72 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



June in the south, further north in July and August. 

 It is a perennial shrub, reaching a height of 7 to 8 ft. 

 or even 20 to 30 ft. 



Named Vitalba, or White Vine, by Dodonaeus, 

 because of the vine-like clustered flowers, the flowers 

 are fairly conspicuous. And though they contain no 

 honey they smell sweet and there is much pollen, so 

 that many insects visit them, such as flies and 

 bees. The stigma is ripe a little in advance of the 

 anthers, and the flowers are thus adapted to cross- 

 pollination. 



The long feathery awns so characteristic of this 

 plant distinguish it from the other members of the 

 order, except the Pasque flower. They serve to 

 disperse the fruit by the agency of the wind, and in 

 autumn they cover the ground in the hollows on the 

 breezy downs. 



The original name was Vioma, ** adorning the 

 waies." The name Traveller's Joy was bestowed 

 upon the plant in 1597 by Gerard. Clematis is 

 from Clema (Greek), a shoot of the Vine, Vitalba 

 meaning White Vine. 



Boys are said to use the stems to smoke with, 

 hence the name Tom-bacca. The juice of the 

 plant is poisonous and caustic, and it has been used, 

 it is said, by tramps to inflame wounds to induce 

 sympathy. Pliny tells us it was used for curing sores. 

 Baskets have been made from the stems. 



The following are the vernacular names of 

 Traveller's Joy : Bearbine, Bedwine, Beggar-brushes, 



