June, 1923] 
JOHNSON — CRYPTOMORPHA 
295 
Watson (1) regarded Saxifraga eriophora S. Watson as closely related to 
Saxifraga virginiensis Michx. and S’. nivalis L. It is true that these three 
species are very similar in vegetative characters, but, as will be shown 
below, the flower of Saxifraga eriophora S. Wats, is distinctly different in 
structure from the flowers of the other two above-named species. In like 
manner, Engler (2) placed the species with Saxifraga virginiensis S. Wats., 
S. nivalis L., and S. reflexa Hook., in a group of the section Boraphila 
characterized by a compact inflorescence (“Blutenstand dicht gedrangt”). 
Later, Small and Rydberg (3) included the species in the genus Micranthes 
Haw. 
The important facts about the flower of Saxifraga eriophora S. Wats, are 
that the ovaries of the two otherwise distinct carpels are consolidated with 
the receptacle for nearly half their length, that is, the ovaries are half¬ 
inferior, the receptacle being further prolonged and expanded into a rather 
deep calyx-tube (hypanthium) in the middle region of which the stamens are 
inserted. As in many other species of Saxifraga, the ovaries are surrounded 
dorsally and laterally by a sinuous disk or gland, which in this case persists 
at maturity as a dry flange a short distance above the base of the 
hypanthium. 
Fig. 2. Saxifraga eriophora S. Watson. Drawn from a specimen in the Herbarium of 
the University of California. Height of scape, 15 cm. At the left is a sketch of the lower 
surface of a leaf-blade, showing tomentum. 
