SPIRilA DOUGLASII. 
(Mr. Douglas’s Spira;a.) 
" Class. Order. 
i ICOSANDRIA. DI-PENTAGA"NIA. 
Natural Order. 
SPIR^ACE^. 
jBneric Character.— five-cleft, permanent. 
mens ten to fifty, inserted in the torus, lining the 
yx along with the petals. Carpels solitary, or several 
■ ether, rarely connected at the base, ending in short 
, nts, sessile, rarely stipitate. Seeds two to six, fixed 
"the inner suture of the carpel. Embryo inverted. 
I '.yledons thickish. 
jpECiFic Character. — Plant a shrub, deciduous. | 
, Although late importations of plants have greatly enriched our stoves and 
eenhouses, they have contained few things capable of existing in the open garden 
ilcept during summer. Hence, a novelty with the fine characters of our subject, 
“ill be the more highly appreciated. It. is a novelty interesting to all parties, 
bether possessed of a greenhouse or not ; since it will brave our severest winters, 
d demands little attention or skill in its culture. 
It was first discovered by the lamented and indefatigable Douglas, in his 
plorations of the north-west coast of America, about the Columbia and the 
Iraits of Fuca; but was not introduced to this country by him. Within the last 
I'e years a few plants were reared in the Glasgow Botanic Garden, from seeds 
[it to the Curator, Mr. Stewart Murray, by Dr. Tolmie, who gathered them at 
irt Vancouver. Blossoms were produced by these plants, for the first time, 
out two years ago. 
Not the least interesting quality of the species is the long period during whicli 
: continues to produce flowers. Our drawing was made at Messrs. Low and Co.’s 
rsery, Clapton, from a specimen which flowered last July; and we have since 
]3eived specimens from Mr. Murray, wlio, in a letter addressed to us some time 
iice, states that “one of its recommendations is, that after the flowers of all other 
i fubs have passed, it is found in perfection. Last year it was fine even when the 
: ist came on in October.” 
It makes a handsome busli, much like the S. tomentosa., ultimately reaching a 
ight of four or five feet ; but it blooms at a much smaller size, and by layering 
Branches and peduncles pubescent. Leaves elliptic, 
coarsely and unequally serrated towards the apex, 
clothed with hoary tomentum beneath. Panicle 
crowded with flowers, oblong, obtuse. Flowers small, 
rosy-lilac. Stamens twice the length of the corolla. 
Calycine lobes triangular, reflexed. Carpels five, gla- 
brous, shining. 
