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Spiraea henryi Hemsl.

Modern name

Spiraea henryi Hemsl.

A shrub of lax, spreading habit, 6 to 9 ft high, more in diameter; branches reddish brown, slightly hairy when young. Leaves of the barren shoots 212 to 312 in. long, 34 to 114 in. wide, narrowly oblong or oblanceolate, coarsely toothed near the apex, those of the flowering twigs much smaller, 34 to 112 in. long, oblong or obovate, more shallowly toothed at the apex than the others, sometimes entire; all covered more or less with loose, greyish down beneath. Flowers white, 14 in. across, produced in June on rounded corymbs, 2 in. across, which terminate short, leafy twigs; flower-stalk and ovary downy. Bot. Mag., t. 8270.

Native of central and western China; named in honour of Dr A. Henry, who first discovered it near Ichang in 1885; introduced for Messrs Veitch by Wilson in 1900. It is a fine shrub, and stands in the front rank of spiraeas, but on account of its wide-spreading habit needs plenty of space for lateral development; it is better as an isolated plant than grouped in a shrubbery. Shoots 5 ft or more long are made in a season. It is allied to the Himalayan S. canescens.

S. wilsonii Duthie – This is closely allied to, perhaps only a variety of S. henryi. It is distinguished among other points by its glabrous ovary, and glabrous or slightly silky flower-stalks. Leaves of flowering shoots entire, downy above, duller green. Introduced in 1900 from Hupeh. Bot. Mag., t. 8399.

For another ally of S. henryi, see S. veitchii.


Spiraea henryi

Spiraea henryi

Genus

Spiraea

Other species in the genus