same section; but _S. paradoxa_ differs much in general
appearance from them all, and remarkably so in one or two respects, as,
indeed, it does from the whole genus, thus justifying its name. The
uneven length and arrangement of leaves, the casting off of the
encrustments as a skin or in flakes, exposing to view a finely-polished
surface, and the general web-like appearance of the tufts, are all
peculiar to it. Of all the varieties of its section it most resembles
_S. carinthiaca_ and _S. Australis_; these forms, however, grow in
compact rosette form, having leaves of more even size and shape. Our
subject is irregular in every way, many of the leaves pushing out to
double the length of others, and becoming attenuated at their junction,
or club-shaped.

Its flowers are insignificant and similar to those of _S. Aizoon_, but
more dwarf in the stem. The leaves are 1/2in. to 3in. long, very narrow
and tongue-shaped, sometimes obtuse and club-shaped; stout, dark green,
with a greyish crust-like covering, and deeply dotted with bright spots.
The leaves are arranged in lax rosettes and are reflexed or pressed flat
to the earth nearly all their length. The habit is very pretty in
established and fair-sized specimens, which accommodate themselves to
the form of surface, and the longer or erratic leaves become so
interlaced with the other parts as to appear woven; this habit and the
bright bead-like dots go to make the plant more than ordinarily
attractive. It should be in every collection of choice Saxifrages; it is
charming as a pot specimen, plunged and grown out of doors the year
round.

On rockwork it should have a place, too, among the gems, being a neat
and slow grower; its position should be near dark-coloured stones, where
it will prove most telling. In damp weather its silvery parts are
obliterated, but a breeze of half-an-hour or a beam of sunshine soon
brings it into full beauty again. Gritty peat and a little loam suits it
well; I have it doing nicely in ordinary garden soil; but if the more
carefully prepared composts are employed, the results well repay the
pains so taken. Its propagation is easily carried out by root divisions;
early spring is a good time for the operation.

Flowering period, May and June.

Saxifraga Pectinata.

_Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEAE.

This belongs to the encrusted section, being most distinctly toothed;
from this it takes its name; the teeth are large for such small leaves.
Sp