UsING tHE Keys. 9 
Under some shrubbery, I see very often a trailing little 
evergreen with lanceolate or elliptical entire simple leaves, two 
at a node (opposite); and its single large blue flowers attract 
attention early in the spring. The Synopsis of Groups refers 
me to ‘Key C (p. 34) where, by the successive steps I to 15, 15 
fO 36545910 39, 39 10 40, 40 to 42, 42 ta 40, 40 to 50, 50<t0 51, 
I reach the conclusion that it is a Vinca. Reference to the ac- 
count of this genus (p. 165) shows that it is the periwinkle or 
running “myrtle,” Vinca minor. . 
Of late years a gigantic twiner, woody only at base, has come 
into extensive use. Its alternate compound leaves with three 
large lobed leaflets enable me to trace it through Key D (p. 38), 
by the steps I to 7, 7 to 10, 10 to II, I1 to 23, 23 to 26, and 26 to 
27, where I see that it is a Pueraria, and reference to p. III 
shows that it is the Kudzu vine, P. hirsuta. 
Finally, to take a more complicated case, I gather a shoot 
of a very slender and graceful deciduous shrub under my win- 
dow and note that it has alternate 5-ranked simple but some- 
what lobed glabrous rather pointed leaves, with a single C- 
shaped woody bundle showing when I snap the leaf-stalk off at 
its base; and the partly ripened fruits, earlier a mass of small 
white flowers, clustered on short twigs, consist of several small 
seed-like “akenes” in each persistent calyx. The Synopsis of 
Groups refers me.to Key B (p. 19) where I trace it from I to 
at. 34 (6.61; 61 to.62; 62 to 63,63 to 65; 65 to. 66; 66: to’ 190; 
eae to. 140 -T4h tO! 1420 14s? ta", 149 2 143; to 147) Tp ta, TAB; 
where I conclude that it is a Spiraea. In the key to species of 
this genus (p. 89) I follow it from 1 to 8; 8 to Io; and Io to Ii, 
where I am satisfied that it is the now very popular betterment 
of the “bridal wreath,” & S. Vanhouttet. The Cyclopedia tells 
me that this is a hybrid of its fore-runner, S. trilobata, with 
S. cantoniensis, and incidentally I learn something of the num- 
ber of species of this attractive genus that the larger collections 
may include, and of their scientific classification. 
