162 
astringent bark is employed to adulterate the Peruvian bark. The Indian 
Weinmannias appear to possess similar astringent qualities. DC. 
GENERA. 
Callicoma, R. Br. 
Calycomis, R. Br. 
Ceratopetalum, Sm. 
Cunonia, L. 
Osterdykia, Burm. 
Weinmannia, L. 
Pterophylla, Don. 
Schizomeria, Don. 
Leiospermum, Don. 
Belangera, Camb. 
Polystemon, Don 
Caldcluvia, Don. 
Platylophus, Don. 
Dietericia, Ser. 
Arnoldia, Bl. 
Codia, Forst. 
? GiimiUsea, R. P. 
Order CXVI. SAXIFRAGACEiE. The Saxifrage Tribe. 
SAXIFRAG.E, Juss. Geu. 308. (1789) ; Vent. Tabl. 2. 277. (1799). — Saxifrages, DC. and 
Duby, 201. (1828); Lindl. Synops. 66. (1829).— Saxifragaces, DC. Prod. 4. 1. 
(1830). 
Essential Character. — Calyx either superior or inferior, of 4 or 5 sepals, which 
cohere more or less at their base. Petals 5, or none, inserted between the lobes of the 
calyx. Stamens 5-10, inserted either into the calyx (perigynous), or beneath the ovary 
(hypogynous) ; anthers 3-celled, bursting longitudinally. Disk either hypogynous or 
perigynous, sometimes nearly obsolete, sometimes annular and notched, rarely consisting 
of 5 scales. Ovary inferior, or nearly superior, usually consisting of 2 carpels, cohering 
more or less by their face, but distinct and diverging at the apex ; sometimes 2-celled with 
a central placenta; sometimes 1 -celled with parietal placentae. Styles none. Stigmas 
sessile on the tips of the lobes of the ovary. Fruit generally a membranous 1- or 2-celled 
capsule with the cells divaricating when ripe. Seeds numerous, very minute ; usually with 
long hexagonal reticulations on the side of a transparent testa. Embryo taper, in the axis 
of fleshy albumen, with the radicle next the hilum. — Herbaceous plants, often growing in 
patches. Leaves simple, either divided or entire, alternate, without stipules. Flower-stems 
simple, often naked. 
Anomalies. Parnassia has 4 parietal placentae opposite the lobes of the stigma. 
Petals sometimes absent. In Heuchera the flowers are irregular, and there are stipules. 
Affinities. Most nearly allied to Rosacese, with tbe herbaceous part of 
which this order agrees in habit, and from which it differs in the polyspermous, 
didymous, partially concrete carpels, albuminous seeds, and want of stipules. 
From Cunoniaceae it is divided rather by the habit, and by the want of stipules, 
than by any thing very positive in the fructification ; the principal characteristic 
featm'e of which consists in the more perfect concretion of the carpels. Baue- 
racese are known by their habit, indefinite stamens, and pecuhar dehiscence of 
the anthers. To Alsinacese their habit allies them ; but they differ in the in- 
sertion of the stamens, placentation, situation of the embryo, and otherwise. 
Portulacacese, which may be compared with this order, particularly on account 
of the situation of the stamens, want of stipules, and albuminous seeds, differ 
essentially in the structure of the embiyo, in the w'ant of symmetry in the 
parts of the flower, and in placentation. Grossulacese, however different they 
are in habit, agree very much in the general structure of the flower ; they dif- 
fer in the ovary being completely concrete and inferior, with two parietal pla- 
centae, in the seeds being attached to long umbilical cords, in the albumen 
being corneous, and the embiyo extremely minute. De Candolle further re- 
marks that the order approaches Crassulaceae, differing in having a smaller 
number of carpels vdiich are partially united both with each other and the 
calyx, and in being destitute of glands at the base of the carpels ; he also com- 
pares it with Viburneee, in consequence of the likeness of Hydrangea to that 
sub-order, &c. &c. See Prodr. 4. 2. Chrysosplenium is remarkable for the 
want of petals ; and Parnassia, which I think, upon the whole, is a genuine 
