180 



POPULAR GARDEN BOTANY. 



are white, and grow on a spirally twisted stalk. These 

 plants require a good supply of water, and flourish well 

 with a little retained in the saucer. 



HYDRANGEA CEjffi. 



Exogens, with flowers usually in flattened bunches (cymes), 

 those in the centre having both stamens and pistils, those at the 

 margin sterile, and having larger petals than the others. Calyx 

 adhering more or less to the ovary, four or six-toothed. Petals 

 four or six, inserted within the edge of the calyx, falling off. 

 Stamens from eight to twelve, in two rows. — Shrubs, with per- 

 fectly opposite simple leaves ; natives of the temperate parts of 

 Asia and America ; the leaves of a few used as tea. 



HYDRANGEA. 



Gen. Char. (Decandria Digynia.) Calyx superior, five-toothed ; 

 petals five ; stamens ten ; styles two ; capsule two-celled, two- 

 beaked, opening by a hole between the beaks. 



Named from the Greek for water and vessel, on account 

 of the genus delighting in water ; the plants therefore ap- 

 peal to the cultivator by their name for the fluid which is 

 so necessary to their existence. The hardy species, H. hor- 

 tensis, is often introduced into the greenhouse, and if w T ell 



