154 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



KEY TO THE SPIHEAS 



But not including several so-called Spireas, the one with large 3-lohed 

 leaves and inflated pods, Physocarpus, p. 158; or any with compound leavt-s, 

 Sorb^ria, p. 159, Astflbe, p. 100, or Ariincus, p. 101. 



* With white flowers in sessile umbels along the stems in April and 



May, before the leaves expand, earliest blooming. (A.) 

 A. A slender shrub (to C feet) with the flowers usually fully double 

 (var. flore pleno) and about I inch in diameter ; the leaves when 

 they expand are dark green, oblong, denticulate, and haiiy be- 

 neath, 1-2 inches long. Plum-leaved Spirea (20G) — Spiraea 

 pruni folia. 

 A. A spreading shrub with arching branches ; flowers in 3-5-flowered 

 clusters, the 5 petals much longer than the short stamens ; the 

 leaves are small, 1-1 1 inches, slender, willow-like. A graceful 

 shrub very useful for seaside planting. Snow Garland or 

 Thuxberg's Spirea (207) — Spimea Thunbergii. 

 A. Similar to the last but taller and more free-flowering with broader 

 and less willow-like leaves ; better for spring blooming but not so 

 . flue in its summer condition. Hybrid Snow Garland (208) 

 — Spiraea arguta. 



A. A spreading shrub with erect or arching branches (to 5 feet) and 

 nearly round petals somewhat longer than the stamens ; the leaves 

 are usually 3-ribbed from the base and widest toward the tip 

 (|-1| inches long) . A variable species with a dozen varietal names ; 

 the wedge-shaped leaves and rounded petals are constant charac- 

 teristics of about all of the forms. Hypericum-leaved Spirea 

 (209) — Spiraea hypericifolia. 



* White flowers in umbel-like clusters on short leafy side-shoots. 



Blooming at the time of leaf expansion, May, June. (B.) 



B. Margin of leaves entire at base and but slightly if at all notched 

 near the tip. Stamens never longer than the petals (except in S. 

 crenjUa). (C.) 



C. Leaves small (|-1 inch long), grayish with hairs on both sides. 

 A dense bushy shrub to 3 feet. Flowers ^ inch broad in dense 

 head-like clusters. Hoary-leaved .Spirea — Spiraea c^na. 



C. Leaves \-l inch long, feather-veined, entire-edged and smooth 

 on both sides ; branches reddish brown and angular ; seed-pods 

 curving outward ; 4 feet high with arching branches. Alpine 

 Spirea (210) — Spira?a alpina. 



C. Leaves ^-1] inches long and 3-ribbod from base, grayish green 

 below ; 3 feet high with slender striped branches ; seed-pods 



