[Plate 5.] 
THE CHANGEABLE ADAMIA. 
(ADAMIA VERSICOLOR.) 
* 
A Greenhouse Shrub, from China, belonging to the Natural Order of Hydrangeads. 
specific Character* 
7772 CHANGEABLE ADAMIA.-Leaves oblong-lanceo- 
late, sharply toothed, entire at the base and narrowed 
into the stalk, covered with down on the ribs. Panicle 
pyramidal, downy. Branchlets in cymes. Flowers in 
seven parts, with about twenty stamens. 
ADAMIA VERSICOLOR; foliis oblongo- lanced atis acute 
serratis basi integris in petiolum angustatis subtus in 
costas pubescentibus, panicula pyramidali pubescente, 
armulis cvniosis. floribus hentameris icosandris. 
i 
i 
Adamia versicolor : Fortune in Journal of the Horticultural Society, vol. 1, p. 298. 
^ plant which had been brought from China by Mr. Fortune and which flowered in the garden of 
the Horticultural Society in September, 1846, furnished the materials for the accompanying figure. 
It had been found by him in Hong Kong, growing in ravines about half-way up the granitic moun- 
tains of that Island. 
with the habit of an Hydrangea, to which genus it is naturally related. The 
grow 
with a red mi 
stems and branches are downy ; 
sharp-pointed, somewhat conve: , 9 
downy. The flowers appear in pyramidal downy panicles. In the bud state the corolla is pure white ; 
more advanced it assumes a violet and ultramarine tint ; at a later period it becomes a clear delicate 
blue, and upon opening it forms a handsome violet star of six or seven points, inclosing about twenty 
deep violet stamens, in the centre of which are found five bright blue styles. Thus there is found in 
the same panicle, at the same time, an infinite variety of tints of clear blue and violet, as well as pure 
white, the effect of which is extremely pleasing. 
unc 
porceiam- blue berries : but they have not appeared as yet in this country. 
In fact, since the plant which flowered under Mr. Fortune's care in September, 1846, and which 
is here represented, no specimen of any beauty has appeared, and an idea has been entertained that 
the species is not worth cultivation because there has not yet been skill enough to manage it properly. 
What its precise treatment should be must be left to the determination of experiment. It is, however, 
what is known of Honcr Kmicr that the nlant reauires the clim 
d2 
