S P I R Æ A Ulmaria.
Meadow-fweet.
IC0SANDR1A Pcntagynia.
G en. Char. Cal. 5-cleft. Petals 5. Capfules fu-
perior, of 2 valves, with many feeds.
Spec. C har. Leaves interruptedly pinnate, downy
beneath ; the terminal leaflet largeft and lobed.
Flowers cymofe, with many ftyles.
Syn. Spiraea Ulmaria. Linn. Sp. Pi. 702. Sm. Fl.
Brit. 536. Hudf. 217. IVith. 464. Hull. 1:0.
Relh. 192. Sibtb. 157. Abbot, n o . Curt. Lond.
ƒ # • > *■ 33;
Ulmaria. Rail Syn. 259.
jV I eADOW-SWEET, or Queen of the Meadows, as it is
fometimes called, abounds in moift meadows about the banks
of rivers and ditches, perfuming the air with the fweet hawthorn
like fcent of its plentiful blofloms from June to Auguft.
The green parts of the herb partake of a fimilar aromatic
flavour when rubbed or chewed, approaching to the tafte of
orange-flower water, a flavour poflefled in higher perfection
by the American Gualtheria. It is amufing, at leaft, to remark
fuch refemblances ; and the ftudent of Natural Orders
may in many cafes be afiifted by them, though in the prefent
inftance they may baffle his fluff.
The root is fibrous and perennial. Stems ereft, 3 or 4 feet
high, angular and furrowed, leafy, branched in the upper
part. Leaves interruptedly pinnate; their leaflets very unequal
in fize, fharply ferrated, clothed beneath with white down;
the terminal one remarkably large and three-lobed. A pair
of rounded ferrated ftipulae are joined to the common leaf-
ftalk, and clafp the ftem. Flowers in a large very compound
cyme, whofe fide branches rife much above the central one.
Stamina numerous. Styles 6 or 8, on which fubjeCt we have
already enlarged in vol. 4. p. 284. Gerajens and capfules
twilled.