Page:Favourite flowers of garden and greenhouse-Vol 1.djvu/13

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CLEMATIS
5

hardy plant, from which florists have obtained a large number of handsome varieties and hybrids. The deservedly popular Jackmanni is one of these.

C FLORIDA (florid). Introduced from Japan < mr hundred and twenty years ago. Flowers large, solitary, pure white, from the ripened wood in spring and summer. The leaf is divided into from three to nine oval leaflets, hairy on both surfaces. There is a double form {flore />!> no), besides several ornamental varieties and hybrids. C. INDIVISA (undivided) was introduced from New Zealand nearly fifty years ago. Flowers creamy or white, in panicles ; April. Leaves leathery, smooth, of three entire-margined, oval leaflets, each ending in a hard point. A rapid grower, but as it is only half-hardy it should be restricted to conservatory decoration. There is a variety, G. indivisa lobata, differing from the type only in that the leaflets are lobed. C. lanuginosa (downy). A native of China (introduced 1851). Leaves broad, heart-shaped, smooth above and woolly below ; the lower ones divided into three leaflets. It has magnificent pale blue flowers, sometimes exceeding 8 inches across, appearing from June to October. The var. pallida has even larger flowers. C. MONTANA (mountain). Native of the Himalayas ( |,s: J ,1). Flowers smaller than in the preceding species, white, and in their form and size suggestive of Anemones; borne in clusters from the axils of the ripened wood. It attains a height of 20 feet, and flowers from May to July. C. patens (spreading). Native of China and Japan (introduced 1836). Stems wiry, free growing. The leaves are divided into three leaflets, smooth above and hairy beneath. Flowers, pale violet-blue, 6 inches across, springing from the ripe wood in June and again in autumn. It is one of the parents of many tine hybrids. Other names for it are C. Vitalla (white vine) is our own native Old Man's Beard or Traveller's Joy, so plentiful on English hedges. The flowers are only an inch across, of a greenish white colour, slightly fragrant; July to September, followed by the more conspicuous greybeards produced by the development of the feathered styles. C. VlTICELLA (vine bower), already referred to as the earliest exotic species introduced. It is very strong and hardy, and therefore is often selected as a stock upon which to graft less vigorous sorts. Leaves undivided, or with three to twelve leaflets. Flowers smaller even than those of ViAxdba, blue, purple, > .. the summer. This has been frequently used by the hybridisers, and its crossed progeny are mostly large-flowered.