August 17, 1892.] 



Garden and Forest. 



391 



the outside being paler. Tliey are not apprecialjly fragrant. 

 There are a number of forms with variations in the color 

 of the tlowers, some of tliem being t|uite pale, or the sepals 

 may lie dark on the outer ends, changing to almost white at 

 the base, and there are one or two forms which have double 

 flowers. There are not many kinds of Clematis with colored 

 blossoms which bear flowers in greater profusion, and it is 

 _ perfectly hardy in this climate without any protection. 



A very pretty and interesting little sub-shrubby species is 

 known to botanists as C. aromatica, although it is probably 

 more generally known in nurseries and gardens under the 

 name of C. cirrulea odorata. It is not a climber, the stems 

 only attaining a height of four or five feet, but requires a 

 slight support in order to keep in an erect position. The 

 flowers are a couple of inches across, the four sepals of a rich 

 dark purple color, even darker than the great flowers of C. 

 Jackmanni, and they have a sweet delicate odor. The sepals 

 are narrow, becommg much reflexed after full expansion of 

 the flower. The stamens are white, long and freely spread- 

 ing. The plant seems quite hardy here, flowers freely from 

 the latter part of June until the end of July — there are still a 

 few stray flowers (August 3d) — and it requires the same treat- 



in best bloom during July, but which differ from the foregoing 

 species in having flowers which do not expand their sepals 

 widely, but are narrowly inversely bell-shaped or vase-shaped. 

 Although natives of our own country they are extremely rare 

 in our gardens, the large-flowering showy sorts receiving al- 

 most all attention. These American species, while not bril- 

 liantly showy like the others, are extremely interesting, and 

 some of them bear very pretty flowers. 



Clematis coccinea is one of the most curious as well as one 

 of the most attractive of them all. A native of Texas and the 

 south-west, there seems to be no question of its hardiness here 

 if given a warm well-drained soil, but it does not show the 

 vigor and tenacity of life of some other species. Its flowers 

 are almost top-shaped, or inversely bell-shaped, with the tips 

 of the sepals only spreading slightly and forming a very small 

 mouth. The color of the outside, which is perfectly smooth, 

 is a bright red or scarlet, the small exposed interior portion 

 light yellowish. The sepals are so thick and fleshy that they 

 suggest edibility, but they are spongy and almost tasteless. 

 The stems of the plant ordinarily grow about five or six feet 

 in height. 



Clematis crispa grows somewhat larger, and its sepals e.x- 





Fisj. £6.— The Old Meeker House at Lyons Farms, New Jersey.— See page 386. 



ment as other sub-shrubby or herbaceous species like C. recta. 

 It is curious that the native country of this Clematis is unknown. 



Another desirable species of much the same habit, but of 

 somewhat larger, stronger grovvth, and which fjlossoms dur- 

 ing about the same season, is known to us as C. Eriostemon. 

 It has deep blue-purple flowers about two and a half inches 

 across, composed of four thick strongly nerved sepals, which 

 spread into a broad bell-shape, not becoming quite horizontal. 

 The blossoms have a slightly sweet fragrance and are pro- 

 duced in abundance singly on long stalks, and when in good 

 condition the plant is quite showy and attractive. It is perfectly 

 hardy without any special care or protection, and is well worth 

 more general use than it now enjoys. Wherever it is cultivated 

 it is probably better known under the garden name of C. Hen- 

 dersoni, while C.Chandleri is also said to be another synonym. 

 Some years ago the Arboretum received a very pretty form 

 from Herr Max Leichtlin, labeled C. Eriostemon Spachiana. 

 This bears pinkish purple or very pale magenta colored flow- 

 ers, the color deepening toward the base of the sepals. 



We have several hardy native American species, which are 



pand and recurve much more than those of the last species- 

 Its flowers are very markedly ribbed on the outside, and they 

 are of a very pretty pale lilac or light purple color. Its sepals 

 are much thinner than those of the other. 



These two kinds are the most beautiful and best deserving 

 of cultivation among these peculiar American species. Sev- 

 eral others are interesting, though not generally so pretty orso 

 much admired. 



Clematis Viorna, the so-called Leather-flower, with reddish 

 purple blossoms, is well worth cultivating with the others, 

 while C. Pitcheri will prove one of the most vigorous plants of 

 all. The flowers of this are usually large and of a dull purplish 

 color, the inner side of the sepals being very dark. It is a 

 free-blooming species, but not showily ornamental. It appears 

 to vary considerably in the size and depth of color of the 

 flowers on different plants. Lavallee, m his celebrated mono- 

 graph, described as C. Sargentii a plant which appears to be 

 only an extreme form of C. Pitcheri, having small flowers and 

 unimportant modifications in the leaves. 



Arnold Arboretum. !■ ^- jack. 



