624 HYDRANGEA 



the bark of the older branches peeling off in large, thin, brown flakes. Leaves 

 ovate or oval, 3 to 5 ins. long (more in mild climates), half to three-fourths as 

 wide ; rounded at the base, pointed, regularly triangular- or roundish-toothed ; 

 smooth on both sides except for tufts of down in the vein-axils beneath ; 

 stalk at first hairy, I to 3 ins. long. Corymbs 6 to 8 ins. across, with a 

 few white sterile flowers at the margins, each f to i^ ins. in diameter ; the 

 small perfect flowers are yellowish white ; stamens ten (often more). Blossoms 

 in June. 



Native of the Himalaya ; introduced in 1839. It is very nearly allied to 

 H. petiolaris, but differs in having fewer stamens, not so flat an inflorescence, 

 and usually more coarsely toothed leaves. It is not so hardy probably as 

 H. petiolaris, although it grows well outside on a wall at Kew. Both these 

 species are distinguished by the petals of the fertile flowers cohering into, 

 and falling away in, one caplike piece. 



H. ARBORESCENS, Linnceus. 



A deciduous shrub of somewhat loose habit, 4 ft. or more high ; young 

 shoots rather downy at first, becoming smooth. Leaves broadly ovate, 

 oval or roundish ; 3 to 7 ins. long, 2 to 6 ins. wide ; pointed at the apex, 

 rounded or heart-shaped at the base, coarsely toothed ; upper surface bright 

 dark green, lower one paler ; both smooth, or with down only on the veins 

 or in the vein-axils beneath ; stalk I to 3 ins. lohg. Corymbs flattish, much 

 branched, usually 4 to 6 ins. across, with few or no large sterile flowers. 

 Fertile flowers dull white, very small and crowded ; flower-stalks downy. 

 Seed-vessels eight-ribbed, with calyx adhering at the top. 



Native of the eastern United States, from the State of New York south- 

 wards ; introduced by Peter Collinson in 1736. A vigorous and hardy 

 species, which flowers freely in July and August, but is not particularly 

 attractive. It is allied to H. radiata, differing chiefly in the nearly smooth 

 leaves. 



Var. GRANDIFLORA, Hort A very beautiful form, in which all the flowers 

 are of the large sterile type and pure white. It appeared in this country 

 in 1907, but I have been informed by Prof. Sargent that it was found wild 

 in the mountains of Pennsylvania fifty or more years ago. It is quite hardy, 

 and showy enough to be regarded as an admirable substitute for H. hortensis 

 in the colder parts of the country. It Hlooms from July to September, and 

 is probably the best Hydrangea to cultivate out-of-doors near London and 

 in places with a similar climate. Its one defect is that its flower-heads are 

 often so heavy that the stalk is not stout enough to hold them upright. 



H. BRETSCHNEIDERI, Dippel. 



(H. pekinensis, Hort.; H. vestita var. pubescens, Maximcnincz") 



A deciduous shrub, 8 to 10 ft. high, forming a sturdy bush, old bark 

 peeling; young branches smooth. Leaves oblong to. ovate, 3 to 5 ins. longv 

 i to 2j ins. wide ; rounded or wedge-shaped at the base, slender pointed, 

 regularly toothed ; dull and smooth above, hairy on the veins and sometimes 

 over the whole surface beneath. Corymbs flattened, 4 to 6 ins. across, with 

 a considerable number of large sterile flowers at the margins ; these are 

 f to ij ins. across, the three or four sepals rounded or obovate, white, 

 afterwards rosy. The small, perfect flowers are dull white ; flower-stalks 

 clothed with erect bristly down. The seed-vessels are egg-shaped, the 

 persistent calyx forming a raised band round the middle. 



Native of China; introduced from the mountains about Pekin in 1882, 



