596 VINES AND CREEPERS. 



quickly grows bare of foliage towards the bottom, and displays all 

 its beauty late in the season, and at the summit, where the fresh 

 growth rests in masses. A useful vine to cover unsightly roofs. 



The American White Clematis. C. virginica. — Similar in 

 appearance to the preceding, but with more profuse and conspicu- 

 ous white flowers, in August, and less showy seed plumes. 



The Vine-bower Clematis. C. viticella. — This is a more 

 showy species, bearing much larger flowers than the preceding 

 sorts, of various colors, blooming from June or July to October, 

 and two inches or more in diameter. Varieties. — The C. viticella 

 venosa has rich purple-colored flowers, touched with crimson, and 

 blooms profusely from June to October : considered the best. The 

 C. V. flora plena has double flowers of the same color. The C. v. 

 cenilea has blue flowers, quite large. 



The Showy-flowered Clematis. C. Florida. — A Japanese 

 species, with flowers white, blue, and purple, two to three inches in 

 diameter, from June to September. Growth slender, and not quite 

 hardy. 



The Large Azure-flowered, C. azurea grandiflora, is a 

 Chinese species, not long introduced, with flowers larger than the 

 native or European sorts. The C. eerulea, of the same species, 

 bears the finest blue flower. Both are hardy, and pretty, woody 

 vines. 



The C. Sophia, a Japanese variety with very large lilac blos- 

 soms ; and the C. Helena, another with very large white blossoms, 

 are both elegant vines, but require protection in winter. 



Honeysuckles. Lonicera. — These most cherished vines have 

 been gathered from all parts of the world, and the species hybrid- 

 ized and improved until their beautiful varieties are so numerous, 

 that, like the roses, they are almost innumerable, and a description 

 of them would fill a small volume. The best varieties are the most 

 suitable of all vine decorations for verandas and porches. We 

 shall merely mention a few sorts. 



The Woodbine Honeysuckle. Z. periclytnenii?n. — A native 

 of Europe. One of the most showy in its flowers, which are red 

 outside and buff" within ; June and July ; berries deep red. 



