SPIR.EA 527 



S. AlTCHISONl, Hemsley, 



(Sorbaria angustifolia, Zabel.} 



A shrub of open, spreading habit, ultimately 10 ft. high; branches red 

 when young, perfectly smooth, and very pithy. Leaves pinnate, 9 to 15 ins. 

 long, composed of eleven to twenty-three leaflets. Leaflets narrowly lance- 

 shaped with long tapering points; 2 to 4 ins. long, \ to $ in. wide; evenly, 

 sharply, and rather deeply toothed; green and quite smooth on both surfaces, 

 stalkless. Flowers white, \ in. across, produced during July and August in 

 pyramidal branching panicles from I to i^ ft. long, and 9 to 15 ins. through; 

 flower-stalks smooth; seed-vessels red. 



Native of Afghanistan, Kashmir, etc. ; first discovered in the Kurrum 

 Valley by Dr Aitchison in 1879, and introduced to Kew in 1895 by Mr J. F. 

 Duthie. It is closely allied to S. Lindleyana, differing chiefly in the red 

 young bark, the narrower leaves without down and mostly simply (not 

 doubly) toothed margins, and its larger flowers. On the whole it is superior 

 to S. Lindleyana, its foliage being more elegant and its flowers more effective. 

 It is said to be hardy where S. Lindleyana will not succeed. 



S. ALPINA, Pallas. 



A shrub 3 to 5 ft. high, with erect stems; young shoots angled, finely 

 downy, bright brown. Leaves | to I in. long, \ in. or less wide; narrowly 

 oblong, or obovate, entire, smooth, with feathered veins beneath. Flowers 

 yellowish white, small, produced during May and June in small umbels ; 

 flower-stalks smooth. 



Native of N.E. Asia ; introduced in 1806. It is allied to S. crenata, but 

 differs in the feathery veining of the leaf; also to S. cana, but is distinguished 

 by the smooth leaves. Of little garden value. 



(This name must not be confused with S. sorbifolia var. alpina, Pallas, the 

 Sorbaria alpina of later authors, which belongs to one of the pinnate-leaved 

 Spiraeas. See S. sorbifolia.) 



S. ARGUTA, ZabeL 



A shrub of rounded, bushy habit, 6 to 8 ft. high, and as much wide ; 

 branches graceful, slender, twiggy, and covered with down. Leaves 

 oblanceolate, f to \\ ins. long, |- to -| in. wide ; entire, or with a few teeth 

 towards the apex; of a lively green and smooth above, slightly downy and 

 rather prominently nerved beneath. Flowers \ in. across, pure white, pro- 

 duced during April and May in fascicles of four to eight, each flower on a 

 slender smooth stalk i in. or so long. (Fig. p. 528, and plate, vol. i., p. 26.) 



Three species are believed to have a share in the parentage of this 

 hybrid, viz., Thunbergii, crenata, and hypericifolia. It is the most beautiful 

 of the spring-flowering Spirasas, being quite hardy and never failing tG 

 produce a wealth of blossom. The flower-clusters are crowded on the upper 

 side of shoots made the previous year, forming snowy white wreaths from 

 6 ins. to 12 ins. long. It is most conveniently increased by means of layers, 

 its slender lissom branches adapting themselves admirably to this method. 



S. BELLA, Sims. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 2426.) 



A shrub up to 6 ft. high, with angular, slightly hairy young branches. 

 Leaves thin, broadly ovate, pointed, doubly toothed towards the apex; i to 



