262 The Clematis. 



THE CLEMATIS. 



This is a very showy genus, belonging to the Ranunculus family {Ranun- 

 culacece) ; and contains many of our most ornamental hardy plants. 



The species are either herbaceous or shrubby climbers, supporting them- 

 selves by the leaf-stalk curling around any adjacent object; the stem itself 

 never twining. 



The most common species with us is C. Virgmiana, often known as 

 " Traveller's Joy " or "Virgin's Bower ; " which is a rampant climber, cover- 

 ing bushes in low woods or roadsides with axillary panicles of simple white 

 flowers, which are followed by showy feathery tails surrounding the seed. 

 This species is by no means inelegant in cultivation, and, if planted in rich, 

 deep loam, will soon cover a trellis ; and as it is a clean plant, and seldom 

 eaten by insects, it is desirable for training over a cottage-door or around 

 the windows. 



It may be raised from seed, or is easily transplanted. 



C. verticillaris, often known as Atragene Americana^ is a very beautiful 

 but somewhat rare indigenous plant. Like the last species, it is a climber, 

 though of low growth ; but differs entirely in the blossom, which is large, 

 often three inches in diameter, and of a bluish-purple color. 



Our other indigenous species are C. ochrokiua, an herbaceous species 

 with greenish flowers, and C. Vioma, cylindrica, and Pitcheri, all climbers 

 with purplish flowers. None of these are found in New England, but are 

 generally Southern or Western species. 



The herbaceous species generally seen in our gardens are C. ereda, ma- 

 ritima, and angiistifolia, with white flowers ; and C. integrifolia tnbulosa 

 Hendersoni and hybrida (of which the two last are hybrids), with blue or 

 rather purple flowers. These, as a class, require only the treatment gener- 

 ally given to herbaceous plants. They do well in common garden-soil, and 

 are easily increased by division in spring, just as the plants begin to grow. 

 There is a double variety of C. erecta, which is said to be very handsome ; 

 the flowers resembling those of the plant known as " Fair Maids of France " 

 {Ranunculus acotiii/folius). The species of clematis with woody climbing 

 stems are very numerous. Many are stove or greenhouse plants ; but by 

 far the larger portion are hardy or halfhardy climbers. 



