ITEA. 



1TEA VIRGINICA. 



RHODODENDRACEjE. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Itea is derived from the Greek, and is so named from the swift- 

 ness of its growth. 



THE Virginian Itea is a shrub six or seven feet high 

 at its full growth, sending out many branches from the 

 bottom of the stem to the top : the leaves are alternate, 

 slightly notched at their edges, light green, and veined. 

 At the extremity of the new shoots are produced five 

 erect spikes of white flowers, three or four inches long, 

 which blow in the month of July. When this shrub is 

 in vigour, it is entirely covered with blossoms in the 

 flowering time, and is exceedingly handsome. It is a 

 native of North America, and was first cultivated in 

 England by Archibald Duke of Argyle, in 1744. 



