Flowering period, May and June.

Saxifraga Peltata.

_Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEAE.

A new species to English gardens, hardy, herbaceous, and perennial,
imported from North America; it is a truly noble plant. The illustration
(Fig. 90) will convey some idea of its fine form, but the reader must
rely on the description for its size when fully developed. When the
flowers of this Saxifrage are in their best form, the noble foliage is
scarcely half developed; a drawing, therefore (though it could hardly be
made at a stage when the plant is more interesting), must necessarily
fail, in this case, to give any more than an approximate idea of the
parts undeveloped. Not only is this the largest species of the extensive
genus at present grown in this country, but its form is both distinct
and noble.

[Illustration: FIG. 90. SAXIFRAGA PELTATA.

(1, Single blossom, natural size.)]

The flowers are produced on stems 18in. high and 3/4in. thick at the base,
being covered with long stiff white hairs, which are very conspicuous on
the reddish stems. The flowers are similar to those of most of the
genus, as may be seen by the one given in the drawing; they are arranged
in massive heads, 3in. to 6in. in diameter, and rose-coloured. The
leaves at the flowering time are 6in. or 9in. across, having stout,
round, ruddy stems, 8in. long, covered with stiff hairs; they form a
junction with the leaves in an unusual way, viz., near the centre,
whence the specific name _peltata_, or umbrella shape; but the form of
the leaves at the flowering period, which is funnel-shape, is, a little
later on, reversed, the edges bending downwards. The younger leaves are
folded and hooked downward, having the appearance of stout fern fronds
just out of the ground, and their stalks are much contorted. The more
advanced leaves are seen to be seven-cut, each lobe divided and
sub-divided by cuts less deep, the whole leaf being richly toothed and
veined. The under side is covered with hairs, the upper surface being
smooth, shining, and of a pleasing bronze-green colour. Later, the
foliage in every way increases very much in size, reaching a height of
2ft., and each leaf measuring nearly a foot across. The root or rhizoma
is horizontal, progressive, jointed, and fibrous at the joints, and
nearly 2in. in diameter; it may be clearly traced on the surface, but
the fibrous parts go very deep.

It is said to be a bog subject; fortunately, however, this fine