EXOCHORDA 



161 





AsTiLBE-LiKE Aruncus (240) — Apiincus astilboides. Both of these 

 plants, though placed by botanists in separate families, are popularly and 

 in catalogues called Spireas. The Aruncus is closely related to the true 

 Spireas in the rose family, while the Astilbe is placed in the Saxifrage 

 family. The figures given will enable the reader to separate these two 

 herbs from each other as well as 

 to separate both from the true Spi- 

 reas. The Aruncus is a dicecious 

 plant, i.e. the stamens are in the 

 flowers of one plant and the pistils 

 are on a separate plant. There are 

 many stamens in the staminate 

 plant of Aruncus ; the Astilbe 

 flowers always have both stamens 

 and pistils, and the stamens are 

 only ten in number. 



[Both Astilbe and Aruncus are 

 best propagated by divisions.] 



Fig. 240. — Astilbe-like Aruncus. 



Exochdrda. The Pearl Bushes 

 are cultivated for their large pure 

 white flowers in clusters in April 

 and May. The peculiar fruit, which 

 remains on the bush through the 

 winter, is the most characteristic fea- 

 ture by which to know the plant at 

 all seasons. There are five bony 

 smooth united divisions which, sur- 

 rounding a central axis, from the top 

 view, look very star-like. The flowers 

 are large, 2 inches, in terminal 



clusters about the time the leaves expand and completely cover the bush. 



The alternate simple leaves vary from entire-edged on old plants to 



strongly toothed on vigorous young growths. 

 Apgar's shrubs — 11 



Fig. 241. — Pearl Bush. 



