''Astilboides'', a genus of the

saxifrage ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

family containing only one species, ''Astilboides tabularis'', a

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

once included in the genus ''

Rodgersia '' Rodgersia aesculifolia'' ''Rodgersia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Saxifragaceae family. ''Rodgersia'' are herbaceous perennials originating from east Asia. Taxonomy The review of the genus by Pan Jin-tang, in 1994 recognises ...

''. It is native to northeastern China and Korea. It differs from its former relatives mainly in its leaf shape. It is grown for its huge bright green, circular leaves to 36 in (90 cm) across with the stem attached to the center, and large fluffy racemes of tiny white flowers produced in summer. The Latin

specific epithet In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...

''tabularis'' means "tabular" or "flat", referring to the leaf formation.

Cultivation

Grown best in moist soils in a cool sheltered spot. It is usually seen at its best near water. It bears very little resemblance to the genus ''

Astilbe ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizome, rhizomatous flowering plants within the family (biology), family Saxifragaceae, native plant, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the comm ...

'' after which it was named. Propagate from seed or divisions when dormant.

References

*Lord, Tony (2003) Flora : The Gardener's Bible : More than 20,000 garden plants from around the world. London: Cassell.
Botanica Sistematica
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15281335, from2=Q1305413 Garden plants Flora of Manchuria Flora of Korea Saxifragaceae Monotypic Saxifragaceae genera Plants described in 1887 Taxa named by William Hemsley (botanist)