CALIFORNIAN SAXIFRAGE.
Saxifraga Californica, Greene. Saxifrage Family.
Leaves.—Few; all radical; oval; one to two inches long, on broad petioles six to twelve lines long. Scape.—Six to eighteen inches high. Flowers.—White or rose; four or five lines across. Calyx.—Deeply five-cleft, with reflexed lobes. Petals.—Borne on the calyx. Stamens.—Ten. Ovaries.—Two; partly united. Styles short. Stigmas capitate. Syn.—S. Virginiensis, Michx. Hab.—Throughout the State.
[CALIFORNIAN SAXIFRAGE—Saxifraga Californica.]
In the rich soil of cool northward slopes, or on many a mossy bank amid the tender young fronds of the maidenhair, may be found the delicate clusters of our little Californian saxifrage. The plants are small, with but a few, perhaps only one or two, oval, rather hairy leaves, lying upon the ground, and a slender red scape upholding the dainty cluster of small white flowers. The tips of the calyx-lobes are usually red, and the wee stamens are pink.
We have several species of saxifrage, most of which are plants of exceeding delicacy and grace, and with small flowers.