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CHAPTER XVII.

ABOUT THE BOTANY OF THE NORTHWEST.

Many of the flowering shrubs of Oregon and Washington have already been mentioned in the chapter on forests. One of the first to blossom is the red flowering currant ( Ribes sanguine- rum), which puts forth its flowers before its leaves are fully expanded, like the Judas-tree of the Missouri Vallejo which it resembles in color. There appear to be two or three varieties of this species, as the color varies from a pale rose-color to a full crimson. The flower is arranged in clusters upon a slender stem like the green blossoms of the garden currant, but is much larger, and of a different shape. The bush is highly ornamental when in blossom, and generally introduced into gardens for decoration. It flowers in March. East of the Cascades is a yellow species very similar. Both of these grow near streams, and in the edge of the forest.

Of the spiraea there are several species. The wax-berry, with its tiny pink flowers and delicate leaves, is found in bottom-lands and on river-banks. In autumn the bottoms of the Columbia furnish thickets of wax-berries which, growing side by side with the wild roses, make a pretty contrast to the crimson capsules of the latter. In higher ground, yet subject to overflow, is found the Spiraea tomentosa, or hardhack, as it is commonly called, which grows in thickets and bears a cluster of a purplish-pink color. But the most beautiful of the spiraeas is the kind known as sea-foam ( S . aricefolia ), which its great creamy-white clusters really resemble. This grows along the river-banks and in the shade of the forest’s edge, and blooms in June and July, according to its locality. It sometimes grows to a height of twenty feet in the shade, though usually about five or six feet high. The stems are very delicate, like all the spiraeas, and bend most gracefully with the weight of the clusters.

Side by side, usually, with the last-named spiraea is the beautiful mock-orange ( Philadelphus ), with its silvery-white flowers crowding the delicate green leaves out of sight. Throughout