CLEMATIS. 



103 



destroyed by the cold. All the species are handsome border 

 flowers, of easy culture in a loam and peat soil, and can be 

 propagated by parting the roots, or by seed. 



CLEMATIS. 



Virgin's Bower. 



Clematis, from Greek, a tendril ; in allusion to the climbing 

 habits of most of the species. The species are mostly climbing 

 shrubs, or herbaceous perennials, of rapid growth, free bloomers, 

 very ornamental, and some are highly odoriferous. 



C. Virginicum is a native plant, well known as a great 

 climber, growing profusely upon the banks of our rivers and 

 wet places ; taking possession and covering all the shrubs in 

 its neighborhood, to which it attaches itself by its petioles, 

 which are given off, at intervals, in pairs, twining round objects 

 for support, and serving the purpose of tendrils. The flowers 

 are white, borne upon cymes, and make a handsome appear- 

 ance the beginning of August. The most remarkable appear- 

 ance of this plant is when in fruit; the long feathery tails of 

 seeds separating like tufts of wool. It grows twenty feet or 

 more in a season, most of which perishes, leaving but a small 

 portion shrubby. It makes an appropriate covering for an 

 arbor or wall ; for, whether in flower or seed, it is ornamental. 



C. alpina, or erecta, is strictly an herbaceous plant, growing 

 from three to four feet high, producing large families of white 

 flowers in August. It requires support, as it has the propensity 

 to attach itself to everything in its neighborhood, like the last, 

 by its petioles. 



Clematis integrifolia. Entire-leaved. A handsome, up- 

 right plant, about two feet high, producing nodding, bell-shaped, 

 blue flowers, most of the season. 



C. vitacella is a much admired species, with blue flowers, 

 which are produced from June to September, on long peduncles, 



