426 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



1. THE SPIILEA TRIBE, SPIRJ&A, in which the fruit is a dry seed- 

 vessel or follicle. 



THE HARD HACK. SPIRjEW. L. 



The spiraeas are shrubs, or herbs from perennial roots, with 

 alternate leaves, and white or rose-colored flowers, which are 

 formed of a 5-cleft, persistent calyx ; 5 equal petals ; from 10 

 to 60 stamens ; 5, rarely 3 or 12, ovaries, which become so many 

 1-celled follicles, distinct or rarely united at base, and contain- 

 ing from 1 to 15 seeds. There are about fifty species of this 

 genus, many of which are hardy plants of great beauty, culti- 

 vated extensively in the gardens of Europe, and sometimes 

 formed into hedges. The different species flower successively 

 from spring to the end of summer. They are propagated by 

 dividing the roots, by suckers, by layers or by seed. The root 

 and bark generally possess astringent and tonic properties, and 

 are employed in medicine and in tanning. Thirteen species are 

 found in North America, of which the following occur here. 



Sp. 1. The Nine Bark. $. opulifblia. L. 



An ornamental shrub from five to seven feet high, distin- 

 guished for the abundance of its showv heads of flowers, and for 

 its conspicuous fruit. The stem is rugged, with loose, gray bark, 

 easily detached and scaling off. The recent shoots are some- 

 what angular, and green. Leaves on short footstalks, ovate, 

 rounded at the end, usually with two large lobes about or below 

 the middle, but often entire, doubly serrate or crenate, the serra- 

 tures rounded and callous. Stipules as long as the footstalk, 

 oblong, pointed. Flowers in nearly hemispherical heads, on a 

 short stalk. Each flower on a slender, downy thread. Calyx 

 5, broad, pointed lobes. Petals round, white, with a rose tinge. 

 Stamens very numerous, long, with short, purple anthers. 



It is found from Canada to Georgia and Missouri, and as far 

 west as Oregon and California. 



This showy plant may be made to grow any where, in wet 

 ground or dry, by cuttings thrust almost without care into the 

 ground. 



