ROSACEA 131 



Spir^a L. 



Herbs or shrubs with much diversity in the foliage. Flowers 

 usually small and numerous, in terminal cymes or panicles. Calyx 

 free, 5-lobed. Petals 5. Stamens numerous. Carpels 3, or more 

 frequently 5, quite free from the calyx, forming as many dry 

 capsules, opening along the inner edge. A genus spread over the 

 northern hemisphere, but barely extending to the tropics. 



SpircBU Aruncus L. 



A handsome plant of about 3 feet, with very feathery white 

 inflorescence. Leaves very large, often a foot long, triangular in 

 general outline, 2-3 pinnatisect, with opposite petioled segments, 

 with doubly-toothed margins. No stipules. Flowers white, very 

 small, usually dioecious, sessile, in elongated spikes forming a large 

 panicle. Stamens longer than the oblong petals. Carpels 3 or 4, 

 recurved on maturity. 



Mountain woods, gorges, etc., 2000 to 4000 feet. June, July. 



Distribution. — Alps, Jura, Pyrenees, Vosges ; Central Europe, 

 Northern and Western Asia, N. America. 



Spircea TJlmana L. Meadowsweet. 



This well-known plant is often seen in Switzerland extending 

 from the plains to about 5000 feet in some of the southern valleys. 

 Its habitat is more variable than in England, for in that country 

 it is very rarely seen in the mountains. It is found in Europe, 

 Asia Minor and Northern Asia. 



Alchemilla L. Lady's Mantle. 



Tufted herbs, annual or with a perennial almost woody root- 

 stock and annual flowering stems, palmately lobed or divided 

 leaves, and small green flowers in loose panicles or in small sessile 

 heads. Calyx free, double, i.e. of 8 divisions, of which 4 alternate 

 ones are outside and smaller. No petals. Stamens four or less. 

 Carpels i or 2, i-seeded. 



A small genus, widely spread over the northern hemisphere, 

 chiefly in mountainous districts. 



Alchemilla alpina L. 



Stem prostrate or ascending, branched, covered like the leaves 

 with adpressed hairs. Leaves palmate, 5-9 partite, dark green on 

 the upper side, silver-grey with shining silky hairs on under side ; 

 segments wedge-shaped, obtuse, serrated. Greenish-yellow flowers 

 in a terminal, branched, often racemose, cyme. 



Pastures and rocky places in the siliceous mountains up to 

 9000 feet. July, August. 



Distribution. — Central and Western Europe, Norway. British. 



A characteristic plant of the sub-Alps in granitic districts. 



