C 9 ]
S A X I F R A G A oppofîtifolia.
Purple Saxifrage.
D E C A N D R I A Digynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. in five fegments. Cor. of five
petals. Capjule with two beaks, one-celled ; Jeeds
numerous.
Spec. Char. Leaves oppofite, imbricated all along
the Item, the upper ones ciliated. Flowers foli-
tary, terminal.
Syn. Saxifraga oppofitifolia. Linn. Sp. P I. 5 7 5 . Hudf.
FI. An. 180. With. Bot. A rr. 4 3 2 . F I. Dan. t. 34.
S. Alpina ericoides, flore cæruleo. R a il Syn. 3 5 3 .
A N A T IV E of the higheft alpine rocks, efpecially of
Snowdon and Ingleborough, where it is “ doomed to blufh (for
the moll part) unfeen” on the firft melting of the fnow. In
the latter part of fummer the plant acquires a dark mahogany
colour, like that of fome fpecies of Jungermannia, the young
leaves only remaining green. The beauty of its flowers has
caufed it to be cultivated in pots for ornamenting rooms in
fpring, mixed with Hyacinths, Narcifliifes, &c. with which it
makes an agreeable variety.
The ngure in Flora Danica reprefents this plant in a dwarf
ftate : ours is taken from a cultivated, and therefore more luxuriant
fpecimen, refembling the appearance of the plant as it is
found on the Alps of Switzerland.