KEY TO THE SPIREAS 157 



K. Shrub with purplish brown whip-like branches ; small white 

 flowers in rounded clusters (l|-3 inches broad) in May and 

 June ; leaves coarsely, often doubly, serrate, bluish-green be- 

 low, 1^-3 inches long. Corymbed Spire a (226) — Spirtea 

 corymbosa. 

 K. Later-blooming (June to Aug.) but similar shrubs. Birch- 

 leaved Spirea (227) — Spirtea betulifolia and the follow- 

 ing : 

 L. Branches yellowish brown with more deeply cut leaves ; 

 flowers white. Western Corymbed Spirea (228) 

 — Spirtea lucida. Virginia Spirea — S. virgini^na. 

 L. Branches striped dark brown ; rather large white or pale pink 



flowers with round petals. Spiraea sup^rba. 

 L. Flowers bright pink in dense clusters 1-2 inches broad. 

 Dense-flowered Spirea — Spiraea densiflora. 



* Extensively cultivated hybrid Spireas with rounded and very com- 



pound clusters (about as broad as high). Only the commonest are 

 given ; new ones of garden origin are constantly being intro- 

 duced. (M.) 

 M. Tall-growing (G feet) with slender upright branches and numer- 

 ous rather small lateral clusters (1^-3 inches) of white or pink 

 flowers, June, July. Leaves 1-2 inches long, pale bluish green 

 below, rounded at both ends, crenately notched beyond the 

 middle. Not fully hardy North. Fontenay's Spirea — Spiraea 

 Fontenkysii. 

 M. Smaller shrubs (3-4 feet) with larger terminal clusters on upright 

 branches. (N.) 

 N. Upright shrub with dark brown branches and oblong smooth 

 leaves (1^2} inches long) acute at both ends and fully serrate. 

 Flowers pinkish white in broad finely pubescent clusters, July- 

 Sept. Spiraea conspicua. 

 N. Upright shrub with striped and finely hairy branches ; leaves 

 2-3| inches long, elongated and pointed at both ends, fully 

 serrate, grayish-hairy beneath. Flowers pink in broad corymb- 

 like panicles, July, Aug. Spiraea sanssouci^na. 

 N. Similar to the last but the leaves usually rounded at base and 

 the flowers a lighter pink, June, July. Noble's Spirea 

 (229) — Spiraea Noble^na. (Similar to this, with larger leaves 

 and paler flowers. Plumy Meadow-sweet — Spira'a pachysta- 

 chys.) 



* Queen of the Meadow and Meadow-saveet Spireas (including 



Schizonotus, 3d O) with elongated and very compound clusters of 

 small white or pink flowers. (O.) 



