25S FLORA HISTORICA. 



seems almost incredible in a plant that produces 

 only abortive flowers. It is now found to be suffi- 

 ciently hardy to stand the open air during the win- 

 ter, and consequently it is seen as an undershrub in 

 every pleasure-ground, and is become as common 

 in the cottager's court as it was famiHar a few years 

 back in the village windows. 



The native place of this plant is not yet ascer- 

 tained, but it is, in all probabihty, an accidental 

 variety of a Chinese plant, since it is commonly cul- 

 tivated in the gardens of China and Japan, from 

 whence it was procured by the late Sir Joseph 

 Banks, Avho presented it to the Royal Gardens at 

 Xew, in the year 1 T90. 



In the garden the Hydrangea is likely to retain a 

 favourable attention, for when planted in the fore- 

 ground of taller shrubs, its profusion of monstrous 

 flowers, which continue in beauty for a great length 

 of time, must ever make it a desirable ornament. 

 "Wc have sometimes seen it planted on lawns, and 

 gi-owing to an incredible size, producing a fine fo- 

 liage, intermixed with cymes of flowers of extraor- 

 dinary beauty. 



The colour of these flowers is g^een when young, 

 but turns to a beautiful rose-colour when in per- 

 fection, after whicli they again become green as they 

 decay. 



Soon after the introduction of tlie Hydrangea, 



