100 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
THE MOSSY TILLiEA. (Till*a muscosa, Lin.) 
This is a troublesome little weed on gravel walks in the neighbourhood of London. It is also found in great 
abundance on the sandy plains of Norfolk and Suffolk ; and there, in autumn, its leaves take a pinkish tinge, 
which has rather a pretty effect. It is an annual, and it continues flowering nearly all the summer. 
CHAPTER XXY. 
THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. (Saxifrages, Juss.) 
Character of the Order. —Calyx either superior or inferior, of 
four or five sepals, which cohere more or less at their base. Petals 
five, or none, inserted between the lobes of the calyx. Stamens five 
to ten, inserted either into the calyx (perigynous), or beneath the 
ovarium (hypogynous); anthers two-celled, bursting longitudinally. 
Disk either hypogynous or perigynous, sometimes nearly obsolete, 
sometimes annular and notched, rarely consisting of five scales. 
Ovarium adhering to the calyx or distinct from it, usually consisting of 
two parts, cohering more or less by their face, but distinct at the apex; 
sometimes two-celled with a central placenta ; sometimes one-celled 
Description, &c. —This order formerly consisted 
the Moschatel ( Adoxa ), the Grass of Parnassus (Par 
have divided the latter genus into four genera, three c 
Araliacese. 
with parietal placentae; rarely four or five-celled. Styles none. 
Stigmata sessile on the tips of the lobes of the ovarium. Fruit generally 
a membranous one or two-celled capsule with two bractete ; rarely a 
four-celled four-valved capsule ; sometimes a four-celled berry. Seeds 
numerous, very minute ; usually with long hexagonal reticulations on 
the sides 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 stipulse. Flower-stems simple, often naked. ( Lindley .) 
four genera, the Golden Saxifrage ( Chrysosplenium ), 
i ssia), and the genus Saxifrage ; but modern botanists 
which are new, and have removed Adoxa to the order 
GENUS I. 
THE GOLDEN SAXIFRAGE. (Chrysosplenium, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx four or five-parted, coloured inside. at the apex. Small succulent herbs, with reniform notched leaves, 
Petals none. Stamens eight or ten, short, perigynous. Disk annular. and green inconspicuous flowers. (Lindley.) 
Styles two, spreading. Capsule inferior, of one cell, and two valves 
Description, &c. —There are only two species in this genus, both of which are pretty little weeds, with 
small yellow flowers; and the principal difference in the species is, that in one the leaves are opposite to each 
other, and in the other they are alternate. Both species are perennials, flowering from March to July; and 
both are creeping succulent plants, growing in moist shady woods. They are placed in the Linnaean class 
Decandria, though they have generally only eight stamens, instead of ten ; and in the order Digynia, because 
the capsule has two styles. The name of Chrysosplenium is said to signify golden spleen, and to be given to 
the plant in allusion to its medicinal properties, though these have long since fallen into disrepute. 
GENUS II. 
THE GRASS OF PARNASSUS. (Parnassia, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA TETRAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-parted, spreading. Petals five, 
ribbed, sometimes glandular. Stamens five. Disk consisting of five 
fleshy scales, opposite the petals, and often fringed with glands. Ova¬ 
rium superior, one-celled, with four parietal placentae. Stigmas four, 
obtuse, opposite the placentae ! Capsule superior, or nearly so, of oDe 
cell and four valves. Seeds numerous, bordered.— Herbaceous plants, 
natives of boggy places. Roots fibrous. Leaves radical, entire. Stems 
simple, with one leaf, and one white flower. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one species in this genus, and that is a very singular plant, which seems 
to have puzzled botanists as to what natural family they should place it in ; some classing it with the Sun-Dew, 
