virgin's bower

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Related to virgin's bower: Clematis virginiana

vir·gin's bower

(vûr′jĭnz)

Any of several climbing clematises, especially Clematis virginiana, of eastern North America, having clusters of white flowers and feathery seed heads.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Noun

virgin's bower - common climber of eastern North America that sprawls over other plants and bears numerous panicles of small creamy white flowers

Clematis virginiana, devil's darning needle, old man's beard

clematis - any of various ornamental climbing plants of the genus Clematis usually having showy flowers

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Vegetation near the trap was scattered small tamarisk, rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus; Asteraceae), virgin's bower (Clematis ligusticifolia; Ranunculaceae), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata; Poaceae), and other low-growing forbs.

Dirhinus texanus (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) from Utah

Plant natives for late summer Try one of these fast-growing native vines, recommended by Kathy Crane--owner of Yerba Buena Nursery in Woodside (yerbabuena nursery.com or 650/851-1668)--for late summer and fall interest: Western virgin's bower (Clematis ligusticifolia), which produces masses of white fluffy seeds and grows in the shade; and sun-loving, flaming red California wild grape (Vitis californica 'Roger's Red').

July: what to do in Northern California

The occasional farm dump, now softened with the lace of dewberry or virgin's bower, affords a glimpse into the past, and I find weathered relics among the lichened stones of walls and foundations.