RAM'NCl I.ACE.E. 15 



Plate 2. 

 CLEMATIS, L. 



Petala nulla. Sepala 4, petaloidea, sestivatione valvata, 

 marginibus saepe induplicatis. Achenia stylo persistente mi- 

 do seu barbato caudata. — Herbae vel suffrutices oppositifo- 

 lias, saepius petiolis petiolulisve scandentes. 



Clematis, Linn. Juss. Gen. p. 232. Endl. Gen. 4763. Giertn. Fr. t. 74. 

 Virgin's Bower. 



Calyx of 4 (or rarely 6 to 8) petaloid sepals, valvate, and 

 usually with the margins induplicate in aestivation, decidu- 

 ous. Petals none. Stamens indefinite, hypogynous : fil- 

 aments filiform : anthers linear or oblong, fixed by their 

 base, innate or slightly extrorse, the cells opening longitudi- 

 nally by a lateral line. Pistils indefinite (15 to 30 or more), 

 crowded on the globular or flattish receptacle : ovary one- 

 celled and one-ovuled, tapering into a hairy or nearly naked 

 style ; the stigma unilateral (on the inner side) at its apex. 

 Ovule suspended from the summit of the cell, anatropous ; 

 the raphe dorsal. 



Fruit a head of sessile achenia, which are coriaceous, 

 compressed ; the persistent style naked, pubescent, or more 

 commonly forming a plumose-hairy tail. Seed conformed 

 to the cell, usually compressed : testa coriaceous, thickish ; 

 the inner integument membranaceous. Albumen corneous- 

 fleshy. Embryo minute, next the hilum : cotyledons short : 

 radicle thick, superior (pointing to the base of the style). 



Suffruticose plants, climbing by the twisting of their 

 leaf-stalks, or upright herbs, with fibrous perennial roots ; 

 the opposite leaves either trifoliolate, pinnate, or sometimes 

 simple. Buds not scaly. Flowers axillary or terminal, pan- 

 icled-cymose or solitary (blue, purple, white, or cream-color), 

 perfect, or sometimes polygamo-dicecious; the peduncles na- 



