[351]

[351]

Saxifraga Mutata. Saffron-Colour'd Saxifrage.

Class and Order.

Decandria Digynia.

Generic Character.

Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla 5-petala. Caps. 2-rostris 1-locularis polysperma.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

SAXIFRAGA mutata foliis radicalibus aggregatis lingulatis cartilagineo-serratis, caule racemoso folioso, calyce villoso et viscido. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 411. Jacq. Ic. Pl. rar. Fasc. 9.

N^o. 351

Linnæus has arranged several distinct species of Saxifrage under the Saxyfraga Cotyledon, but very properly separates this; though in the general form of its foliage it is as nearly related to it as most of the others; from four of them it is indeed perfectly distinct, instead of the sawed cartilaginous edge, it has only fine soft hairs, more especially towards the base; towards the extremity there is some appearance of little teeth, but widely differing from those of the others. The whole plant is covered with viscid hairs; the stalk about a foot high, is much branched; but the great peculiarity of this plant consists in its flowers, the petals being long, narrow, and pointed, and of a saffron colour, of a deeper tint when they first open, and gradually changing to a pale yellow; the beauty of the flowers is heightened by a glandular substance in the centre of each, which when the flower expands is of a bright purple colour.

This rare species of Saxifrage is a native of the Alps of Switzerland and Italy; we raised it with difficulty from seeds sent us by Mr. Daval, of Orbe, in Switzerland; it was three years before the plants flowered; those now in bloom in my garden, June 15, bid fair to produce seeds in abundance; the plant may also be produced from offsets, in the same way as the Saxifraga Cotyledon, vulgarly called Pyramidal Sedum, and requires a similar treatment; though an Alpine plant, it must be sheltered from much wet and severe frosts.

Baron Haller describes it with spots on the petals; those certainly did not exist on our plants.