78 Popular Studies of California Wild Flowers 



the Clematis, in persistent fashion, climbs, and reaches, and finds 

 its place in the sun, where, rejoicing in its success, it spreads forth 

 in the happy sunlight its many-flowered panicles of creamy loveliness, 

 to greet and cheer each passer-by. 



The vine is almost a constant ornament to the woodland ; unlike 

 other plants of its blossoming season, it is most showy in the autumn 

 months, when its seeds are plumed with their long silken sails ready 

 to go adventuring. These long-tailed carpels become a beautiful 

 silvery white as autumn advances, and clothe the vines with masses 

 of feathery plumes, that are conspicuous at a long distance against 

 a wooded background. The curious seed vessels often remain on 

 the bushes for a long time. One almost rejoices to know that some 

 day they will sail away through the fragrant air ; for there is an 

 appealing quality about this vine's persistent seeking for sunlit 

 regions which causes one to fancy it to be possessed of a soul that 

 yearns to sever itself from its earthly moorings 



"and then exhale 



A little fragrant soul on the soft gale, 

 To float ah! whither?" 



The Clematis has many common names, the more popular one 

 being Virgin's Bower, given to it by Gerarde, of the sixteenth cen- 

 tury. It is generally supposed that the name was given in honor 

 of the Virgin Mother ; but more probably the famous old herbalist 

 was alluding to Queen Elizabeth. He wrote of it as "fitting to be 

 a bower for maidens," and again as "worthy to be so called by reason 

 of the goodly shadow which the branches make with their thick 

 bushing and climbing, as also for the beauty of their flowers, and the 

 pleasant scent and savour of the same." The Virgin's Bower of 

 England is closely related to our Clematis, and our plant is more 

 frequently called by this name. In some parts of England, Clematis 

 is called "tambaca" and "smoking-cane," while in Germany the plant 

 is assigned to the evil one and is called "devil's thread." "Old Man's 

 Beard" is a name commonly applied to the vine at seed time. "Trav- 

 eler's Joy," another Old World name, is frequently applied to our 

 California species, and one does not wonder, for in some localities 

 it billows and clambers over rocks, bushes and trees until whole 

 hillsides are illuminated with its glory. 



Clematis is from the ancient Greek Klema, the name of a twig. 

 The Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Buttercup Family, 

 sometimes called the Crowfoot Family. There is much ancient 

 literature pertaining to the vine. From an early calendar of English 

 flowers this bit of verse has been found : 



"When Mary left us here belowe, 

 The Virgin's Bower was full in blowe." 



The family name is taken from the Latin word Ranunculus, 

 meaning a little frog, as some species are aquatic, growing where 

 frogs are found. The Ranunculaceae is a large family and its mem- 

 bers are scattered all over the world ; but not commonly so in trop- 

 ical regions. So varied in appearance are its members that it would 

 be difficult for the amateur to believe that they were related or even 

 nearly related species. All are herbs but the Clematis, which is a 



