232 



AUBOUETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



TAUT III. 



recognise as dilTerinji, in liahitand appciirance, from the genera Clematis and 

 /Itrngene, wliich are sletnlor-stenuned climbers, while the others are her- 

 baceous-looking undershrubs. 



Sect. I, Ceemati'de.e. 



These are climbers, characterised by having the aestivation of the calyx 

 valvate or induplicate ; witii no petals, or with the petals llat; the anther 

 opening outwards ; the carpels, or see<l-vesscls, 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; Clematis 

 and .^Itrageue, which are thus contradistinguished : — 



C'le'matis L. Petals none. 



.(4traqe'ne L. Petals several. 



Genus I. 



L 



L\j 



EH 



CLE'MATIS L. The Clematis, or Vihgin's Bower. Lin. Sijst. Poly- 

 andria Polygynia. 



Identification. The word Klematis is said by Donnegan to have been used by Theophrastus, cap. 5. 10. , 

 as well as yltragone, to designate the Clematis Vitalba of Linnseus. Clematis was used by 

 Matthiolus, and also by Clusius, who applied it to C. Viticella L. and C. cirrhbsa L. It has been 

 since generally applied to this family of plants by botanists. 



Synoiiymcs. Ladies' Bower Gerard ; Clematite, Fr. ; Waldrebe, Ger. ; Clematide, Hal. 



Derivations. The word Clematis, or Klematis, is derived from the Greek word klema, a small 

 branch of a vine ; and it is applied to this genus, because most of the plants composing it climb 

 like a vine. 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. Viticella) was intro- 

 duced in l.ifiO, 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 

 Queeu. The German name, Waldrebe, is compounded of u-ald, a wood, and rebc, the branch of 

 a vine. 



Generic Character. Involucre none, or situate under the flower, in the form 

 of a calyx. Calyx of from four to eight coloured sepals. Petals noiw. 

 Carpels 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 Mill., 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 ruptured by the germination of the seed. 



Description, 8fC. 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 eflect of which is the prehension of contiguous plants and objects. 

 The rate of growth in C. Vitalba and C. Flammida 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. Viticella and C. florida j the 

 most rapidly growing for covering bowers is C. Vitalba. The kind most 

 fragrant in its flowers is C. Flammula. 



Geography, Ilistonf, l\sp.f,^x. INIostof the hardy species of Clematis are 

 natives of the middle and south of Europe, and of North America; a few of 

 them are natives of the north of Africa, somv, 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 



