The Wild Clematis 



Because of this character it is known as " Bind- 

 with," " Bedwine," " Hag-rope " (i.e. Hedge-rope), 

 "Love-bind," " Robin Hood's Fetters," and "With- 

 wind." Trailing like a vine, it is called the Cle- 

 matis from the Greek — klema, a vine — or angli- 

 cisesd, the White, Hedge, or Wild Vine respectively. 

 Its second botanical name vitalha emphasises it as 

 the " White Vine." 



But it has no tendrils to help it to chmb as the 

 vine has, so it utihses for this purpose the stalks 

 of its leaves. Now, each leaf is made up of five 

 heart-shaped leaflets (two pairs and a terminal one), 

 set rather far apart from each other on fine stems, so 

 that it has a dainty and airy appearance. These 

 leaf-stalks seem to have some power of sensation, 

 for when they touch a suitable branch they twist 

 round it and thus secure a further hold for the 

 growing plant. Darwin, indeed, beUeves that the 

 leaves in many varieties of Clematis move spon- 

 taneously in order that their stalks may have the 

 chance of twining. That twining is actually caused 



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