LEATHER-FLOWER 



Clematis pitcheri T. ^ G. 



Summer In .Iniic wlu'ii it is liii^li <iiiiiincr in the river-bottom 



Bottomlands coiiiiliy. then' l)l()(inis a t:tr;iii«:"e ilower along fences and 

 in tanglfs on slopes. Leathor-tlower is a clematis and 

 is one of the tyi)ical liowcrs of tlic rivci' lowlands of Illinois. 



l>('ll-sli;i|i('(l. till- llowiT is ciilircly unlike ilic u>iial garden clematis 

 which is often In'ight [luiplc w itli Inur to >i\ spreading |)('tals. or is small 

 and white in a great fragrant nia>- in autumn. The wild Illinois clematis 

 is bell-shaped and thick anil -tout, on short, stilt steins. The l)ell sliades 

 from a bright rose-juirple with a silv( ly glim to pale silvery green where 

 the bell splits into loui- s|)i('a(ling petal divisions. Inside, the Ilower is 

 eom]detely tilled \\ itii si.imens. The fiuits are at the end of long cnrving 

 "tails'' covered will) >lurl -ilky hairs. 



Leatiier-llower grows a> a low. sprawling \ine with a fibrous stem 

 and many side branches bearing tapered or lobed. stilt ](>aves. It is so 

 uidike any other Illinois wild Ilower that attention is immediately at- 

 tracted to its strange, thick, |)iirple and green be'ls and its compact and 

 interoling vine. It is actually a wcstein wild Ilower who.«!e eastern 

 boundary is Jndiana. It goes west into Xel)raska and south to Texas, but 

 in Illinois it bring'^ a llavor of the s(.uthwest to the steamy, weedy, river 

 bottoms when dune has come and midsuinmer is at band. 



The \'iigin's bower (Clninitis rirgini(inii) is covered with white 

 blossoms as its vines twine over I'ences and shrubs in moist woods or 

 along streams in July and August. The o))]iosite leaves are three-parted 

 and their long petioles twine about their sujiports. Later in the summer 

 the long feathery styles give the fruit a very striking appearance. This 

 attractive climlier is limited to the northern halt' of the state. 



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