Deutzia

Deutzia, a favourite genus of shrubby plants of varied size belonging to the order Philadelpheae (related to the saxifrages). The clustered flowers have a campanulate calyx of five sepals; five petals, generally white, beneath an epigynous disc; ten stamens with flat filaments; and an inferior three- to four-chambered ovary, with distinct styles. The fruit is capsular. The simple leaves are interesting microscopically from their stellate hairs, which are so rigid that the leaves of D. scabra are used in Japan for polishing purposes. Several species are commonly cultivated.