ROSE FAMILY 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, one to three 

 inches long, ovate or oval, rounded or wedge-shaped at base, 

 unequally serrate, obtuse or acute at apex. They come out of 

 the bud slightly involute, densely tomentose ; when full grown 

 are dark green above, covered with brown tomentum beneath. 

 Stipules fugitive or wanting. Petioles short. 



Flowers. — July, September. Rose or pale purple, perfect; 

 borne in dense terminal panicles. 



Ca/vx. — Tube bell-shaped, five-lobed. 



Corolla. — Petals five, short-clawed, rose-tinted, obovate, in- 

 serted on the calyx, imbricate in bud. 



Stamens. — Numerous, exserted, inserted on the calyx ; fila- 

 ments threadlike. 



Pistil. — Ovaries five, superior, united at the base ; style 

 threadlike ; stigma capitate. 



Fruit. — Dry, consisting of five one-celled woolly carpels, 

 united at base, encircled by the persistent calyx-cup. Septem- 

 ber. 



The Steeple-bush is not badly named, for the flower- 

 ing panicle is terminal, slender, and pointed. The 

 pink spires bloom from the top downward ; they have 

 what is known as centrifugal inflorescence, the flower- 

 ing impulse proceeds from the centre outward. As a 

 consequence the flower cluster is never perfect; when 

 the topmost flowers are open the lower ones are half- 

 formed buds, and when the lower ones are in bloom 

 the topmost are withered and brown. 



The Spinca flowers, as a rule, secrete little if any 

 nectar, but they yield much pollen and are eager!}' 

 sought by the bees. 



This Spiraea takes kindly to cultivation and will 

 thrive in any ordinary position. It is especially valu- 

 able because of its late flowering. 



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