The Wild Clematis 



the stamens are backed by four white sepals, felt-like 

 to look and touch, which early disappear. The 

 centre of the flower is occupied by a green brush, 

 made up of a number of carpels, each responsible 

 for a single seed, and quite distinct from its fellows. 

 In the early hours of the flower's Ufe, the stamens 

 are to the fore, discharging their pollen gifts upon 

 all comers, and the central brush is closed ; then 

 they droop, and the brush opens and receives the 

 visitors and all they can bring. There is no honey 

 an5nvhere in the flowers, but the visitors can feast 

 upon pollen, which is plentifully supplied. In fact, 

 the spreading brush and the lavish pollen, together 

 with its elevated position on the tops of hedges, 

 have given rise to a suggestion that possibly the 

 Clematis may look to the wind for assistance in 

 cross-fertilising its flowers. The scent, without being 

 actually sweet, is very fresh and fragrant, and some- 

 thing Hke that of the hawthorn. It is said to be 

 specially attractive to flies, and we certainly find 

 flies frequenting this plant. It has been, perhaps a 



157 



