80 



Descriptive Flora 



compound, opposite. Leaflets three to seven, these usually three 

 lobed. Flowers white, about %" across, few in a cluster, at 

 intervals along short branches, one in the axil of each of the 

 upper opposite leaves. Petal like sepals four, white, silky be- 

 neath. Petals none. Stamens numerous, w T hite, showy. June 

 and July. Widespread. 



Clematis ooccinm Engelm. Leather-flower. Scarlet Clematis 

 (Viorna coccinea [Engelm] Small.) 



A very leafy vine climbing over bushes and fences in rich 

 soil and hanging on by its twisting, curling leaf-stalks. The 

 solitary purple, bell shaped flowers on short stems are almost 

 hidden by the foliage. The name leather-flower aptly describes 

 the texture of the four thick petal like sepals which are glossy 

 outside and velvety within and have slightly recurved tips. 

 Leaves compound, opposite. Leaflets broadly ovate, entire, 

 heavily veined underneath. Stamens numerous. The short, 

 stout and flat fruits have silky plumed tails about an inch long, 

 and form a ball about two inches across. March, April and May. 

 On shaded ledges along streams, moist ravines and river bottoms. 

 Rare. 



Clematis simsii Sweet. Leather-flower. Purple Clematis. 

 (Viorna simsii [Sweet] Small.) Pipe Stem. 



Similar to Viorna coccinea but with violet flowers and leaf- 

 lets thinner, generally three-lobed with one small thumb like 

 lobe. March, April and May. (River bottoms). Differs technical- 

 ly from the above species in the pubescent filaments, margined, 

 recurved sepals, and thinner leaf blades. The flat achenes have 

 silky-hairy but not plumose styles. Fairly common. 



Ranunculus macmntltns Scheele. Buttercup. Gold-cup. 



Crow-foot. 



These are the glittering, golden-yellow saucers, 1" or more 

 across that brighten the shaded hillsides and deep ravines. 

 Leaves with long, slender, hairy petioles that are largely tufted 



