6 RANUNCULACEiE. Clematis. 



sometimes few, shorter than the sepals. Anthers linear, extrorse. Achenia terminated by 

 long (mostly plumose or hairy) tails. — Perennial, herbaceous, somewhat shrubby plants, 

 mostly sarmentose, with opposite leaves and fibrous roots. 



^ 1. Clematis proper. Involucre none : petals none. 



1. Clematis ochroleuca. Ait. (Plate I.) Silky Virgin's Bower. 



Stem herbaceous, erect, silky-pubescent ; leaves undivided, ovate, silky underneath ; pe- 

 duncles solitary, one-flowered, terminal, incHned. — Ait. Kew. (ed. 1.) p. 260; Sims, hot. 

 mag. t. 1175 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 48 ; DC. prodr. 1. p.8; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. \. p.l. 

 C. sericea, Michx. /. 1. p. 319 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 385. 



Stem simple or somewhat branched, 1^-2 feet high, firmly erect. Leaves 1^-3 inches 

 long and 1-2 inches in diameter, nearly sessile, rather obtuse, sometimes a little cordate at 

 the base, reticulated, nearly smooth when old. Flowers about an inch in diameter, only one 

 on a plant when the stem is simple, but usually several when branched. Sepals (rarely 5) 

 silky externally, of a dull yellowish color internally, lanceolate, acuminate ; the point some- 

 what recurved. Peduncle of the fruit erect. Carpels with long plumose silky tails ; the silk 

 of a yellowish color. 



In a small sandy copse about half a mile from the South Ferry, Brooklyn ; the only known 

 locality of the plant in the State. It was first detected there by the late Dr. C. W. Eddy, in 

 the year 1806 ; and though often sought for, was not found again until a few years ago, when 

 it was collected by Mrs. S. Carey. It flowers in May, and ripens its fruit early in July. 



2. Clematis Virginiana, Linn. Virginian Virgin's Bower. 



Flowers panicled, dioecious or polygamous ; leaves ternate, smooth ; leaflets ovate or 

 roundish, acuminate, often more or less cordate, incisely toothed and lobed ; carpels with long 

 plumose tails. — Willd. sp. 2. p. 1290 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 318 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 384 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 335 ; Torr. 4- Gr.fl. N. Am. 1. p. 8. 



Stem 8-15 feet long, climbing over shrubs and bushes, pubescent when young, nearly 

 smooth and somewhat shrubby when old. Leaves on petioles which are 2 - 3 inches long ; 

 the leaflets 1-3 inches in length and 1-2 inches in breadth, peliolulate. Panicles axillary, 

 trichotomously divided, with small leaves at the divisions. Sepals white, elliptical-obovate, 

 longer than the stamens and pistils. Carpels with silky plumose whitish tails, which are about 

 an inch long, and recurved in maturity. 



Common in thickets, and along fences and stone walls. Flowers from the latter part of 

 July to August ; the fruit mature about the end of September. 



This plant is sometimes employed as an emetic, diaphoretic and alterative. Wood and 

 Bache's U. S. Dispensatory, append. 1078. 



