(A) Purple Virgins Bower (Clematis verticillaris) 
Is probably the most rare species of Clematis. It grows 
in rocky, hilly or mountainous woods, most abundantly 
in northern portions of its range, which is from Quebec 
to Hudson Bay and south locally to Del. and Pa. It is 
a climbing woody vine, supporting itself by. the bending 
or clasping of the leaf stalks. The flowers grow singly, 
on long stems from the axils of the leaves or from the 
end of the vine. They are large and handsome, the four 
thin, purple, pointed, translucent sepals spreading from 
two to four inches when fully expanded. The leaves are 
divided into three leaflets, ovate, pointed, with a heart- 
shaped base. 
(B) Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) is a beau¬ 
tiful, graceful, climbing, twining vine found throughout 
our range. The small greenish white flowers, with four 
or five sepals, grow in clusters from the leaf axils; 
staminate and pistillate ones are on separate plants. 
In Fall, the beautiful silky plumes of the seed pods 
gives this species the name of “ Old Man’s Beard.” 
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