Bot. Also spirea. [L. spīræa, ad. Gr. σπειραία, app. f. σπεῖρα SPIRE sb.3 Cf. F. spirée, Sp. espirea, and SPIREY.]
1. One or other species of an extensive genus of rosaceous plants or shrubs, many of which are largely cultivated for their handsome foliage and flowers.
The cultivated species are of foreign origin; but Spiræa Ulmaria, meadow-sweet, and S. filipendula, dropwort, are common wild plants in Britain.
1669. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (ed. 3), 90. Flowers in Prime,… Pome-granads double, and single Flowers, Shrub Spiræa, Agnus Castus.
c. 1711. Petiver, Gazophyl., IX. lxxxix. Cape Spirea with white close Flowers.
1731. P. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Spiræa frutex, Spiræa with a Marsh-Elder Leaf. Ibid., Sweet-scented African Spiræa with hairy Leaves.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Suppl., s.v., 1. The willow-leaved spiræa. 2. The opulus-leaved spiræa [etc.].
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spiræa, African, Diosma.
1888. Miss Braddon, Fatal Three, I. I. ii. 22. Half hidden amidst the bank of feathery white spirea.
1894. Daily News, 17 July, 6/5. The leafy spiræa is much used for such decorations.
b. With a and pl. A single plant or shrub, or one particular species, of this genus.
1731. Gentl. Mag., I. 40/2. Transplant all sorts of Flowering Shrubs, which bear the Weather, as Roses,… Lilac, Syringa, Spireas [printed Spipeas], Altheas, &.
1846. Lindley, Veget. Kingd., 563. Section of the flower of a Spiræa.
1868. Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 85. The beetle frequents flowers; a great number were taken … on the flowers of a spiræa.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 24 April, 8/2. Spireas, gardenias, narcissi, and lilies of the valley.
2. The genus composed of these plants.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v., The species of spiræa, enumerated by Mr. Tournefort, are these.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 697/2. Spiræa, in botany: A genus of plants … in the natural system arranged under the 26th order.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1084/2. Of the foreign shrubby kinds of Spiræa some are very handsome.
3. Oil of spiræa: (see quot. 1857).
1842. [see SALICYLOUS a.].
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., vii. 479. Oil of Spiræa,… Hydride of Salicyl; Salicylous Acid.
1866. Odling, Anim. Chem., 58. He might produce … oil of spiræa, for instance, from salicin.
