470 breck's new book of flowers. 



raea, and is perfectly hardy. The following account is from 

 the Gardener's Chronicle. " This charming shrub was in- 

 troduced into Europe by Dr. Siebold, to whom our collec- 

 tions are indebted for so many novelties, only to be pro- 

 cured with the utmost difficulty. It deserves the atten- 

 tion of all amateurs, as well for its hardiness as its elegant 

 habit and beautiful flowers. The Dutch traveller found it 

 cultivated in the Japanese gardens, and supposes its na- 

 tive country to be Corea, or the north of China. It is a 

 shrub, from six to nine feet high, and has upright, close, 

 bushy, slender branches, which are covered with a smooth, 

 ash-colored bark, that detaches itself at later periods in 

 tliin scales. The leaves are oval, or ovate-elliptic, rounded 

 at their base, obtuse or a little acute at their apex, downy 

 beneath, denticulated at the edge. The flowers, which 

 grow by threes or sixes, cover the whole length of the 

 branches, are as white as snow, and very double, in conse- 

 quence of a complete abortion of their stamens. Their 

 shape is exactly like that of the Ranunculus aconitifolius 

 with double flowers, and their number and arrangement, 

 with a light and elegant bright-green foliage, render this 

 plant a charming addition to the shrubs which grow in 

 the native air." It flowers in this climate in May. 



S. Douia^lasii. — Mr. Douglas's Spirrea. — This shrub is 

 from California, and has some resemblance to S. tomentosa^ 

 flowering in the same manner ; flowers fine rosy-lilac, con- 

 tinuing in bloom from July till the autumnal frosts com- 

 mence. 



S. SOrbifolia. — Pinnate-leaved Spiraia. — This is a vigor- 

 ous shrub, a native of Siberia. It develops its handsome 

 pinnate foliage very early in the spring. The leaflets are 

 serrated, or with notched edges. The flowers are yellow- 

 ish-white, produced in large, dense panicles, in June. The 

 flowers seem to be peculiarly attractive to the rose-bugs, 

 which sometimes disfigure and spoil their beauty by the 



