Sprrcea. | XXVI. ROSACEA. 131 
calyx, forming as many dry capsules, opening, when ripe, along the inner 
edge, and containing 2 or more seeds, 
A considerable genus, spread over the northern hemisphere both in the 
new and the old world, but scarcely penetrating into the tropics. It is 
easily recognized by its dehiscent, capsular carpels, and among British 
Rosace@, by the numerous small flowers. 
Shrub, with simple, serrate leaves . Re ; » . IL. S&S. salicifolia, 
Herbs with pinnate leaves. 
Segments of the leaves few and large, white underneath . . 2. 8. Ulmaria. 
Segments of the leaves numerous and small, deeply toothed . 3. S. Filipendula. 
1, S. salicifolia, Linn. (fig. 300). Willow Spirea.—A. shrub of 4 or 
5 feet, with rather slender branches, usually glabrous. Leaves undivided, 
oblong or lanceolate, serrate, green on both sides. Flowers pink, in a 
dense oblong or pyramidal terminal panicle. Carpels usually 5. 
A native of eastern Europe, Russian Asia and North America, long 
cultivated in our shrubberies, and found here and there apparently wild in 
moist woods in the north of England and south of Scotland. In some parts 
of North Wales it forms a principal ingredient in hedges for miles together, 
propagating readily by its creeping suckers. Many other shrubby species 
are cultivated in our gardens. i ae 
2. S. Ulmaria, Linn. (fig. 301). Meadow Spirea, Meadow-sweet, 
Queen of the Meadows.—Stock perennial, with erect, rather stout, annual 
stems, 2 or 3 feet high, usually glabrous and reddish. Leaves large, 
pinnate, with 5 to 9 ovate or broadly lanceolate segments often 2 or 3 
inches long, irregularly toothed, green above, soft and whitish underneath, 
the terminal one deeply divided into three; besides which are several 
smaller segments along the common stalk. Stipules broad and toothed. 
Flowers small, of a yellowish white, sweet-scented and very numerous, in 
compound corymbose cymes at the summit of the stems. Capsules 5 to 
about 8, very small, and more or less spirally twisted. 
In meadows, on the banks of ponds and ditches, etc., throughout Europe 
and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Common in Britain, Fl. 
summer. 
3. S. Filipendula, Linn. (fig. 302). Common Spirea, Dropwort.— 
Stock perennial, the fibrous roots swollen here and there into oblong 
tubers. Stems erect, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves chiefly radical or in the 
lower part of the stem, 3 to 5 inches long, with numerous (above 20) small, 
oval, oblorg or lanceolate segments, deeply toothed or pinnately lobed, 
gradually smaller as they near the stem, green and glabrous, or slightly 
downy. Stipules broad, adhering to the leafstalk nearly their whole length. 
Flowers like those of S. Ulmaria, but rather larger, and often tipped with 
red. Carpels 6 to 12, not twisted. 
In meadows, pastures, and open woods, generally dispersed over Europe 
and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Rather frequent in England, 
Scotland, and found in a few localities in the west of Ireland, FY. 
summer, 
[Soe 
III. DRYAS. DRYAS. 
Tufted or creeping perennials, with undivided leaves and rather large 
white flowers, growing singly on long peduncles. Calyx free, 8- to 10- 
K 2 
