Consists of the following genus:

1. Itea L. Sp. Pl. 199. 1753

Shrubs or small trees, with simple alternate petioled deciduous leaves, no stipules, and small white flowers in terminal narrow racemes. Calyx-tube obconic or campanulate, 5-lobed, its base adnate to the ovary. Petals 5, linear, their apices inflexed. Stamens 5, inserted on the disk. Ovary 2-celled; style slender; stigma 2-grooved in our species; ovules few or numerous. Capsule oblong or narrowly conic, 2-valved, several-many-seeded. Seeds narrow, flattish, the testa produced at each end. [Greek for willow, which its leaves somewhat resemble.]

About 5 species, natives of the eastern United States and Asia. The following typical species is the only one known to occur in North America.

1. Itea Virginica L. Itea. Virginia Willow

Fig. 2193

Itea virginica L. Sp. Pl. 199. 1753.

A shrub 4°-10° high, the twigs and inflorescence finely pubescent. Leaves short-petioled, narrowly oval, oblanceolate or rarely obovate, 1'-3' long, acute or acuminate at the apex, narrowed at the base, sharply serrulate, glabrous, or with a few hairs along the veins beneath; racemes terminal, dense, 2'-6' long; flowers short-pedicelled; petals linear, erect or slightly spreading, about 2 1/2" long; capsule 2-grooved, 2"-3" long, pubescent, narrow, tipped with the persistent at length 2-parted style.

In wet places, pine barrens of New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania to Florida, west to western North Carolina, Missouri and Louisiana. May-June.