Abelia
(named after Dr. Clarke able, Physician to Lord Amherst's embassy to China, in 1817, and author of a "Narrative of a Journey to China" (1818); died 1826). ORD. Caprifoliaceae. Very ornamental shrubs. Corolla tubular, funned-shaped, five-lobed, Leaves Petiolate, dentately crenated. Well suited for the cold greenhouse, either as trellis or pot plants; free-flowering when well grown, and of easy culture. May be treated in sheltered and war climates as hardy; and can be grown but of doors during summer in less favoured spots. They thrive in a compost of peat and loan in equal parts, to which a small quantity of silver sand may be added. Increased by cutting in summer, and by layers in spring, under a frame. Only two species, floribunda and rupestris, are much grown in England.
A. floribunda (many-flowered).* fl. Rosy-purple, about 1in. long, in axillary clusters. March. L opposite, oblong. J. 3ft. Mexico, 1842. The best and freest flowering evergreen species.
A. rupestris (rock).* fl. Sweet-scented small, pink, in pairs at the ends of the branches; sepals of leafy texture, with a reddish tinge. September. l. small, oblong. J. 5th. China, 1844. A deciduous, branching hairy shrub. A. serrata (serrate-leaved). Fl. Pretty pale red, sweet-scented, very large, in one-flowered terminal peduncles; sepals leafy. March. J. 3ft. China, 1844. A fine evergreen species.
A. Triflora (three-flowered).* fl. Pale yellow, tinged with pink, small, arranged in threes at the ends of the branches; sepals long and linear, clothed with long hairs. September. l. small, lanceolate. J. 5ft Hindostan, 1847. A small evergreen branching shrub.