536 SPIRAEA 



stalk very short. Flowers pure white, |- in. across, produced during early 

 May in clusters from the buds of the previous summer's shoots; each flower 

 on a usually downy stalk about f in. long. 



A widely spread and variable species extending in a wild state from 

 E. Europe and Asia Minor across N. Temperate Asia. It is naturalised but 

 not truly wild in N. America. At its best this is a pretty shrub, although not 

 m the very first rank of Spiraeas ; starting later into growth than several 

 other of its white-flo.ered allies, it escapes the damaging influence of late 

 spring frosts. 



S. ACUTI FOLIA, Willdenow, is closely allied to hypericifolia, and by some 

 authors is made a variety of it. It differs mainly in the flowers being yellowish 

 white, and about half the size only, and in the narrower leaves. Of little 

 value for gardens. 



S. JAPONIC A, Linnceus fit. 



(S callosa, Thunberg ; S. Fortune!, Planchon, Bot. Mag., t. 5164.) 



A shrub of rather open habit, from 3 to 5 ft. high, stems erect, round or 

 slightly angled, ultimately smooth and shining brown. Leaves lanceolate or 

 narrowly oval; 3 to 4^ ins. long, i to \\ ins. wide ; coarsely, sharply and 

 irregularly toothed, each tooth gland-tipped ; tapering at the base, dark 

 green above, rather glaucous beneath, smooth on both sides, or soon becoming 

 so. Flowers |- in. across, rich rosy red, produced during July and August in 

 large, flat, compound corymbs terminating the current season's shoots. The 

 inflorescence, which may be anything up to 12 ins. across, consists really of a 

 series of corymbs springing from the uppermost leaf-axils, the lower ones 

 with stalks long enough to bring the flowers to about the same level as the 

 upper ones; calyx and flower-stalk downy. 



Native of Japan and China. S. japonica may be taken as the type of a 

 large and valuable group of Spiraeas which flower in summer on the shoots 

 of the year, and produce the blossoms in a large flattish inflorescence. They 

 are all handsome, and should be pruned in spring by cutting clean out 

 sufficient of the older wood to prevent crowding, and then shortening back 

 those selected to remain. 



Var. ALBA (S. albiflora, Miguel; S. callosa alba, Hort.\ A shrub of dwarfer, 

 weaker growth than the type ; young shoots downy and distinctly ribbed ; 

 leaves shorter-stalked and smaller ; flowers white. Some authors regard 

 this as a distinct species. 



Var. BUMALDA (S. Bumalda, Hort.}. A dwarf, neat, yet elegant variety 

 usually under 18 ins. high. Flowers in flat corymbs, and of a beautiful 

 carmine shade. Var. ANTHONY WATERER. This fine form is a sub-variety 

 of Bumalda, and originated in the Knap Hill nursery about 1890. It has 

 the same habit as the ordinary Bumalda, but its flowers are of a much more 

 brilliant shade of carmine. It is, perhaps, the most highly coloured of 

 Spiraeas. In both, the leaves frequently come partially variegated. By 

 removing the flowers as they fade, both 'may be kept flowering until late 

 September. 



Var. GLABRATA (S. glabrata, Lange]. A strong-growing form with corymbs 

 often over I ft. in diameter, flowers rosy pink. Leaves much broader than in 

 the type, the largest 4 to 5 ins. long and 2^ to 3 ins. wide, of broadly ovate 

 form, rounded at the base, and, like the young wood and flower-stalks, 

 smooth. 



Var. MACROPHYLLA, ZabeL Leaves as large or larger than the preceding 

 variety, but curiously inflated ; inflorescence poor and small. Only worth 

 growing as a curiosity. 



Var. RUBERRIMA. Flowers deeper rose than the type. 



