THE MEADOW-SWEET 



SPIRAEA ULMARIA 



" -^^^UEEN of the Meadows" is the usual saluta> 

 tion given to this plant, and a most fitting 

 one, for, graceful and beautiful, its tall, stately 

 presence fragrant with rare sweetness, it can claim 



Q' 



P9, 



b ^^ 



^ 



^ af) ,m m s, <^ 



a, sepals, b, petals, c, a, stamens on sepals, d, stigmas, styles, ovaries. 

 e, ripe fruits, e', single fruit. 



all the attributes of queenship. Its spires of 



creamy flowers rise tier above tier high above all 



others in the water - side meadows, thickest and 



finest where they fringe the brook, and as they 



toss to and fro in every breeze they have been, 



not inaptly, compared to sea -foam tossing on the 



beach. A nearer view, and they suggest them- 



84 



