232 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
includes the ligneous genera, Xanthorhiza and Pzeonia, which even a super- 
ficial observer may recognise as differing, in habit and appearance, from the 
genera Clématis and Atragéne, which are slender-stemmed climbers, while the 
others are herbaceous-looking undershrubs. 
Sect. I. CLEMATI‘DER. 
Tuese are climbers, characterised by having the estivation of the calyx 
valvate or induplicate; with no petals, or with the petals flat; the anther 
opening outwards; the carpels, or seed-vessels, not opening; one-seeded, 
terminated by a tail, which is the indurated style. Seed pendulous. Leaves 
opposite. Deciduous and evergreen climbers. The genera are two; Clématis 
and Atragéne, which are thus contradistinguished : — 
Cie’MatTis L. Petals none. 
AtRAGE’NE L. Petals several. 
Genus I. 
ZAZA 
CLE/MATIS LZ. Tue Cremaris, or Virein’s Bower. Lin. Syst. Poly- 
andria Polygynia. 
Identification. The word Klématis is said by Donnegan to have been used by Theophrastus, cap. 5.10., 
as wellas Atragéne, to designate the Clématis Vitalba of Linnzus. Clematis was used by Matthiolus, 
and also by Clusius, who applied it to C. Viticélla Z. and C. cirrhdsa L. It has been since generally 
applied to this family of plants by botanists. 
Synonymes. Ladies’ Bower Gerard; Clématite, Fr.; Waldrebe, Ger.; Clematide, J¢al. 
Derivations. The word Clematis, or Klematis, is derived from the Greek word c/éma, a small 
branch of a vine ; and it is applied to this genus, because magt of the plants composing it climb like 
avine. The English name of Ladies’ Bower was probably adopted from its suitableness for covering 
bowers; and, as the first kind of clematis brought to England (C. Viticélla) was introduced in 
1569, during the reign of Elizabeth, the name of Virgin’s Bower might be intended to convey a 
compliment to that sovereign, who, as it is well known, liked to be called the Virgin Queen. The 
German name, Waldrebe, is compounded of wa/d, a wood, and rebe, the branch of a vine. 
Generic Character. Involucre none, or situated under the flower, in the form of 
acalyx. Calyx of from four to eight coloured sepals. Petals none. Car- 
pels numerous, aggregate, terminated by a long, and mostly feathery, tail.— 
Climbing shrubs, with variously cut opposite leaves. The recent herb of all 
the species is acrid, and, when applied to the skin, it occasions blisters. 
(Don’s Mil., i. p. 3.) The seed is pendulous, and the carpels are one- 
seeded ; each is terminated by a persistent style, and does not open until rup- 
tured by the germination of the seed. 
Description, §c. Root strong; the fibres rather straight, and not very much 
branched; extended in the soil rather horizontally than perpendicularly. 
Stem ligneous, not rigid enough to stand erect. Branches the same, and 
slender. Leaves in decussating pairs; the petiole possessed of a clasping 
power, the effect of which is the prehension of contiguous plants and objects. 
The rate of growth in C. Vitalba and C. Flammula is among the most rapid 
known in the plants of temperate climates, particularly in the shoots which a 
well-established vigorous plant throws up, after it has been cut down to the 
ground. The most ornamental species are C. Viticélla and C, flérida; the 
most rapidly growing for covering bowers is C. Vitalba. The kind most fragrant 
in its flowers is C. Flammula. 
Geography, History, Uses, §c. Most of the hardy species of Clématis are 
natives of the middle and south of Europe, and of North America; a few of 
them are natives of the north of Africa, some of Siberia; there are several in 
the Himalaya, one in China, and several in Japan. The genus has been known 
since the days of Theophrastus, and has received various accessions from the 
é@. 
