Steeple-bush
Scientific name: Spiraea douglasii Hook.
Diagnostic features
Strongly suckering.
Stems ± erect, to 2m.
Leaves 4-8cm, oblong, sharply serrate in distal 1/2, ± entire in proximal 1/2.
Panicle ± cylindrical.
Petals pink.
Follicles glabrous.
Chromosome number: (2n=36).
Habitat
Introduced-naturalized; commonly grown in gardens, naturalized in hedges, etc..
Distribution
Commoner than Spirea salicifolia in Britain and under-recorded, Man, ?Ireland; West North America.
Key to the subspecies:
a. Leaves oblong, subglabrous to white- to pale grey-tomentose on lowerside.
........................ Spiraea douglasii douglasii.
b. Leaves oblong to narrowly so, sparsely pubescent to pubescent on lowerside, the leaf surface showing through.
....................... Spiraea douglasii menziesii.
Hybrids
- See Spiraea pseudosalicifolia(x) Silverside (= Spiraea salicifolia x Spiraea douglasii).
- See Spiraea billardii(x) Hérincq (= Spiraea alba x Spiraea douglasii).
- See Spiraea brachybotrys(x) Lange (= Spiraea douglasii x Spiraea canescens). |
