meadowsweet Rosaceae Spiraea alba var. latifolia

Leaf:Alternate, simple, finely serrated, elliptical, 2 inches long, green above, paler below.
Flower:Small, white, in narrow, upright 4 to 6 inch terminal clusters, appearing in mid-summer.
Fruit:Narrow clusters of 5-parted dry capsules, persistent.
Twig:Slender, stiff, "wandlike", largely unbranched, reddish brown; leaf scar small and raised, 1 bundle scar.
Bark:Smooth, grayish to reddish brown eventually peeling off in fine strips.
Form:A multi-stemmed shrub to 6 feet tall.

leaf flower fruit bark form map

Notes: