S A X I F R A G A nivalis.
Clttjlered Alpine Saxifrage. *
D E C A N D R I A Digynla.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-cleft. P eta ls 5. Capf. with
two beaks, one-celled. Seeds numerous.
Spec. Char. Leaves obovate, ferrated. Stem Ample,
naked. Flowers cluttered.
Syn; Saxifraga nivalis. L in n . Sp. P I. 573. H u d f.
180. W ith . 403. L ig h tf. 22r, tab. 12.
S. foliis oblongo-rotundis dentatis, floribus compactis.
R a n Syn. 354, ta b . 16. f . 1.
T h i s , the molt alpine of our Britifh faxifrages, is found
about the fummits of the higheft mountains only, in Scotland
and Wales, where it flowers throughout the thort fummer of
thofe exalted regions, but moft naturally and plentifully in
Auguft. Dr. Smith found it fparingly, in 1782, under the {hade
of a rock to the weft, among fome large difperfed mafles of
white quartz on the top of Ben Lomond. We have been favoured
with wild frefh fpecimens from Wales laft fummer
(along with many other rare plants) by I. W. Griffith, Efq.
F. L. S. of Garn near Denbigh, whofe remarks on its extreme
variablenefs, as to fize, fhape of the leaves, luxuriance of its
flowering-ftem, and number of flowers, may be feen in Dr.
Withering’s new edition.
Root perennial, black, fending down long fibres into the
black moift ground. Leaves radical, fpreading, flefhy, obovate,
ftrongly ferrated, lengthened out at the bafe, dark green above,
purplifh beneath (efpecially near the edges and tips), hairy
about the margin. Stalk for the moft part folitary, eredt,
three or four inches high, Ample, leaflefs, round, clothed in
the upper part with fine hairs tipped with vifcid moifture, terminating
in a clutter of feveral flowers on Ihort (fometimes
branched,/ flower-ftalks, the lowermoft often accompanied by
a Ample entire bradtea. Teeth of the calyx flefhy, purple.
Petals ovate, obtufe, white fpotted with pale green, frequently
purplifh. Piftilla white or purplifh. It has moft affinity with
S.Jtellaris, fee t. 167, but may eafily be known by the characters
given above. Ray’s figure is better than Lightfoot’s ;
but neither is very good. Flora Danica, t. 28, reprefents a
luxuriant branched fpecimen.