14 NEVIUSIA ALABAMENSIS. THE NEVIUSIA. 



new growth in long virgate branches from the root, like the 

 Spira-a, the thicket when in full flower looks like a snow-wreath 

 under the cliff. I have seen there a spray of two feet long, and 

 have grown the same in the church-yard of Christ church, Tus- 

 caloosa. It blooms there as early as February 27th, and on 

 account of its early flowering and easy propagation from under- 

 crround stems it is a valuable ornamental shrub. The flowers 

 which are produced in axillary umbels have very delicate, 

 showy stamens only. The calyx is comparatively large, and very 

 similar to the stem leaves in outline and serration. In fair 

 weather it vies with the best of the Spiraeas , but a slight storm 

 of rain spoils its beauty by gumming the stamens, which are 

 perfectly white with yellow anthers, to the calyx." 



Being so rare in its native State, it has not yet had time to get 

 among the people and thus receive a popular name. One of its 

 allies, Spircea Reevesii, is known in gardens as the " Bridal 

 Wreath," and when we read the graphic account Dr. Nevius 

 gives of its early snowy whiteness among the plants, which in the 

 lancjuao^e of Percival, 



'• love 



The rude rock, and the frowning precipice, 

 The winding valley, where it lies in green 

 Along the bubbling riv'let, " 



it would seem not inappropriate to suggest for this the popular 

 name of "Alabama Snow-wreath," but it may be best to make 

 but the bare suggestion here. 



After all, it is a question whether it is really confined to Ala- 

 bama, and to this one small spot on the earth's surface. The 

 Southern States have not been thoroughly explored by botanists. 

 New species are continually being discovered, and it is as possible 

 to find new stations for species already known. It will give 

 much zest to botanical excursions in that region to keep the pos- 

 sibility in mind. At any rate the plant must be scarce, and this 

 fact excites the inquiry, which other rare plants do, whether or 

 not they are the last living representatives of a race once abun- 



