176 BRITISH BOTANY. 



POTEEITJM. — Calyx 4-cleft, with a 4-angular tube, which contains the 2-3 



carpels ; stamens 20-30. 

 Alchemilla. — Calyx 8-parted, containing one, rarely two carpels, no petals ; 



stamens 1-4. 



Teibe I. SFIB^JS. — Carpels few, each 2-6-seeded, in a single whorl, 

 opening by the inner margin (the border nearest the axis or centre 

 of the flower). 



Spir^a. — Perennial^ herbaceous or ligneous plants, with pin- 

 nate, pinnatifid, lobed or entire leaves (segments often very un- 

 equal) ; stipules often very minute or absent. -Flowers white or 

 roseate, in many-flowered corymbs, or in spicate panicles. Calyx 

 in 5 divisions, without a calycule (secondary calyx) . Styles ter- 

 minal, withering. 



Spirsea Ulmaria, L. Meadow-sweet. — e.b. 960. l.b.s. 317. 

 A. 18. C. 82. Lat. 50-61°. Alt. 0-900 yds. Tern. 51-38°. 



Stem erect, rigid, angular, smooth, branched above, leafy. Leaf- 

 lets ovate or slightly cordate at the base, with sharply toothed 

 lobes, hoary or tomentose below, in 4-5 pairs, with alternate 

 smaller or abortive ones, and with a dilated trifid terminal en- 

 larged lobe ; stipules lunulate, sharply toothed Flowers in com- 

 pound cymes. Petals roundish, with linear claws, white. Carpels 

 twisted, glabrous. 



In watery places. Perennial ; June-September. 



S. Filipendula, L. Dropwort. — e.b. 284. e.b.s. 318. 

 A. 14. C. 50. Lat. 50-57°. Alt. 0-200 yds. Tem. 52-47°. 



E-oots furnished with fibres which terminate in fleshy tubers. 

 Stems herbaceous, 1—2-3 feet high, erect, usually simple, with a 

 few branches near the top. Leaves of the root numerous, of the 

 stem few, with numerous leaflets (interruptedly pinnate) which 

 are sessile, and slightly clasping; stipules toothed. Flowers 

 white, in many-flowered, terminal corymbs. Carpels numerous, 

 small, conical, hairy or bristly. 



On chalky or limestone open places. Perennial ; June, July. 



S. salicifolia, Lin. Willow-leaved Spiraa. — e.b. 1468. l.s.b. 

 319. 



A. 12. C. ? Lat. 53?-57°. Alt. 0?-yds. Tern.? 



This species is shrubby, 4-5 feet high, with numerous, erect, 

 round, smooth, wand-like, leafy branches. Leaves oblong, lan- 

 ceolate, on short petioles, serrated with mucronate teeth. Flowers 

 small, in dense, branched, erect, terminal clusters of a pale rose- 



