16 ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM, 
Genus II. 
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ATRA’GENE L. Tue Atrracene. Lin, Syst. Polyandria Polygynia, 
Identification. Lin Gen., p.615.; Don’s Mill., 1. p.10. 
Synonymes. Clématis Lam. and Dec.; Atragene, Fr. and Ger. 
Derivation. The name of Atragene appears to be taken from two Greek words; athros, pressed, 
and genos, birth ; alluding, as it is supposed, to the manner in which the branches press against 
or clasp the trees that support them. It was first used by Theophrastus, and was by him applied 
to Clématis Vitalba L. 
Gen. Char. Involucre none. Sepals 4, somewhat induplicate in the bud. 
Petals numerous, shorter than the sepals. Cariopsides (carpels) terminated 
by a bearded tail. Cotyledons approximate in the seed. (Don’s Mill.) 
Leaves compound, opposite, generally exstipulate, deciduous ; leaflets 
variously cut. Flowers axillary, pedunculate ; purple, blue, or white, 
Climbing shrubs, natives of Europe and North America. 
The atragenes differ from the clematises in producing leaves and one flower 
from the same bud contemporaneously; whereas in most clematises the 
flowers are produced upon wood developed previously to their appearance, 
and during the same season. Hence the winter buds of Atragene are larger 
than those of Clématis, from their including the flower as well as the leaves 
of the succeeding year. In atragenes the leaves are less divided than in many 
of the species of Clématis, and they are always divided ternately. All the 
species of Atragene described in this work have petioles, which not only clasp 
objects, like those of Clématis, but maintain the hold for more than the 
season, like the vine. All extremely interesting from the beauty of their 
blossoms. The culture is the same as in Clématis, and the propagation 
generally by layers. 
Aol. Arra’Gene atpi'na L. The Alpine Atragene. 
Identification. Lin. Sp., 764. ; Don’s Mill., 1. p. 10. 
Synonymes. Clématis cerdlea Bauwk.; Atragene austriaca Scop. and Bot. Mag.; Atragene clema- 
tides Crantz; Clématis alpina Mill. Dict. No.9.; C. alpina Dec. Prod. 1. p. 10. ; Atragtne des 
Alpes, Fr.; Alpen Atragene, Ger. 
Engravings. Bot. Rep., t.180.; Bot. Mag., t.530.; and our jig 26. 
Spec. Char., §c. Peduncles 1-flowered, longer than the leaves. Leaves 
biternate ; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, serrate. Petals somewhat 
spathulate, blunt. (Don’s Mill.) A deciduous climber. South of Europe, 
on mountains, in calcareous soils. Height 8 ft. Introduced in 1792. 
Flowers blue; May to July. Fruit white; 
ripe in August. Decaying leaves brownish, 
and in general parting more freely from the 
stems than in Clematis. 
Varieties. DeCandolle mentions its varying with 
white flowers; and A. sibirica Lin., described 
below as a species with yellowish white flowers, 
appears to us nothing more than a variety of 
A. alpina. 
The stems are numerous, branching, weak, 
forming knots at the joints where the leaves and 
flowers are protruded. One flower, on a longish 
scape, springs from between the leaves. The sepals 
are twice the iength of the petals, and are blue <a 
on both sides. The petals are small, of a dirty 
white, and in general 12 in number. Very orna- as Aaticneuiclnes 
mental. Layers. 
