441 



The Hydrangea Family. 



(HyDRANGE ACE^ .) 



Small shrubs, creepers, or adherent climbers. Leaves 

 opposite, entire, or lobed. Flowers in cymes or umbels, the 

 exterior ones, or often the whole, abortive, the calyx be- 

 coming a petaloid involucre of a blue or pink colour. True 

 flowers small. Petals 4 or 6, inserted on the calyx. Stamens 

 3 or more, in two rows. Pistils 2 or 5, free. Fruit a 2- or 

 5 -celled capsule bearing permanent styles. 



Of this family about fifty species are known, natives chiefly 

 of China, Japan, and North America. The American species, 

 Hydrangea quercifolia, H. nivea, and H. arhorescens, are hardy 

 in this country ; as also is li. Japonica ; but the species that 

 gives fame to the genus is H. hortensis, the showy flowers of 

 which are abortive, and consist of 4 or 5 enlarged coloured 

 sepals only. The Hydrangea was introduced from China in 

 1790. 



Adamia versicolor is a soft-wooded frutlet with pretty blue 

 flowers, native of Nepaul, as also Hydrangea altissima, a species 

 creeping like ivy. Both have been long grown at Kew. 



(CuNONIACEiE.) 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, sometimes in whorls, 

 simple or winged, furnished with broad leafy, or small scale- 

 like stipules. Flowers small, in round heads, spikes, or ra- 

 cemes. Petals 4 or 5, or wanting. Stamens 8 to 10, or 

 many, seated on a more or less perigynous disk. Fruit a dry 

 2-celled closed capsule. 



About 100 species constitute this family. They are 

 chiefly natives of Australia, New Zealand, temperate South 

 America, and South Africa ; a few are found in India. 



The bark of W einmannia racemosa^ a tree, native of New 

 Zealand, has been found useful for tanning. About half a 

 dozen species have been introduced, and form ornamental 

 greenhouse plants. 



