300 ORDER XLIV. ROSACEA. 



Genus V.— SPIR^E'A. L. 11—2. 



(From the Greek speirao, to become spiral, in allusion to the fitness of the plants to 

 be twisted into garlands.) 



Calyx 5-cleft, expanding, persistent. Petals 5, nearly round. 

 Stamens numerous, exsert. Carpels 3 — 12, 1 — 3-seeded, dis- 

 tinct, or slightly united at the base, follicular, generally 2-valv- 

 ed. Shrubs or perennial herbs. Leaves alternate. Flowers 

 sometimes dioecious, 



1. S. oplliko'lia, (L.) A small shrub, -with the old bark detaching 

 itself. Leaves ovate, roundish, or subcordate, 3 lobed, doubly serrate, 

 glabrous. Flowers in terminal corymbs, numerous; pedicels filiform. 

 Carpets 3 — 5, inflated. Seeds obovate, shining, very bitter. — White. 

 ^ . June — July. Mountains. 3 — 5 feet. Nine Bark. 



2. S. salicifo'lia, (L.) A shrub, with slender, somewhat angular 

 branches, and slightly pubescent. Leaves lanceolate, sharply serrate. 

 Flowers in crowded, paniculate, terminal racemes ; segments of the 

 calyx lanceolate. Petals slightly unguiculate, shorter than the calyx. 

 Carpets ;., glabrous, united at the base. Seeds numerous. — White. T <> . 

 June — July. In wet places. 3 — 6 feet. 



Queen of the Meadow. Meadow-sweet. 



3. S. tomento'sa, (L.) A shrub, with ferruginous, tomentose branch- 

 es. Leaves on short petioles, ovate or oblong, unequally serrate, 

 crowded, tomentose beneath. Floicers in numerous, dense, paniculate 

 racemes. Calyx tomentose, with reflected segments. Petals small, 

 hairy on the outer surface. Carpels 5, tomentose. Seeds few, subulate. 

 — Purple. June — July. Upper districts of Car. and Geo. 3 — 6 feet. 



Hardhack. 



4. S. loba'ta, (Murr.) Stem herbaceous, glabrous, striate, angled. 

 Leaves pinnate; leaflets 3 — 5 — 7, the terminal ones huge, 7 — 9-lobed ; 

 lateral ones 3 lobed, cuneiform ; lobes serrate ; stipules reniform. 

 Flowers in a very compound panicle. Sepals reflexed. Carpels 6 — 8, 

 glabrous. Deep rose-color. 1(. June — August. Near the mountains. 

 5- 8 feet. 



5. S. Aedn'cus, (L.) Stem branching, herbaceous. Leaves tripinnate ; 

 leaflet-; Lanceolate, oblong, acuminate, doubby serrate. Flowers dioeci- 

 ous, n itnerous, in paniculate spikes. Carpels 3 — 5, glabrous. — White. 

 1C. June— July. Mountains of Car. and Geo. 3 — 5 feet. 



Goat's Beard. 



The Bpirseaa are cultivated as ornaments, and the bark of the S. tomentosa is pos- 

 seesed of tonic und astringent properties, and is used both in the regular practice and 

 families where - ich proper! >•- are demanded. In debility it has proved very service- 

 aide. It is administered in decoction or extract 



a VI.— GILLE'NIA. Mcench. 11—2. 



(From (lilien.) 



Calyx 5-toothed, campanulate, with the orifice contracted. 

 Petals 5, inserted into the calyx, cuneate, lanceolate, very long. 

 Stamens 10 — 15, unequal, Carpels ."> ; styles filiform; stig- 

 mas Bubcapitate. Seeds ascending, 2 — 4. Perennial herbs, 



