G e n u s II.
riT R A 'G E N E L . T h e A t r a g e n b . Lin. Syst. Polyiindria Polygynia.
MennjicaHon. Lin Gen., p. 615.; Don’s Mill., 1 . p. 10.
byrtonymcs. CTematis L am . and Dec. ; Atragene, F c. and Gcr
Gciu Char. Jnvoluci^ none. Sepals 4, somewhat induphcate in the bud
Petals numei-oiis shorter than the sepals. Cariopsides (carpels) terminated
by a bearded tail. Cotyledons approximate in the seed. (Don's Mill.)
Leaves compound, opposite, generally exstipulate, deciduous; leaflets
variously cut. Flowers axillary, pedunculate : purple, blue, or white
Chmbing shrubs, natives of Europe and North America.
The atragenes differ from the clematises in producing leaves and one flower
from the same bud coiitemporaneoiisly; whereas in most clematises the
flowers are produced upon wood developed previously to their appearance
and during the same season. Hence the winter buds o f ritragene are larger
than those oi Clematis, from their including the flower as well as the leaves
o f the succeeding ^ a r . In atragenes the leaves are less divided than in many
ot the species ot Clematis, and they are always divided ternately All the
species o f ritragene described in this work have petioles, which not only clasn
objects, like those o f Clematis, but maintain the hold for more than the
season, hke the vine. All extremely interesting from the beauty o f their
S e m l j b y kyers."*'"*’' propagation
A 1 . A t r a ' g e n e a l p i ' n a L . The Alpine Atragene.
Identification. Lin. Sp., 764.; D o n ’s Mill., 1. p. 10.
Engravings. Bot. Rep., t. ISO.; Bot. Mag., t. 530.; and our fig 26.
Spec. Char., | c . Peduncles 1-flowered, longer than the leaves. Leaves
biternate ; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, serrate. Petals somewhat
spathulate, blunt. (Don's Mill.) A deciduous climber. South o f Europe
on mountains, in calcareous soils. Height 8 ft. Introtluced in 1792’.
Blowers blue ; May to July. F ru it white;
ripe in August. Decaying leaves brownish,
and in general parting more freely from the
stems than in Clematis.
Varieties. DeCandolle mentions its varying with
white flowers; and A. sibirica Lin., described
below as a species with yellowish white flowers,
appears to us nothing more than a variety o f
A. alpina.
The stems are numerous, branching, weak,
forming knots at the joints where the leaves and
flowers are protruded. One flower, on a longish
scape, springs from between the leaves. The sepals
are twice tlie length o f the petals, and are blue
on both sides. The petals are small, o f a dirty
white, and in general 12 in number. Very orna-
iiieiital. Layers.
HtrAg en eta.) siLlrioa
26. Atragene alpina.
2 . A. ( a . ) s u i i 'n iO A L. 'I l i e S ib e r i a n Atrag en e .
Identification. Sims, Bot. Mag., t. 1951. ; D o n ’s Mill., 1. p. 10. . . . .
Syiiom/mes. / / t i àgene alpina Gnirf. Si'6. 4. p. 194., Pall. Flor. Ross. Ì . p. 69. ; CTematis sibirica
\lui. Dict. No. 12., and Dec. Prod. 1. p. 10.
Engravings. Sims, Bot. Mag., t. 1951. ; and om fig . 27.
Spec. Char., d'c. Peduncles 1-flowered, almost equal in length with the
leaves. Leaves biternate ; leaflets oblong-lanceolate, acuminated, serrated.
Petals emarginate at the apex. (Dan's MilL) A deciduous climber.
Siberia, on niountains. Heiglit 6 ft. to 12 ft. Introduced in 1753. Flowers
white ; June and July. Fruit white ; ripe in August
Decaying leaves brownish.
Variety. A blue-flowered variety of this species is mentioned
in Bot. Mag., t. 1591., which is probably the
A. ochoténsis of Pallas, or possibly nothing more than .
A. alpina L.
There is a considerable similarity in this to the last,
in foliage and habit o f growth ; but it is less robust and
less branchy ; its branches are more ligneous-looking, and
the segments o f the leaves longer. The calyxes o f the
flower are white, longer, and with the tips rather con-
iiivent than spreading. The bark and foliage are o f a
lighter colour, and the flowers longer than those o f A.
alpina ; and the latter are perhaps less numerous.
A 3. A. a .m e r i c a 'n a Sims. The American Atragene.
Idrntijicatiim. Sims, in Dot. Mag., t 887. ; D o n ’s Mill., I. p. 10.
Synonyme. Clématis verticiìlàris Dec. Prod. 1. p. 10., Tor. «§• Gray , 1. p. 10.
Engravings. Bot. Mag., 887. ; and oar fig . 28.
Sper. Char., Sjc. Peduncles 1-flowered ; leaves whorled, in fours, ternate ;
leaflets stalked, cordate lanceolate, acuminated, entire or somewhat lobed
or serrated. P e ta ls acute. (Don’s Mill.) A deciduous climber. Vermont
to Carolina, on mountains and rocky places. Height 10 ft. to 15 ft.
Introduced in 1797. Flowers purplish b lu e ; May to July. F ru it w hite ;
ripe ?. Decaying leaves dark brown.
Variety.
A A. a. 2 obliqua Dou. MS.—Leaflets bluntly serrated.
This species is distinguishable from all the other Clema-
tideae described in this work, by the peculiarity o f its leaves
being disposed, not oppositely in alternately decussating
pairs, but in wdiorls o f four. This is an anomalous characteristic,
which DeCandolle 'has expressed by his specific
epithet verticilliiris. The flowers are very large, and campanulate.
Sepals oblong-lanceolate, bright purplish blue.
( Tor. and Gray.) Layers.
Olher Species and Varieties oJAtragene. — A. ochoténsis Pall, we consider as a
variety o f A. sibirica L . A. coìumbiàna Nutt., C. coìumbiàna Tor. Gray, i.
p. 11., has ternate leaves, and pale blue flowers smaller than those o f A. americàna.
It is a native of the Rocky Mountains, but has not yet been introduced.
Tribe II. P m o n t J ' c e j f . Dec.
Trih. Char. At once distinguishable from Clematidem, b.v the character of
the anthers opening to admit the escape of the p o llen 'o n the side next
the ovaries. In Clematidem, the anthers open on the side outward to the
ovaries. The mstivation is also imbricate, and the carpels from one-seeded
c
..^tvHgene am e ric àn a .