BRITISH WILD FLOATERS. 
103 
4.— THE ALPINE BROOK SAXIFRAGE. (Leiogyne bivularis, Lindley.) 
Synonyme. —Saxifraga civilians, Lin. I Specific Chauacter. — Leaves palmate, stalked; the uppermost 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 2275 ; 2nd ed., t. 604. I spatulate. Stem with few flowers. Root fibrous. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —This plant is only found in the Highlands of Scotland, near alpine brooks, or on the 
borders of waterfalls. It is a perennial, and produces its small white flowers from July to September. 
§ 2.— Capsule depressed. 
5.— THE CLUSTERED ALPINE SAXIFRAGE. (Leiogyne nivalis, Lindley.) 
Synonyme. —Saxifraga nivalis, Lin. [ ing and entire at the base. Cluster dense, capitate, of few flowers. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 440 ; 2nd ed., t. 598. (Lindley.) 
Specific Character. — Leaves roundish-obovate, serrated; taper- I 
Description, &c.— This is an elegant little perennial which covers the summits of lofty mountains, both in 
Scotland and Wales, with tufts of leaves, which look like those of the daisy when not in flower. About July 
and August, however, every tuft of leaves sends up a stalk, which bears at its termination a cluster of pretty 
little flowers which are white, tinted with pink on the back, and with bright red anthers. This plant is often 
cultivated in gardens on rockwork; and in sheltered situations it flowers in March and April. 
GENUS V. 
THE TRUE SAXIFRAGE. (Saxifraga, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx 5-lobed, erect. Petals equal. Sta- simple. Leaves usually divided more or less. Flowers white or 
mens 10, perigynous. Disk obsolete. Capsule half inferior, with 2 purple, seldom yellow. (Lindley.) 
cells. Stems generally branching and forming tufts, sometimes 
Description, &c. —The plants retained in the genus Saxifraga differ from those that have been separated 
from it principally in the capsule being half inferior, that is, partly below the rest of the flower ; and the flowers 
being generally either single or corymbose. This genus is placed in the same Linnaean class and order as the 
last. The name of Saxifraga is from two Greek words signifying to break a stone, in allusion to the manner in 
which the roots of some of the species penetrate the Assures of rocks, and between stones. 
1.—THE PURPLE MOUNTAIN SAXIFRAGE. (Saxifraga oppositifolia, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 9; 2nd ed., t. 601 ; and our fig. 4, I Specific Character. — Branches single-flowered, clothed with 
in PI. 23. | opposite, imbricated, fringed leaves. Petals ovate. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —Perhaps no kind of British Saxifrage is better known than this, as it is very commonly 
grown in gardens on rockwork. In its native state it is found on rocks, among the mountains in Wales and 
Scotland, to which it forms a beautiful covering, from its long trailing branches being closely covered with 
evergreen leaves. It is a perennial, and its beautiful purple flowers appear in great abundance in February and 
March, as soon as they can make their way through the snow. 
