Order 35. SAXIFRAGÀCEÆ. (Saxifrage Family.)
Herbs or shrubs, of various aspect, distinguishable from Rosaceæ by having copious albumen in the seeds, opposite as well as alternate leaves, and usually no stipules; the stamens mostly definite, and the carpels commonly fewer than the sepals, either separate or partly so, or all combined into one compound pistil. Calyx either free or adherent, usually persistent or withering away. Stamens and petals almost always inserted on the calyx. Ovules anatropous.
Tribe I. SAXIFRAGEÆ. Herbs. Leaves alternate (rarely opposite in n. 2 and 6). Fruit dry, capsular or follicular, the styles or tips of the carpels distinct.
[*] Ovary 2- (rarely 3-) celled with axile placentas, or of as many nearly distinct carpels.
1. Astilbe. Flowers polygamous, panicled. Stamens (8 or 10) twice as many as the small petals. Seeds few. Leaves decompound.
2. Saxifraga. Flowers perfect. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Seeds numerous, with a close coat.
3. Boykinia. Flowers perfect. Stamens only as many as the petals, which are convolute in the bud and deciduous. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary. Seed-coat close.
4. Sullivantia. Flowers perfect. Stamens 5. Calyx nearly free. Seeds wing-margined.
[*][*] Ovary 1-celled, with 2 parietal placentas alternate with the stigmas. Sterile stamens none.
5. Tiarella. Calyx nearly free from the slender ovary. Petals entire. Stamens 10. Placentas nearly basal.