Tab. S686. 

 CLEMATIS AFOLIATA. 



New Zealand. 



Ranunculaceae. Tribe Clematideae. 

 Clematis, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 3. 



Clematis afoliata, J. Buck, in Trans. N.Z. Inst. vol. iii. p. 211 (1871) ; 

 T. Kirk, Students' Fl. p. 3 ; Cheeseman, Man. N.Z. Fl. p. 5 ; caulibus 

 aphyllis distincta. 



Frutex scandens caulibus ramulisque longis saepius dense intertextis. Hamuli 

 graciles, rigidi, striati, glabri. Folia in planta matura saepissime ad 

 petiolos redacta, rarius foliola tria minuta longipetiolulata ovata vel 

 triangularia gerentia ; folia in plantis juvenibus saepius majora; petioli 

 graciles, 2-10 cm. longi. Flores dioici, in axillis fasciculati, binati ad 

 quinati, rarius solitarii, viridulo-albi, 2-3 cm. diametro ; pedunculi basi 

 perulati, apice bibracteolati, ut pedicelli densiuscule pilosi. Flores $ : 

 Sepala 4, lanceolata, acuta, circiter 1*5 cm. longa, extra sericea. Stami- 

 nodia pauca filamentis valde applanatis, antheris effoetis oblongo-lineanbus. 

 Bistilla nuinerosa. Ovarium pilosum. Achaenia ovoidea, sericea. Flores 

 d : Antherae (teste Cheeseman) lineares. — C. aphylla, Colens. in Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst. vol. xix. p. 259 (1886).— T. A. Sprague. 



Clematis afoliata exhibits an interesting stage in the 

 development of aphylly in which only the leaflets are 

 suppressed, whilst the petioles are fully developed. The 

 New Zealand species of Clematis are all endemic and all 

 dioecious and are mostly difficult to discriminate, both 

 on account of the separation of the sexes, and because of 

 the polymorphy of their foliage. C. afoliata is, however, 

 readily recognizable on account of its leafless appearance ; 

 according to Cheeseman, it often forms dense masses of 

 intertwined stems and branches several feet in length. 

 For the material for our illustration we are indebted to 

 Miss Willmott, in whose garden at Warley Place, Great 

 Warley, Essex, C. afoliata, grown on a sunny wall, is, 

 when in full flower, a very striking plant. For its 

 introduction, Miss Willmott informs us, her garden was 

 indebted to her uncle, Mr. Charles Willmott, who sent 

 its seeds from New Zealand nearly forty years ago. An 

 interesting addition to outdoor collections, this species 

 will require protection during winter except perhaps in 



November, 1916. 



