0in. across.

Of the use of its flowers in a cut state, a few words may be said. The
weather soon destroys their beauty, but when cut they may be preserved
for fully a fortnight. On one occasion I took a blossom and placed it in
a flower stand for single specimen blooms; in this instance all the
other glasses held such fine roses as Baroness Rothschild, Madame
Lacharme, and Edouard Morren, but so richly did it compare with these
roses that it was given the place of honour--the top centre glass; this
flower I should say had never seen the full light in the open. After
that others pushed out of the leaves and were speedily damaged, and not
fit to cut.

Flowering period, March to May.

Saxifraga Coriophylla.

_Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEAE.

This is a rather recently discovered alpine species, very dwarf, but
beautiful. The specific name would appear to be in allusion to its
flowers as pink-shaped; they are very small, but the reader, by
referring to the cut (Fig. 85), may form his own opinion of such
likeness; however well founded or otherwise the name may be, we have in
this subject a gem for the rock garden. It is a native of Albania, and
belongs to that section of its extensive genus having triquetrous and
obtuse leaves, or blunt three-sided foliage, as formed by a well
developed keel. It is in flower in the middle of March, at the height of
2in. All its parts are of miniature dimensions, and yet when grown in a
suitable position it is effective.

[Illustration: FIG. 85. SAXIFRAGA CORIOPHYLLA.

(One-half natural size.)]

The flowers are pure white, produced on leafy stems an inch or more
high; they are few, and open in succession; petals round and
overlapping; calyx large for the size of flower, and covered with down;
sepals obtuse and tipped with a brown, almost red-tint; stamens short,
having rather large yellow anthers, which fill the throat of the
corolla. The leaves are evergreen or silvery grey, arranged in small
rosettes, and 1/4in. long, of good substance, rigid and smooth; their
shape is obtuse, concave, and keeled; they are furnished with marginal
excavations, which present themselves as dots; the habit is compact, the
rosettes being crowded and forming cushioned-shaped specimens; the
flowers last for a fortnight in average weather.

Between large stones in vegetable mould and grit, it both thrives and
shows to advantage; it is also a charming subject for the pot culture of
alpines. In company