yet fafely, by urine, 
and brings away gravel. 
It has been fuppofed, by fome, capable to dif- 
folve the Hone in the bladder; but this is an idle 
thought. 
The dried root poficffles the fame qualities, but 
in a lefs degree. 7'his is what the druggifts ufed 
to fell under the name of faxifrage feed ; the 
granules, fi-parated and dried, which was the 
ufual way, having fomething of the appearance 
of a feed. The plant lofes a great deal of its 
virtue in drying ; and it is great pity that it is 
, N» 19. 
not to be had during a longer part of the year 
frefh; for it is worthy to be much more ufed 
than it is. 
2. Rue Whitlow grafs. 
Saxifraga foliis digitalis. 
The root is compofed of a few finall threads. 
The firfl: leaves rife in a little tuft, and are 
thick, flclliy, and divided in a fingered manner : 
their colour is whitifli, or not unfrequently 
redifli ; and they have a few fcattered liairs upon 
them. 
The fl:alk riles in the midll of thefe, and is 
round, thick, flelby, of a redifli colour,' and 
about three inches high. 
The leaves fl:and alternately on it, and refemble 
thofe from the root, but they are finaller. 
The flowers fl:and at the tops of the flalks and 
branches, and are moderately large, and of a 
beautiful fnow white. 
The feed-veflel is oval, and forked at the top : 
the feeds are numerous, and very minute. 
It is common on old walls and the tops of 
houfes; and flowers early in fpring. 
C. Bauhine calls it Sedum tridaailytes teliorum. 
Others, Saxifraga annua verm humilior. 
Our common Engliflr name of rue whitlow 
grafs is a very indeterminate one : we (hould do 
much better to call it low fpring faxifrage with 
fingered leaves. 
3. Trifid-leaved Saxifrage. 
Saxifraga pumila trifido folio. 
Tlie root is fmall, oblong, and furniOied with 
a few fibres. 
The leaves rife in a thick tuft ; and, as they 
are very fine, and thick fet, they have a moflV 
appearance; whence fome have named the plant 
ynoffy fengreen. 
The leaves, when examined feparately, are ob- 
long, of a plcafant green, and divided into three 
parts at the top. 
The (talks are numerous, fmall, upright, and 
three or four inches high. 
The leaves on them are placed irregularly, and 
are few and fmall. 
The flowers fl:and at the tops of the ftalks, and 
are of a beautiful fnow white. 
