Clethra
(from Klethra, the Greek name of the Alder; in allusion to the resemblance in the leaves). ORD. Ericaceoe. Very ornamental deciduous greenhouse or hardy shrubs or trees. Flowers bracteate; corolla so deeply five-parted as to appear made up of five free petals. Racemes terminal, solitary, or paniculate. The hardy species thrive best in loam and sandy peat, without dung. From their dwarf and neat habit, they are well adapted for growing in the front of shrubberies, where the proper soil is present. They are usually increased by layers, put down in autumn; but cuttings root readily at the same season, in sandy soil, under a hand glass. The greenhouse species are very suitable for large conservatories, for which purpose few plants are more beautiful than C. arborea; they thrive in the soil above recommended, and cuttings taken from half-ripened wood will root freely in gentle heat. All may be raised from seed, which, in most of the species, ripen in abundance. C. acuminata (taper - pointed).* fl. white, fragrant; racemes spicate, almost solitary, bracteate, clothed with white tomentum. July to October. l. oval, acuminated, bluntish at the base, serrated, glabrous on both surfaces, rather glaucous beneath. h. 10ft. to 15ft. Carolina, 1806. Hardy shrub. C. alnifolia (Alder-leaved).* fl. white; racemes spicate, simple, bracteate, clothed with hoary tomentum. July to September. l. cuneate-obovate, acute, coarsely serrated above, glabrous on both surfaces, and of the same colour. h. 3ft. to 4ft. United States, 1731. Hardy shrub. (G. W. P. A. 22.) C. arborea (tree). fl. white; racemes spike - formed, panicled at the tops of the branches. August to October. l. oblong, attenuated, lanceolate, glabrous on both surfaces, serrated. h. 8ft. to 10ft. Madeira, 1784. Greenhouse tree. (B. M. 1057.) There are two varieties of this species, one a smaller kind, and the other with variegated leaves.
C. paniculata (panicled).* fl. white, fragrant; panicle terminal, elongated, composed of racemes, and clothed with white tomentum. July to October. l. narrow, cuneate-lanceolate, acute, acuminately serrated, glabrous on both surfaces. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Carolina, 1770. Hardy shrub. C. scabra (rough). fl. white; racemes spicate, sub-panicled, bracteated, finely tomentose. July to October. l. broad, cuneate-obovate, acute, scabrous on both surfaces, coarsely serrated; serratures hooked. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Georgia, 1806. Hardy shrub.
C. tinifolia (Tinus - leaved). fl. white; racemes spike-formed, panicled at the tops of the branches, tomentose. Summer. l. oblong-lanceolate, quite entire, hoary beneath. h. 12ft. to 14ft. Jamaica, 1825. Greenhouse tree. C. tomentosa (tomentose).* fl. white; racemes spicate, simple, bracteate, villously tomentose. July to October. l. cuneate-obovate, acute, finely serrated at top, clothed with white tomentum beneath. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Virginia, 1731. Hardy shrub. (W. D. B. 39.)