NAT. ORDER. 



Saxifragece. 



HYDRANGEA HORTENSIS. CHINA HYDRANGEA. 



Class X. Decandria. Older II. Digynia. 



Gen. Char. Slainens ten. Styles two. Petals f^-e. Calyx five- 

 leaved. Capsules two-celled. 



Spe. Char. Leaves large and fleshy. Stamens equal. 



This shrub rises from two to three feet in height; the stems are 

 branched, thick, cylindrical, straight, and furnished with opposite 

 leaves; the leaf-stalk is short, thick, and of a light green color; the 

 leaves are elliptical, large, from six to eight inches in length, smooth 

 on both si(^es, glossy on the upper surface, tipped with a beautiful 

 green, and sometimes with a purplish red, marked with large fibres 

 whieh form an acute angle with the mid-rib, and deeply serrated 

 on the edges ; the Jlowers are of a delicate pink color, and are pro- 

 duced in terminating corymbs. It is a native of China, and Japan, 

 and continues in blossom from June till September. 



The Genus Hydrangea derived its name from udor, water, and 

 aggeion, a vessel. The species which appears to be so extensively 

 cultivated as an ornament, is a marsh plant, and thrives best in a 

 moist loamy soil, that is sometimes covered with water, even some 

 of our garden varieties, especially those which are potted, require 

 from eight to ten gallons per day. The Hydrangea Hortensis, some- 

 times called the Changeable Hydrangea, is much admired on 

 account of its profusion of delicate and beautiful blossoms, which 

 are of a rosy hue, and destined to retain their gayest appearance 

 clurino- several of the summer months, which should certainly enti- 



Vol. ii.— 11 



