hardiest of its genus; several young plants succumbed at 
Kew to the winter conditions of 1909-10, and since then 
the remaining plants have been afforded protection in 
severe weather. It is to be hoped that as its age increases, 
and it becomes more woody, this striking and beautiful 
shrub may prove more robust, especially as it flowers in late 
July, when flowering shrubs are particularly in request. A 
strong grower, it needs good loamy soil, and it is probable 
that, as in the case of the other Hydrangeas, the most 
satisfactory method of propagation will be by cuttings. 
Description.—Shrub, 6-7 ft. high; branches clothed 
upwards with harsh hairs and stiff bristles. Leaves ovate, 
shortly acuminate, base cordate or rounded, margin crenate, 
the teeth unequal, rather broad, apiculate, 6-12 in. long, 
23-63 in. wide, dull green above, with adpressed hairs, 
beneath paler and loosely strigosely hairy ; petiole pubescent, 
with an admixture of harsher hairs. Corymb dense-flowered, 
5-64 in. across, the axes and especially the main ones 
tomentose with a mixture of longer hairs, some of them 
harsh, the main rays up to 12 or 13, almost opposite, 23 in. 
long ; bracts soon deciduous, lanceolate, acuminate, densely 
strigose; pedicels of the fertile flowers 1 lin. long, slender, 
of is sterile flowers 3-2 in. long. Fertile flowers before 
opening 1 lin. long, pale violet, depressed-globose. Sepals 
wide-triangular, very short. Petals soon deciduous, oblong- 
ovate, under 1 lin. Jong. Stamens 2-seriate, filaments of the 
shorter series as long as the petals, those of the longer series 
nearly twice as long as petals. Ovary almost inferior; 
styles 2-3. Capsule hemispherical, slightly 10-12-ribbed. 
15 lin. wide. Seeds elliptic, narrowed at both ends into a 
short wing, striate, very small. Sterile flowers ray-like, 
1-1} in. across, white; sepals broadly obovate-orbicular, 
entire, loosely strigosely hairy on the back. 
Fig. 1, portion of a flowering-axis; 2, hairs from the axis; 3, fertile flowers; 
4, calyx and pistil; 5 and 6, anthers; 7, a young outer flower :—vall enlarged. 
