RANUNCULACEAE 221 



Plate 59, 



A. Anemone capensis Lam. I. Flower and leaf. 2. Receptacle with ripe fruits 

 (some removed) (etaerio of achenes). 



B. Clematis brachiata Thunb. I. Flowering twig with visiting bee. 2. Diagram 

 (after Eichler). 3. Receptacle and ripe fruitlets (tailed achenes). 



Anemone. 



Like Ranunculus the genus Anemone is far more largely developed in the 

 northern hemisphere than in the southern, extending from North America 

 through Europe and Siberia right into Japan. There are three species in 

 South Africa, each one with its own fairly well-limited area, viz. A. capensis^ 

 frequent in the South West, but rarer further east, A. caffra in the South East, 

 and the beautiful A. Fanninii on the Drakensbergen. 



A. capensis (Anemoon). Rootstock deep and stout, producing one or 

 more shoots every year. Leaves biternate, sometimes with linear segments; 

 scape 1 — 2 feet high according to locality, with one or, on vigorous plants, two 

 flowers which appear in spring. Fruit an etaerio of tailed and bearded achenes. 

 [See also plate 61, which faces page 222.] 



In rainy weather and at night the flowers are drooping and closed, but in 

 sunshine they soon open and stand upright. 



This is one of the most beautiful species of the whole genus, the handsome 

 leaves and the delicately rose-coloured, silky flowers exceeding all others in size 

 and gracefulness. Unfortunately it does not lend itself readily to cultivation, 

 growing only in localities which, although not wet, never get quite dry. Such 

 conditions exist on the south western mountains, where the southern winds 

 and their clouds bring sufficient moisture even in summer ; hence we do not 

 find the plant in the plains nor further north, and it does not thrive in the 

 gardens of the Cape, where, on the other hand, the less particular Japanese 

 white anemone flowers profusely every autumn. 



C 



LEMATIS. 



C. brachiata. Climbing by means of its petioles, which, on coming into 

 contact with a support, soon form one or two coils around it. The plant 

 flowers freely, and as its flowers, although not big, are fragrant it is often 

 grown on trellises and verandahs here and in Europe. In the woods it 

 covers large shrubs or even trees with its delicately cream-coloured flowers, 

 and later on, with its feather heads {Traveller s joy). There are a few other 

 species in South Africa, some of them very showy, like C. Slanleyi, a shrubby 

 plant 3 — 4 feet high, with silvery white foliage and pure white flowers, 

 occasionally tinged with pink, more than 2 inches in diameter. (Transvaal, 

 Natal, Rhodesia.) (Fig. 98.) 



