49 
SAXIFRAGA LIGULATA. 
Fringe-leaved Saxifrage. 
DECANDRIA DIGYNIA.—Nar. Orv. SAXIFRAGEL. 
Gen. Cuar.—Calyx quinquefidus, persistens. Petala quinque. Capsula bi« 
rostrata, unilocularis. Semina numerosa. 
Saxifraga ligulata; acaulis, foliis petiolatis coriaceis late-obovatis retusis 
ciliatis, scapo brevi parce bracteato, panicula cymosa. 
S. ligulata, Watuicn, in Asiat. Res. v. xiii. . (with a figure).——Don, in Linn. 
Trans. v. xiii. p. 348. 
Megasea ? ciliata, Haw. Saxifrag. Enum. p. 7. 
Root long, thick, perennial, woo ly and knotted, towards the upper extremity 
covered with the brown sheathing bases of the former years’ leaves, and 
from the lower part throwing out rather long branching fibres. : 
Leaves all springing from the summit of this root, spreading, 5 or 6 inches 
in length, obtuse at the base, retuse at the extremity, their margins some- 
what reflexed, most beautifully and strongly ciliated with rigid, whitish 
hairs; the substance of the leaf coriaceous, the upper surface of rather a 
deep green, marked with depressed nerves, the under side paler, with 
og 
prominent nerves. Petiole.* about an inch, or an inch and a half long, 
terete, or slightly compressed, at the base broad and sheathing, the upper 
part of the sheath running up into an elongated process, like the ligule 
of a grass (whence I presume Dr Watticn’s specific name), and this 
process, like the margin of the leaf, ciliated. 
Scape from 5 to 7 inches high, erect, flexuose, terminated by a cymose pa-~ 
nicle of large white or pale rose-colored flowers. At the base of the main 
branches is a single, large, cymbiform bractea, green, ciliated towards the 
extremity, and having sometimes a fleshy mucro at the back. : 
Calyx cup-shaped, very obtuse at the base, reddish, with 5 dull green, erect 
lobes. Corolla of 5 large waved petals, spreading, clawed, the claw short, 
always rose-colored, inserted upon the calyx between the lobes and up- 
on the same point with the 5 short stamens. Stamens 10, erect, inserted 
upon the calyx, 5 at the base of the lobes, and 5 at the sinuses; Fila- 
ments erect, alternately shorter, rose-colored, the taller ones as long as 
the Germen ; Anthers roundish, purple. Germen entirely free, greenish- 
flesh-colored, oblong, with 2 longish, nearly erect beaks, or aie die 
vided almost to the base. Stigmas ee 
Ot | M " 
* There is a peculiarity in the mode in which the margins of this leaf are attached 
to the petiole, similar to what I have already observed in the leaf of Orontium aquaticum. 
The margins, on each side, are not decurrent with the sides of the petiole, nor do they 
jut on to them, but they meet almost transversely in the front of the petiole. 
