Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Wistaria

WISTARIA, a genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ; sub-order Papilionaceæ, having pinnate leaves and flowers in terminal racemes, the pod leathery. The species were formerly included in the genus Glycine. Some of them are among the most magnificent ornamental climbers known in British gardens. W. frutescens, a native of Virginia, Illinois, and other parts of North America of similar climate, found chiefly in marshy grounds, attains the height of 30 feet, and has beautiful racemes of fragrant bluish-purple flowers. W. chinensis or consequana, a native of China, has larger flowers in pendulous racemes, and its branches run to the length even of 90 feet. These plants are generally trained on walls.