Clematis uncinata Benth.

An evergreen climber 10 to 15 ft high, with glabrous, slender, grooved stems. Leaves with three or five primary divisions, each division trifoliolate; leaflets ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2 to 4 in. long, pointed, glabrous, rather glaucous beneath. Flowers 1 in. wide, creamy white, numerously borne on leafless cymes, opening in summer; sepals narrow oblong; anthers linear, yellow.

Native of China, discovered by Champion in a ravine behind Mt Parker on Hong Kong in 1848. It is widespread in China and was found in Yunnan and Hupeh by Henry; introduced by Wilson in 1901. It is rather tender and needs the protection of a wall in most places. It thrives well in dry, chalky soil at Highdown in Sussex, scrambling over shrubs and into trees, and bearing scented flowers in June and July. The Highdown plants are referable to f. retusa Sprague (Bot. Mag., t. 8633), which differs from the type in its leaves being blunt or notched at the apex and in its leafy inflorescences. This form was probably introduced together with the type.