CLEMATIS 363 



in axillary cymes i J to 2 ins. long ; sepals downy, varying on different plants 

 from white to dull slaty purple, oblong, the margins pressed together at the 

 base, the points rolled back, forming a bell-shaped flower ^ in. long, stuffed 

 with yellowish white stamens thickly clothed with silky hairs. Fruit-heads 

 composed of numerous ovate-lanceolate carpels, each with a long, feathery tail. 

 Native of Japan and China ; introduced from the latter country by Wilson 

 in 1900. It flowers in October. Not one of the most promising species. 



C. LIGUSTICIFOLIA, Nuttall. 



This little-known species is a native of Western N. America, and in the 

 American floras is grouped with C. virginiana. It is easily distinguished from 

 that species (which has trifoliolate leaves) by its five leaflets, the terminal one 

 of which is deeply three-lobed or occasionally three-foliolate. It is, perhaps, 

 more likely to be confounded with our native C. Vitalba in foliage, but 

 the plant is much less vigorous, and does not flower freely with us. Moreover, 

 male and female flowers are confined to separate plants. They are white, 

 fragrant, f in. across, and produced in corymbose panicles, the sepals downy. 

 Leaflets ovate, pointed, coarsely toothed, of firm texture, bright green and 

 smooth. Seed-vessels with feathery tails. Flowers in September. 



Var. CALIFORNICA, S. Watson, has leaves downy or even velvety beneath. 



CLEMATIS MONTANA var. RUBENS. 



C. MONTANA, Buchanan. 



A deciduous climber of vigorous habit, growing at least 20 ft. high ; stems 

 smooth except when quite young. Leaves composed of three leaflets on a 

 common stalk 2 to 4 ins. long ; the leaflets short-stalked, ovate to lanceolate, 

 pointed, variously and unequally toothed ; I to 4 ins. long, half as wide. 

 Flowers solitary, pure white, 2 to i\ ins. across, each borne on a smooth stalk 

 2 to 5 ins. long. Sepals four, spreading, oval. Seed-vessel elliptical, sur- 

 mounted by a plumose style i^ ins. long. 



Native of the Himalaya; introduced by Lady Amherst in 1831. It is 

 quite hardy nea^ London, and is undoubtedly one of the loveliest of all 

 climbers. The flowers appear in May, and being produced singly on long 

 stalks, can only be confused with the white variety of C. alpina, and that is 

 not only very different in habit and vigour, but has the petal-like parts of the 



