Tas. 6601. 
ABELIA SPATHULATA. 
Native of Japan. 
Nat. Ord. Capriroriacem.—Tribe LonicEREX. 
Genus ApEtia, Br.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. ii. p. 4.) 
ABELIA spathulata; ramulis foliisque subtus v. utrinque sericeo-puberulis v. 
glabratis, foliis oppositis elliptico-lanceolatis obtuse acuminatis sinuato-serrulatis 
in petiolum brevissimum angustatis, floribus 2-nis terminalibus pedunculo 
brevi gracili sessilibus, bracteis minutis caducis, ovario tenui pubescente, 
calycis lobis 4-5 oblongo-spathulatis obtusis roseis reticulatis, corolla elba fauce 
aureo-maculata e basi breviter tubuloso campanulata, lobis 5 rotundatis, 
staminibus inclusis, filamentis pilosis. : 
A. spathulata, Sieb. et Zuce. Fl. Jap. vol. i. p. 77, t. 34, f. 2. 
The Japanese species of Abelia are not easily distinguished, 
varying much as they do in habit, pubescence, form and. 
margin of leaf, and size of flower; and I have some difficulty 
in discriminating between A. spathulata, A. serrata, A. biflora, 
and A, wniflora. The subject of the plate here given is 
unquestionably A. spathulata, 8. & Z., best recognized by 
the minute bracts, the four or five oblong-spathulate 
spreading rosy calyx-lobes, and the large flower. Its 
nearest ally is A. serrata, 8S. & Z., with larger bracts, 
usually only two elliptic-oblong calyx-lobes and a narrower 
corolla, gradually narrowed into the basal tube. Of A. 
biflora, Turez., a Chinese plant, I have seen no authentic 
specimens; it is said to have a tribracteole peduncle, and a 
four-fid corolla. A. uniflora, Br., again, figured in this 
work (Tab. 4694, doubtfully the plant of Brown), has minute 
bracts, corollas larger than d. spathulata, and two very 
large oblong calyx-lobes ; A. serrata, 8. & Z., is referred to 
it under the above-cited plate, but the form of the corolla 
of the two is widely different, that of the figure being quite 
like A. spathulata, whilst that of the true A. serrata is, as 
described above, much narrower and more funnel-shaped. 
JANUARY Ist, 1882. 
