Jamesia

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Jamesia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Jamesia (after its discoverer, Dr. Edwin James, 1797-1861, botanical explorer of the Rocky Mountains). Syn., Ediolnia. Sarifragaceae. Low hardy shrub of upright habit, with deciduous, opposite leaves, and white flowers in terminal, short panicles. Leaves without stipules, petioled, serrate: calyx-lobes and petals 5; stamens 10; styles usually 3, rarely 4 or 5, slender; ovary superior, 1-celled: fr. a 3-5- valved, many - seeded, dehiscent caps.—One species in the Rocky Mts. from Utah to New Mex. Handsome shrub for borders of shrubberies or rocky slopes in sunny situations, thriving in any well-drained garden soil, best in a peaty and sandy one. Prop, by seeds or by cuttings of ripened wood. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Jamesia
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Cornales Family: Hydrangeaceae Genus: Jamesia Species: J. americana
Binomial name
Jamesia americana Torr. & A.Gray

Jamesia is a genus of shrubs in the Hydrangeaceae, most commonly known as Jamesia, Cliffbush or Waxflower. It is native to interior western North America, in the U.S. states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, growing in mountains at 1600-3000 m altitude.

There is just one species, J. americana, though some botanists treat it as two separate species, the second being J. tetrapetala (Fourpetal Cliffbush; with the narrow sense J. americana then known as Fivepetal Cliffbush).

It is a shrub growing to 1-2 m tall and to 3 m or more broad, with opposite simple leaves 3-7 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, with a serrated margin and a crinkled surface. The flowers are produced in erect terminal panicles, each flower white, 15-20 mm diameter, with five (rarely four) petals. The fruit is a dry capsule with numerous small seeds.