AUGUST. 22: 



ZO 



CLEMATIS LANUGINOSA (Woolly Clematis). 



(Plate 90.) 



This fine species was discovered by Mr. Fortune, the enterpris- 

 ing Chinese Traveller, on the " Hills of Chekiang;" in 1850, 

 seeds -were transmitted to Messrs. Standish and Noble, Nursery- 

 men, Bagshot, who have succeeded in obtaining a stock of plants, 

 one of which flowered with them in the spring of 1852, and 

 others more recently, from which our plate has been taken. 



The Woolly Clematis is found wild on the hill sides, near the 

 city of Ningpo, generally growing on stony soil, among the 

 dwarf bushes usually found in such situations; on these the 

 stems support themselves as they grow, till they reach the top, 

 which is often over-spread with them; and in ;the blooming 

 season they present a beautiful appearance, from being covered 

 with the azure blossom of this Clematis; our readers will perceive 

 that the habit of the family is thus maintained by the present 

 species, and all who have noticed the growth of the common 

 Clematis in our own hedgerows will be able to form an idea 

 of the beauty which this plant will present, when allowed to grow 

 in its own way. 



The flowers of this species are much larger and more hairy 

 than those of C. azurea, which it somewhat resembles ; it will 

 form, we doubt not, a valuable addition to our hardy flowering 

 plants. A south or south-east wall will be a good place to begin 

 with it, but duplicate plants should be planted oat, much in the 

 way pointed out above, and allowed to ramble over some bush, 

 and at leisure, so as to fully bring out its beauties. 



C. lanuginosa owes its specific name Woolly to having the 

 flower buds, peduncles, and young leaves covered with a fine wool; 

 itbelono^s to the viticella section of the o-enus. This valuable ac- 

 quisition cannot be too generally planted; its vigorous growth 

 will soon enable it to form a conspicuous object. There is a 

 second variety called lanuginosa pallida, paler in colour than 

 the above, and with narrower petals, about which we shall 

 have something to say in a future number. 



The common Clematis has long been an occupant of English 

 gardens. The varieties of flammula and viticella being among 

 the first of our cultivated plants. The sweet-flowered Clematis 

 flammula, and the purple and blue varieties of viticella, are 

 especial favourites for training over arbours, bowers (hence their 

 popular name, Yine-bower Clematis) up to the present day, and 

 are equally useful for covering trellises, walls, or palings ; we 

 have likewise seen them turned to a good purpose, by planting 



NEW SERIES, VOL. IV. NO. XLIV. Q 



