New England southward and westward.
Flowers: imperfect; clustered loosely in panicles. Calyx: of four oblong, petal-like sepals. Corolla: none. Stamens and pistils: Indefinite in number. Fruit: a cluster of feathery tailed achenes. Leaves: opposite; thrice divided; toothed. Stem: climbing.
"The favoured flower That bears the name of Virgin's bower."
Sir Walter Scott.
In Gerarde, we read that "Traviler's joie is this same plant termed as decking and adorning waies and hedges where people travell; Virgin's bower, by reason of the goodly shadowe which they make with their thick bushing and climbing, as also for the beautie of the floweres, and the pleasant scent and savour of the same; and by country folks, old man's beard, from the hoary appearance of the seeds, which remain long on the hedges."
Little country boys also call the plant, Tom-bacca and smok ing tree, which names are sufficiently suggestive for us to imagine the reason of their delight in the lovely climber.