94 THE THREE-FLOWERED ABELIA. + 
The branches are slender, grey, and covered with long hairs. The leaves are very dark green, 
bordered with red, ovate-lanceolate, very acute, slightly silky on both sides, and copiously fringed 
with long hairs. The flowers, which appear at the ends of the branches in clusters of threes, are 
remarkable for the very long hairs which cover the five narrow sharp-pointed reddish erect sepals, 
and which are as long as the tube of the corolla. The latter is pale yellow before expansion, but 
when open with a flat white limb, having five rounded lobes delicately tinted with rose. 
This must be regarded as a charming addition to our shrubs, even although it should in England 
require a greenhouse or a conservative wall. In Dublin it seems to be hardy; but experience tells 
us that we must make some allowance for the greater mildness of an Irish winter. 
