Clematis. 
(ARTIFICE.) 
T HIS pleasing flower, called frequently Virgin's-bower or 
Traveller’s Joy, has unfortunately been adopted as the 
emblem of artifice, because, some say, beggars, in order to 
excite pity, make false ulcers—which, however, sometimes 
produce real ones—in their flesh by means of its twigs. 
Its specific name of Clematis is derived from the Greek word 
klema, signifying a small branch of a vine, because most of 
these plants climb like a vine, rambling over everything. 
“ O’errun 
By vines and boundless clematis, ” 
as Procter says in some of his delightful verses. 
“Traviler’s joie is this same plant termed,” says Gerarde, 
“as decking and adorning waies and hedges where people 
travell; virgin’s-bower, by reason of the goodly shadowe which 
they make with their thick bushing and climbing, as also for 
the beautie of the floweres, and the pleasant scent and savour 
of the same ; and by country folks, ‘ old man’s beard,’ from 
the hoary appearance of the seeds, which remain long on the 
hedges.” 
Loudon, however, considered that the name of virgin’s- 
bower was probably given to this flower—introduced into 
England in 1569—with the intention of conveying a compli¬ 
ment to Queen Elizabeth, who liked to be styled and alluded 
to as the “ Virgin Queen.” 
One species of clematis is known as Ladies’-bower, “ from 
its aptness,” says old Gerarde, “ to make bowers or arbours 
in gardens.” Keats, in his luscious poem of “Endymion,” 
describes such a bower “ for whispering lovers made,” wherein, 
a youth is sleeping : 
