346^ FLORA DOMESTICA. 



SPIE^A. 



ROSACEA. ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 



The name Spiraea signifies a rope, these shrubs being flexible like 

 ropes, and also because many parts of the stem, and the fruits of 

 some of the species are twisted. It is also called Bridewort. 



This is a beautiful genus ; most of the species are 

 handsome flowering shrubs : the Willow-leaved, commonly 

 called Spiraea Frutex, grows to a height of from three to 

 six feet, according to the soil ; the blossoms are handsome, 

 and of a rose-red ; blowing in June and July. In moist 

 seasons, the young shoots from the root will frequently 

 flower in autumn. It is a native of Siberia. 



The Scarlet Spiraea is a native of Pensylvania; the 

 blossoms are of a beautiful red-colour, blowing in August 

 and September. 



It is not determined whether the Hypericum-leaved 

 Spiraea be a native of Italy, or of North America ; it is 

 called Hypericum Frutex, and Italian May. In Italy, 

 there are hedges of it, bearing a profusion of blossoms. 

 It flowers in May and June. Its height is five or six feet. 



The Germander-leaved kind also makes beautiful hedges. 

 The Kamschadales use the leaves of this as tea, and 

 make tobacco-pipes of the straight shoots : it flowers in 

 June. 



The Three-lobed-leaved kind is a Siberian, it grows 

 about two feet high, bears white flowers, and is a very 

 elegant plant. 



The Currant-leaved Spiraea, familiarly called the Vir- 

 ginian Guelder Rose, grows nine or ten feet high : the 

 blossoms are white, spotted with pale-red. 



The Spiraea Filipendula, or Di-opwort, is an herbaceous 

 plant ; so called from the manner in which its tuberous 

 roots hang together by threads. The flowers are cream- 

 coloured, often tipt with red, opening in July. It grows 



