Steeple-bush.Spiræe tomentosa.Steeple-top.Hardhack.
Found in open pastures, hillsides and lanes, during July and August.
The stalk bears prim branches, and is very leafy; woody-fibred, and strong, the surface being woolly. Pinkish-brown in color.
The leaf is oval, with a strong midrib, and a notched margin; the under surface is covered with wool of a whity-green color, the upper is full green in tone. The leaves, on scarcely perceptible stems, spring from the stalk with a strong and noticeable arch, which points them upwards; they are placed close together, and alternately.
The 5 petals are very small, round or slightly oval in shape, rosy-pink in color, as are the many stamens, which give a feathery look to the blossoms. The small calyx is 5-parted, and green. The flowers are crowded in small spires, that are arranged closely in a fine-pointed terminal spire, which is often 3 inches in length.
The flowers open first at the tip of the spire, which thus frequently turns to pale brown, before the light green buds at the base begin to swell. The ripened seed-spires of the previous year, dried to a rich gray-red, or deep brown, are retained during the flowering season, and add much to the attractiveness of the plant. The upturned undersides of the leaves are often tinted with pale rose color, as though reflected from the blossoming spire; all along the middle of the stalk they are larger than at the foot, or near the flowers. Upland slopes, which offer favoring conditions to the plant, take on aperceptibletone of pink during the blossom-time because of its numerous presence,—it is unfortunate that farmers rate this gregarious habit as pestiferous.