SAXIFRAGA hirsuta.
Hairy Oval-leaved Saxifrage,
DECANDRIA Eigynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-cleft. Petals 5. Caps, with 2
beaks, 1 cell, and many seeds.
Spec. Char. Leaves oval, somewhat heartshaped, abrupt,
with cartilaginous notches. Stem naked,
panicled. Capsule superior.
S yn. Saxifraga hirsuta. Linn. Sp. P I. 574. Picot
Lapeyrouse P yren . t. 23.
I n our 22d volume, p. 1561, we have announced the discovery
of this plant on the Irish mountains by Mr. J . T. Mac-
kay, and we are obliged to that assiduous botanist for a specimen
produced last June, in the Dublin garden, from a native
root.
This species is very near S. Geum, 1. 1561, but Mr. Mackay,
who has observed it both in a wild and cultivated state, is satisfied
of their being distinct. All we can vouch for is its being
what Linnaeus described as hirsuta. The synonym of Geum
Jo lio circinato, acute crenato, pistillo Jloris rulro, Magnol.
Hort. 87. t. 13, appears by the figure rather to belong to
S . Geum. Linnaeus justly points out the affinity of these two
plants, but says the leaves of the present are oval, not kidney-
shaped, which is true, and appear^ to be constant. The flowers
are rather larger and more ornamental, having more red spots
on their petals, but this may be variable. S. hirsuta seems an|
intermediate specie« between Qeym and umlrosa, t. 663,