16 



ARBORKTUM ET FUUTICETUM BRITAKNICUM. 



Genus II. 



^TRA'GENE L. The Atragene. Lin, Syst. Polyandria Polygynia. 



Identification. Lin Gen., p.6I5. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 10. 



Synonymes. Clematis Lam. and Dec. ; Atragene, Fr. and Ger. 



Derivation. The name of Atragene appears to be taken from two Greek words ; athros, pressed, 

 and ^enos, birth ; alluding, as it is supposed, to the manner in which the branches press against 

 or clasp the trees that support them. It was first used by Theophrastus, and was by him applied 

 to Clematis Vitftlba L. 



Gen. Char. Involucre none. Sepals 4, somewhat induplicate in the bud. 

 Petals numerous, shorter than the sepals. Cariopsides (carpels) terminated 

 by a bearded tail. Cotyledons approximate in the seed. (^Don's Mill.} 



Leaves compound, opposite, generally exstipulate, deciduous ; leaflets 

 variously cut. Flowers axillary, pedunculate ; purple, blue, or white. 

 Climbing shrubs, natives of Europe and North America. 



The atragenes differ from the clematises in producing leaves and one flower 

 from the same bud contemporaneously; whereas in most clematises the 

 flowers are produced upon wood developed previously to their appearance, 

 and during the same season. Hence the winter buds of /Atragene are larger 

 than those of Clematis, from their including the flower as well as the leaves 

 of the succeeding year. In atragenes the leaves are less divided than in many 

 of the species of Clematis, and they are always divided ternately. AH the 

 species of Atragene described in this work have petioles, which not only clasp 

 objects, like those of Clematis, but maintain the hold for more than the 

 season, like the vine. All extremely interesting fiom the beauty of their 

 blossoms. The culture is the same as in Clematis, and the propagation 

 generally by layers. 



1 1. j4tra'gene alpi^na L. The Alpine Atragene. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 764. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 10. 



Synony7ncs. Clematis ca^rCllea Bauli. ; j4tragene austrlaca Scop, and Bot. Mag. ; .atragene clema- 



tldes Crantz ; Clematis alp4na Mill. Diet. No. 9. ; C. alpina Dec. Prod. 1. p. 10. ; Atragene des 



Alpes, Fr.\ Alpen Atragene, Ger. 

 Engravings. Bot. Rep., 1. 180. ; Bot. Mag., t. 530. ; and our jf^ 26. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Peduncles 1 -flowered, longer than the leaves. Leaves 

 biternate ; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, serrate. Petals somewhat 

 spathulate, blunt. {Don's Mill.) A deciduous climber. South of Europe, 

 on mountains, in calcareous soils. Height 8 ft. Introduced in 1792. 

 Flowers blue; May to July. Fruit white; 

 ripe in August. Decaying leaves brownish, 

 and in general parting more freely from the 

 stems than in Clematis. 



Varieties. DeCandolle mentions its varying with 

 white flowers ; and A. sibirica Lin., described 

 below as a species with yellowish white flowers, 

 appears to us nothing more than a variety of 

 A. alpina. 



The stems are numerous, branching, weak, 

 forming knots at the joints where the leaves and ^^5=. 

 flowers are protruded. One flower, on a longish 

 scape, springs from between the leaves. The sepals /^l 

 are twice the length of the petals, and are blue i^^ 

 on both sides. The petals are small, of a dirty 



white, and in general 12 in number. Very orna- jg. Atvigene alpina. 



mental. Layers. 



