SAXIFRAGACE^E. (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY.) 155 



streams, among the mountains, Georgia, and northward. April and May. 1J. 

 Stems 4' - 6' long. 



9. ITEA, L. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft, free from the ovary. Petals 5, lanceolate. Sta- 

 mens 5, shorter than the petals. Styles 2, united. Capsule 2-celled, 2-furrowed, 

 septicidally 2-valved, several-seeded. A shrub with simple oblong or oval ser- 

 rate pubescent leaves, and close mostly drooping racemes of white fragrant flow- 

 ers terminating the branches. 



1. I. Virginica, L. Swamps, Florida to Mississippi, and northward. 

 May and June. Shrub 4 - 10 high. 



10. HYDRANGEA, Gronov. 



Calyx-tube hemispherical, 8-10-ribbed, coherent with the ovary; the limb 

 4-5-toothed, persistent. Petals ovate, valvate in the bud. Stamens 8-10, fili- 

 form. Capsule crowned with the 2 diverging styles, 2-celled, many-seeded, open- 

 ing at the apex between the styles. Erect shrubs, with opposite petiolcd leaves, 

 without stipules, and whitish or purplish flowers, in ample compound cymes ; 

 the marginal flowers mostly sterile, with the calyx-lobes enlarged and showy. 



1. H. arborescens, L. Smoothish; leaves ovate, acute or acuminate, 

 serrate, mostly rounded or cordate at the base; cymes crowded, flat-topped; 

 sterile flowers few or none. (H. vulgaris, Michx. H. cordata, Pursh.) Banks 

 of streams, Florida to Mississippi, and northward. June and July. Shrub 

 4 - 8 high. Leaves 3' - 6' long. 



2. H. radiata, Walt. Leaves ovate, acuminate, serrate, mostly cordate at 

 the base, white-tomentose beneath; cymes flat-topped; sterile flowers few. 

 Rich soil, Georgia, Carolina, and Tennessee. May and June. Shrub 4 -8 

 high. 



3. H. quercifolia, Bartram. Young branches and leaves densely to- 

 mentose ; leaves oval, sharply 5-lobed, serrate ; cymes clustered, forming a close 

 oblong panicle ; sterile flowers large, numerous. Shady banks, Florida, Geor- 

 gia, and westward. May and June. Shrub 3 - 6 high. Leaves 4' - 8' long. 

 Sterile flowers whitish, turning purple. 



11. DECUMARIA, L. 



Flowers all fertile. Calyx-tube turbinate, coherent with the ovary, 7-10- 

 toothed. Petals valvate in the bud, oblong. Stamens 21 - 30. Styles united, 

 persistent. Stigma thick, 7-10-rayed. Capsule 10-15-ribbed, 7-10-celled, 

 bursting at the sides ; the thin partitions at length separating obliquely into nu- 

 merous chaffy scales. Seeds numerous, suspended. A smooth climbing 

 shrub, with opposite ovate or oblong entire or serrate leaves, and numerous odor- 

 ous white flowers in compound terminal cymes. 



1. D. barbara, L. Banks of streams, Florida to North Carolina, and 

 westward. May and June. Leaves shining, sometimes pubescent. Capsule, 

 with the persistent style and stigma, urn-shaped, pendulous. 



