HYDRANGEA 



193 



sules with many seeds, and large ones with spreading petal-like parts 

 having no stamens or pistils and so producing no seeds. 

 There is another genus of plants 



with such snowball-like clusters of 

 sterile flowers, belonging to another 

 family of plants. This is the genus 

 of Viburnums, which also have op- 

 posite simple (sometimes lobed) 

 leaves (seep. 219). The "Viburnums 

 are the earlier bloomers, all in' 

 bloom by the end of May, while 

 of the Hydrangeas none are in 

 bloom till late in June and a num- 

 ber bloom in July and August. 

 The Viburnums practically all have 

 white flowers and produce drupes 

 with a large flat seed for fruit. 

 The Hydrangeas have white, pink, 

 blue, and red flowers and produce 

 small pods with many seeds. 



The last species given in the key 

 is Hydrangea hort^nsis, from China 

 and Japan. This is so frequently 



Fig. 300. — Hortensia Hydrangea. 

 apgar's shrubs — 13 



Fia. 301. — Oak-leaved 

 Hydrangea. 



