CROWFOOT FAMILY 



RANUNCULACEAE 



VIRGIN'S BOWER 



Clematis 'virginiana L. 



The various species of Clematis differ from most other 

 members of the Crowfoot family in having opposite instead 

 of alternate leaves, and in being climbing plants. The 



climbing habit gives 

 a plant the advant- 

 age of being able to 

 get its leaves up in- 

 to the air without 

 expending energy 

 and material in con- 

 structing supporting 

 tissue for holding 

 its own stem erect, 

 but it has the dis- 

 advantage of mak- 

 ing the plant depen- 

 dent upon finding 

 something to climb. 

 This and other 

 members of the 

 genus are greatly prized as ornamental vines. 



The Virgin's Bower may be seen trailing gracefully over 

 fences or clinging to the branches of shrubs or trees, especially 

 in lowlands along streams or in moist lanes, from Georgia and 

 Tennessee to Manitoba and Nova Scotia. It climbs by twisting 

 its leaf stalk about supports, often to form delightful shaded 

 arches which amply justify its common name. 



The green or purple-stained stems are often 1 2 feet or more 

 in length and usually much branched. The vine is sometimes 

 woody at the base but usually is not and dies to the ground each 

 year. The root is perennial. The coarsely toothed leaflets of the 

 opposite leaves are dark green, silky on the lower surface when 

 young and smooth when mature. 



The dioecious flowers are produced from July to September. 

 There are no petals but the 4 or 5 white or greenish white sepals 

 are petallike, and the light green stamens and pistils are numer- 

 ous. The long feathery styles remain on the akene fruits and 

 aid in their dissemination. 



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