Saxifrages Hydrangea. 183 



has pink flowers with several series of sepals in the sterile ones ; 

 H. Aziscii) with ray or barren flowers on very long pedicels. 



Fig. 97. Hydrangea Hortensia. (J nat. size.) 



The above varieties differ considerably in the size, pubescence 

 and form of the foliage, but there is a general resemblance not 

 easily mistaken. We must not omit to mention that there are 

 some varieties prettily variegated in the foliage with red or 

 yellow. 



H. paniculata is a distinct species, in which the inflorescence 

 is elongated, not flat or rounded. The variety grandiflora is a 

 magnificent plant, in which all the flowers are sterile and 

 pure white, forming a very large panicle. H. Thunbergii is a 

 more slender species, with much smaller foliage, and flat cymes 

 of blue flowers. The form in cultivation has a few of the outer 

 flowers only barren, with rounded striated sepals. H. scdn- 

 dens, including H. petiolaris, is of climbing habit, and differs 

 from all the preceding in the petals, which cohere at the tips 

 and fall together. H. arborescens is an American species 

 of larger stature, with inconspicuous greenish-white flowers, 

 few of which are sterile and enlarged, H. quercifolia, another 

 American species, has lobed leaves and terminal panicles of 

 greenish white or pink flowers, in part barren. 



