ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY) 203 
weed, and diseased plants may be used for the purpose of in- 
fection and destruction. The writer once killed a small patch 
in a cemetery with kerosene oil, but the ground was made sterile 
and resodding was necessary. Caustic soda would be equally 
effective and leach away more quickly. 
MEADOW-SWEET 
Spiréa latifolia, Borkh. 
Other English names: Quaker Lady, Meadow Queen. 
Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds. 
Time of bloom: June to August. 
Seed-time: August to October. 
Range: Hastern North America from Newfoundland to Virginia. 
Habitat: Rocky pastures, roadsides, and waste places. 
A handsome shrub which seems to have a preference for hillside 
pastures, where it spreads its kind undisturbed by grazing animals, 
as they dislike its astringent, bitter taste. 
Stems two to four feet tall, with smooth, reddish 
or purplish brown bark, simple or branching near 
the top.- Leaves alternate, thin, smooth, dark 
green, nearly an inch broad and three times as 
long, rather coarsely toothed, obtuse, and nar- 
rowing somewhat abruptly to a short petiole. 
Flowers in dense terminal panicles, very small, 
white or pale pink, with little or no fragrance in 
spite of the name; calyx short, five-cleft, per- 
sistent, nearly smooth; the five petals obovate 
and equal; stamens many; pistils usually five, 
superior, alternate with the calyx lobes. The blos- 
soms open from the summit downward, and as the 
season advances the plume-like clusters begin to 
turn brown at the top. Seeds minute, in five small, 
smooth, brown, style-tipped follicles. (Fig. 145.) 
Means of control Wie. 145. — 
‘ F 7 Meadow-sweet 
Yearling shoots are easily and quickly hand- (gpirealatifolia). 
pulled when the ground is soft, but if left to sink X¢#- 
Pechapex-sshe tee * 
