S. UMBROSA (Shady Spiraea) and S. EXPANSA (Expanded-flowered Spiraea), the former from Northern India and the latter from Nepaul, are well suited for planting in somewhat shady situations, and are very ornamental species.  The first mentioned grows about a foot high, with rather large leaves, and cymes of white flowers on long slender footstalks; while S. expansa has pink flowers, and lanceolate and coarsely serrated leaves.

There are other valuable-flowering kinds, such as S. capitata, with ovate leaves and white flowers; S. pikowiensis, a rare species with white flowers; S. cuneifolia, with wedge-shaped leaves and panicles of pretty white flowers; and S. vacciniaefolia, a dwarf-growing species, with small ovate, serrulated leaves, and showy, pure white flowers.  S. betulifolia and S. chamaedrifolia flexuosa are worthy forms of free growth and bearing white flowers.

STAPHYLEA.

STAPHYLEA COLCHICA.—­Colchican Bladder Nut.  Caucasus.  This is a very distinct shrub, about 6 feet high, with large clusters of showy white flowers.  Being quite hardy, and very ornamental, this species is worthy the attention of planters.

S. PINNATA.—­Job’s Tears, or St. Anthony’s Nut.  South Europe.  This is a straggling shrub, from 6 feet to 8 feet high, with white, racemose flowers, succeeded by bladder-like capsules.

S. TRIFOLIA.—­North America, 1640.  This is distinguished by its larger white flowers and trifoliolate leaves.  It is the American Bladder Nut, but, like the latter, can hardly be included amongst ornamental plants.

All the Bladder Nuts grow freely in good light dampish loam.

STAUNTONIA.

STAUNTONIA HEXAPHYLLA.—­China and Japan, 1876.  This evergreen twining shrub is not to be generally recommended, it requiring wall protection even in southern England.  The leaves are deep green and pinnate, while the greenish-white flowers are fragrant, and produced in the beginning of summer.

STUARTIA.

STUARTIA PENTAGYNA (syn Malachodendron ovatum).—­North America, 1785.  This differs only from the S. virginica in having five distinct styles, hence the name.  Under very favourable circumstances this is the taller growing species, and the leaves and flowers are larger.

S. PSEUDO-CAMELLIA (syn S. grandiflora).—­Japan, 1879.  This is of recent introduction, and differs from the others in the flowers being rather larger, and of a purer white, and supplied with yellow instead of red stamens.  It is quite hardy in Southern England and Ireland at least.

S. VIRGINICA (syn S. marylandica).—­North America, 1743.  This is a handsome free-growing shrub, of often 10 feet in height, with large, creamy-white flowers, that are rendered all the more conspicuous by the crimson-red stamens.  The flowers—­like those of a single Rose, and fully 2-1/2 inches across—­are produced in May.  Quite hardy, as many fine specimens in some of our old English gardens will point out.