120 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 
the celebrated Laurel Water, a poison which owes its deadly properties 
to the large amount of prussic-acid it contains. 
~ 4. SPIR.AW’A, L. Merapow-sweet. 
[Greek, Spetrac, to wind ; from its fitness to form garlands.]} 
Calyx 5-cleft, persistent. Petals 5, yh Stamens 10-50. Pods 
sae 3-5 or more, each 2- 4- or y-seeded. Shrubs or herbs ; 
eaves simple, sometimes lobed or cven oingeles dissected. 
LS. opulifo’lia, Z. Leaves roundish ovate and 3-lobed, doubly cre- 
nate-serrate ; flowers corymbose ; follicles inflated, 2 —4-seeded. 
OpuLus-LEAVED Spiraa. Nine Bark 
Shrub 3-10 feet t high, with = nhc branches, and a loose lamellated bark, the nume 
rous layers suggesting the popular name. Leaves 1 -2 inches in len os and nearly as wide 
as long, usually 3-lobed ; petioles half ai pas ‘inch to three -quarters in len igth. Corymbs sub- 
umbellate, convex, crowded, kenge San when besa common ee bait = 
i long. 
obovoid. 
Markins or streams. June. 
Obs. A very showy ornamental species, which grows readily from 
Bark Srtiove and sho uld be generally cultivated. Sometimes called “ Nine- 
ar 
2. S. to ace sa, L. Stem and lower surface of the leaves naib = 
with a rusty-colored wool ; leaves we or oblong, serrate ; racem 
a dense grepien panicle ; carpels 5, woolly. 
Woouy Spirwa. Hardhack. Steeple Bush. 
3 feet high, brittle, clothed with an easily separable wool. _ Leaves 1-2 inches 
long, on yery short petioles ; the up marked contrast 
to the often race white under surface, Flowers pale purple 
New England—Georgia ; more rare southward. July ~ August. 
oR This plant possesses considerable astringency, and is in com 
mon use in Ams Bitland as a domestic remedy in diarrhoea and other 
complaints where es gaan are required. It is a really beautiful spe- 
cies, and as i ite as much de- 
and justly 
ants 5 among them are S. uLMIFroLIa (Meadow Sweet), 8. FILIPEN- 
puta (Drop-wort), which are herbaceous, and several shrubby ones. 
5. GE’UM, L.  Avens. , 
[Greek, gewo, to relish, or taste well ; the roots 
=. Calyx acts 5-cleft, usnally with a io cd at each cleft. Petals 5.~ 
_ Stamens nu Akenes numerous, in a head ; styles long, persistent, 
ealled, fod after - icc wering hooked of te summit. Pere nnval herbs ; 
teaves aie peewo-pintetc or lyrate. 
16. ctl L. Radical leaves, interruptedly ison, the terminal 
a A i 8 ee ee eee 
