BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
5 
through the branches of trees, or the bushes of hedge-rows, so as always to have the flowers and leaves of the 
plants fully exposed to the sun and air. The tendrils of the leaves twist round every object that presents itself to 
them; and, as they afterwards become bard, and do not fall with the blades of the leaves, they form a kind of 
hook, by which the Clematis attaches itself to the neighbouring trees, from which it hangs down in graceful 
festoons. The flowers are of a greenish-white, and, though sweet-scented, their fragrance is oppressive rather 
than agreeable; but the plant is more handsome in seed than in flower, the long feathery tails of the carpels 
forming beautiful tufts, which wave like plumes of feathers over the bushes to which they are attached, and 
have a silvery appearance in the sun. The word Clematis is derived from the Greek, and signifies the tendril of 
a vine, or other climbing plant; and Vitalba signifies a white vine, a name which is probably given to the 
species from the silvery appearance of the carpels in autumn. In some parts of England the plant is called the 
Old Man’s Beard, for the same reason ; and Gerard gave it the name of Traveller’s Joy, from its adorning the 
ways and hedge-sides along which people travel. The French call it Herle aux Gueux , or Beggars’ Grass, 
because the beggars in France are said to use it to excite pity for them, as they make ulcers with it on their 
arms and legs, by inflicting a slight scratch, and then binding a leaf of this Clematis on the place, when its 
acridity corrodes the flesh, and soon makes an ulcerated wound. The Traveller’s Joy is generally found on 
chalky or calcareous soils, in the South of England ; and, in the neighbourhood of London, it is particularly 
abundant in the chalk pits near Greenhithe, where it is very ornamental. It will grow, however, in almost any 
soil where it is planted, and in all shows the same luxuriance. 
“ The Traveller’s Joy is a darling thing, 
None loveth it more than I : 
I’ve seen it in courtly gardens cling; 
I’ve seen it ’mid rocks and ruins spring ; 
I know hedge-rows where it’s wandering— 
And I smile as I pass it by.”— Twamley. 
When, however, this plant is grown in gardens or shrubberies, it is propagated by seeds, which often remain 
eighteen months in the soil before they germinate. The stems of the plants become hollow when old, and the 
shepherds in Germany often cut pieces of them, which they light at one end, and smoke like pipes, the acridity 
of the plant giving the wood a flavour like that of tobacco. The French gardeners sometimes make baskets, and 
even bee-hives, of the twigs of this plant; but it is necessary to hold them to the fire, to increase their flexibility, 
before doing so. This plant is a great favourite in the Cemeteries near London, and there are few graves 
decorated wfith flowers that do not possess a plant of it. It is, indeed, well deserving of general cultivation, 
from the great rapidity with which it covers bowers and arbours, or spreads itself over dead walls; as it soon 
forms a dense mass, quite sufficient either for shade, or to conceal any unsightly objects. It is also ornamental, 
both in the summer and autumn, as its flowers appear early in June, and the beauty of its seeds continues till 
they are prostrated by the frosts of winter. Its fragrance is very powerful, and, though unpleasant iu a room, 
is not disagreeable in the open air. 
“ Fair plant ! as plentiful as fair, 
Before thou meet’st the eye, 
Thy fragrance fills the summer air, 
And tells that thou art nigh : 
And when the flowers look less bright, 
And autumn browns the trees, 
Thy feathery seeds shed silvery light, 
And quiver in the breeze.” 
