SAXIFRAGE, Sax(fraga, a genus of plants of the natural order saxifrageoe, or saxi fragacem. This order has a calyx, usually of five sepals more or less cohering at the base; a corolla usually of five perigynous petals, alternate with the sepals, rarely want ing; perigynous stamens; a hypogynous 'Or perigynous disk; an ovary, usually of two carpels, cohering more or less by their face, but diverging at the apex; fruit generally a 1 or 2 celled capsule, the cells opening at the ventral suture, and often divaricating when ripe; the seeds usually minute and numerous. The order saxifragem is sometimes regarded as including above 900 species, divided into several suborders, which are elevated by some botanists into distinct orders—leaving, however, more than 300 species. to did reduced order SANIFRAGEzE, which contains herbaceous plants, often growing in patches, with entire or divided alternate exstipulate leaves, natives chiefly of mountain ous tracts in the northern hemisphere, and often found up to the limits of perpetual snow, some of them forming there a rich and beautiful turf, and adorning it with their very pleasing flowers. A considerable number are natives of Britain. Some of the genus saxifraga are well known in gardens,, and are employed to cover rock-works, etc. S. umbrosa, London pride, or none-so-pretty, is familiar in all cottage gardens. It is a native of the bills of Spain, and of the s. and w. of Ireland.
(i.e., Saxo the " grammarian" or "scholar"), the most cele brated of the early Danish chroniclers, flourished in the 12th c., and was secretary to
archbishop Absalom. He is said to have died at ]toeskiide in 1204. Saxo-Grammaticus undoubtedly formed his style on that of the later Roman historians, particularly Valerius Maximus, yet in his whole mode of representation lie belongs to the school of medimval chroniclers, although ranking first in that school. Erasmus half wondered at his elegance. Moreover, it acids mightily to our respect for Saxo-Grammaticus that, although a cleric, he did not in the very least degree allow himself to be swayed in his historical conceptions by the prejudices incident to his profession. His work is entitled Ifixtoria Danica, and consists of 16 books. The earlier portions are of course not very but in regard to times near his own, Saxo-Grammaticus is a most invaluable authority. According to his own statement, he derived his knowledge of the remoter period of Danish history—the "heroic age" of the n.—from old songs, runic inscrip tions, and the historical notices and traditions of the Icelanders; but be is not sharply critical in his treatment of the Danish sagas, although a rudimentary critical tendency is occasionally visible. The best edition of the Ilistoria Da nice is that undertaken by P. E. Muller, and finished by J. 31. Velschov (Copen. 1839). It is furnished with a complete critical apparatus. There are good translations from the original Latin into Danish.