TREES AND SHRUBS 69 



species of the genus could be grown here satisfactorily. 

 Clematis ligitsticifolia is the species which inhabits the ditch 

 banks in most of our valleys, though not confined to such lo- 

 cations. It has large clusters of white flowers each of which 

 is about an inch in diameter, and is followed by a head of 

 feathery tailed seed pods. The leaves are compound and the 

 vine climbs by twisting the small stems of the separate leaflets 

 around the smaller parts of the support provided, whether it 

 be a dead or living tree or the lattice work of a porch. This 

 vine is very vigorous, and while it will endure very adverse 

 conditions without dying, it appreciates and rewards a garden- 

 er's care. Clematis drummondii is a near relative of the pre- 

 ceding species, which lives upon the mesas and in the foot- 

 hills of our drier mountains. Its flowers are small and most 

 inconspicuous, the feathery seed pods are longer tailed and 

 less numerous, and the leaves are smaller. Altogether it is 

 not as attractive a plant, though it will no doubt stand greater 

 dryness in the soil. 



The Leather Flower ( Viorna bigelovii) is a species with 

 single flowers on long peduncles ; the sepals are maroon-col- 

 ored, thick and leathery, and white-hairy within. The com- 

 pound leaves have oval entire leaflets mostly, though some of 

 them are deeply lobed; all are smooth and veiny. This is a 

 vigorous vine, well worth cultivating, which grows in the 

 mountains at elevations of about 5,500 feet. Two other species 

 closely resembling it also occur in the State. 



The Purple Virgin's Bower (Atragene pseudalpina) , of 

 the northern part of the State would probably do well in culti- 

 vation while C. orientalis has become to a degree naturalized 

 at Las Vegas. All of these species have perennial roots which 

 are easily divided and transplanted. The first named species 

 grows readily from layers and would probably do well from 

 cuttings. They are all quite hardy, though the Leather Flower 

 would stand less drouth than some of the others ; none of them 

 will winterkill in the State. 



