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XXXII. SAXIFRAGACEiE 
Shrubs. Leaves opposite. 
Flowers in compound corymbs, some of the outer 
ones much larger than the others. Filaments 
thread-like ........ 5. Hydrangea. 
Flowers in spreading panicles, all alike. Filaments 
flattened, 3-pointed 6. Deutzia. 
Stamens 20-40. Petals 4. Shrubs 7. Philadelphia. 
1. ASTILBE. From the Greek a, without, and stilbe, 
brilliancy ; referring to the small, apetalous flowers. — N. Asia, 
N. America. 
Astilbe rivularis, Buch.-Ham . ; FI. Br. Bid. ii. 389. An erect, 
hairy herb, 3-4 ft. high ; rootstock perennial. Leaves alternate, 
6-18 in., irregularly 2-pinnate, lower pinnules usually with 3 
leaflets ; stipules large, membranous, sheathing ; base of leaf- 
stalks dilated, hairy ; leaflets ovate, sometimes lobed, 1-4 in., 
cordate, sharply and unequally toothed, long-pointed, upper 
surface glabrous, lower minutely bristly along the midrib and 
nerves. Flowers very small, sometimes 1- sexual, green-yellow, 
in a terminal panicle 1-2 ft. long. Calyx-tube bell-shaped, adnate 
to the base of the ovary ; limb deeply 5 -lobed, persistent. Petals 
