SPIRJE'A IwEVIGATA. 



SMOOTH SPIRAEA. 

 Class. Order. 



ICOSANDRIA. DI-PBjrTAGYNIA. 



Natural Order. 



ROSACES. 



No. 32. 



The term Spiraea has been deduced from the 

 Greek SPEIRA, a rope; and is applied to this genus 

 in consequence of the flexibility of the branches in 

 some of its species. Laevigata from the Latin laevis, 

 smooth. 



There are several species of Spiraea well known 

 in our gardens, as the Spiraea salicifolia, usually 

 called the Spiraea frutex : and the Spiraea hype- 

 ricifolia, sometimes known by the name of Hype- 

 ricum frutex. Our present subject is not quite so 

 frequently met with as either of these, though not 

 less interesting, nor less entitled to a place in every 

 shrubbery. Its summer foliage is generally retained 

 in a dry state, during winter, and forms a nice 

 shelter to the young shoots, which are usually ra- 

 ther succulent, and, seem to need some such pro- 

 tection against the inclemencies of winter. 



It may occasionally be propagated by suckers, 

 though not so freely as are some others of the same 

 family. Or it may readily be raised by layers, 

 which should be confined under the soil in autumn, 

 and they will be sufficiently rooted for separation in 

 twelve months. 



Hort. Kew. 2, v. 3, 254. 



