Abelia

Abelia a shrub, pronounced Abe'lia. After Dr. Abel, physician to the embassage of Lord Amherst to China. Natural Order Caprifoliacem.

A small genus of green-house shrubs, found in India, China, Mexico, and Japan. They are of a slender branching habit, bearing opposite leaves and terminal bunches of tubular rose colored or dark crimson flowers. A. rupestris, a native of China, is of dwarf habit, and flowers profusely in autumn or winter. The flowers are in compact clusters, very fragrant.

A. rupestris grandiflora, a seedling of Italian origin, has larger flowers, and the whole plant is more robust. A. Jloribunda, a Mexican species, has dark-colored flowers, produced from the axils of the leaves. All the species are increased by cuttings. Introduced in 1844.