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Clematis (from Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic Greece , Classical Greece , and Hellenistic civilization periods of ancient Greece and the classical antiquity....
 klematis, a climbing plant, probably periwinkle
Vinca

Vinca or Periwinkle is a genus of five species in the family Apocynaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. The common name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus....
) is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of mostly vigorous climbing liana
Liana

The liana is any of various long-stemmed, usually woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in order to get access to well-lit areas of the forest....
s, with attractive flowers. Some species are shrub
Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticulture rather than strictly Botany category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall....
by, and some others are herbaceous
Herbaceous

A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaf and stem that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. A herbaceous plant may be Annual plant, Biennial plant or Perennial plant....
 perennial plant
Perennial plant

A perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants....
s. They are generally calcicole
Calcicole

A calcicole or calciphyte is a plant that does not tolerate acidic soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to dwell on chalk'. Under acidic conditions, aluminium becomes more soluble and phosphate less....
 species, found throughout the temperate regions of both hemispheres, and also in mountains in the tropics, on limestone
Limestone

File:Limestone Formation In Waitomo.jpgLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite . The deposition of limestone strata is often a by-product and indicator of biological activity in the geology record....
 and other basic soils. The cool temperate species are deciduous
Deciduous

Deciduous means falling off at maturity or tending to fall off and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe....
, but many of the warmer climate species are evergreen
Evergreen

In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant having leaf all year round. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage for part of the year....
.

Most species are known as Clematis in English, while some are also known as traveller's joy, old man's beard, leather flower, vase vine and virgin's bower, the last three being names used for North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
n species.

One recent classification recognised 297 species of clematis.






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Encyclopedia


Clematis (from Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic Greece , Classical Greece , and Hellenistic civilization periods of ancient Greece and the classical antiquity....
 klematis, a climbing plant, probably periwinkle
Vinca

Vinca or Periwinkle is a genus of five species in the family Apocynaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. The common name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus....
) is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of mostly vigorous climbing liana
Liana

The liana is any of various long-stemmed, usually woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in order to get access to well-lit areas of the forest....
s, with attractive flowers. Some species are shrub
Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticulture rather than strictly Botany category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall....
by, and some others are herbaceous
Herbaceous

A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaf and stem that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. A herbaceous plant may be Annual plant, Biennial plant or Perennial plant....
 perennial plant
Perennial plant

A perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants....
s. They are generally calcicole
Calcicole

A calcicole or calciphyte is a plant that does not tolerate acidic soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to dwell on chalk'. Under acidic conditions, aluminium becomes more soluble and phosphate less....
 species, found throughout the temperate regions of both hemispheres, and also in mountains in the tropics, on limestone
Limestone

File:Limestone Formation In Waitomo.jpgLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite . The deposition of limestone strata is often a by-product and indicator of biological activity in the geology record....
 and other basic soils. The cool temperate species are deciduous
Deciduous

Deciduous means falling off at maturity or tending to fall off and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe....
, but many of the warmer climate species are evergreen
Evergreen

In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant having leaf all year round. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage for part of the year....
.

Most species are known as Clematis in English, while some are also known as traveller's joy, old man's beard, leather flower, vase vine and virgin's bower, the last three being names used for North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
n species.

One recent classification recognised 297 species of clematis. Unsurprisingly, therefore, modern taxonomists subdivide the genus. Magnus Johnson divided Clematis into 19 sections, several with subsections ; Christopher Grey-Wilson divided the genus into 9 subgenera
Subgenus

In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. See rank and rank .In ICZN, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a binomen, in parentheses, placed between the name of a biological genus and specific name: e.g....
, several with sections and subsections within them . Several of the subdivisions are fairly consistent between different classifications, for example all Grey-Wilson's subgenera are used as sections by Johnson.

Subgenera of Clematis according to Grey-Wilson:
Clematis, Cheiropsis, Flammula, Archiclematis, Campanella, Atragene
Atragene

Atragene was formerly a genus of flowering plants within the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is now obsolete as a genus.Atragene is now classed as a subgenus of the genus Clematis....
, Tubulosae, Pseudanemone, Viorna
Some of these were previously classed as separate genera.

Although the genus Clematis is extremely diverse many of the most popular forms grown in gardens are cultivars belonging to the Viticella section of the subgenus Flammula as defined by Grey-Wilson. These larger flowered cultivars are often used within garden designs to climb archways, pergolas, wall-mounted trellis or to grow through companion plants. Raymond Evison chronicles the history and development of these forms which normally have large 12-15cm diameter upward facing flowers and believes they largely involve crosses of c. patens, c. lanuginosa and c. viticella.

Early season large flowering forms (e.g "Nelly Moser") tend towards the natural flowering habit of c. patens or c. lanuginosa while later flowering forms (eg. x jackmanii) are nearer in habit to c. viticella.

Clematis leaves are food for the caterpillar
Caterpillar

Caterpillars are the larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly phytophagous in food habit, with some species being entomophagous....
s of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera is an order of insect that includes moths and butterfly. It is one of the most speciose orders in the class Insecta, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterfly, skipper , and Hedylidae....
 species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
, including the Willow Beauty
Willow Beauty

The Willow Beauty is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species of Europe, the Near East and North Africa.The wings of this species are whitish, heavily speckled with brown or black dots, giving it a buff or grey appearance, and marked with dark fascia....
 (Peribatodes rhomboidaria).

Use and toxicity


Clematis ligusticifolia
Clematis ligusticifolia

Clematis ligusticifolia is a species of the climbing, spreading vine of the clematis genus native to North America.It is also known as Virgin's bower, Old-man's Beard, and Yerba de Chiva....
 is widespread across the western United States and grows in streamside thickets, wooded hillsides, and coniferous forests up to 4,000 feet. A related species, Clematis columbiana, is widespread from British Columbia south into Oregon, with a range that extends east into Montana and Wyoming. Clematis was referred to as "pepper vine" by early travelers and pioneers of the American West and used as a pepper substitute to spice up food during the period of western colonization, since during this period, Black pepper (Piper nigrum), was a costly and rarely obtainable spice.

The entire genus contains essential oils and compounds which are extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. Unlike Black Pepper
Black pepper

Black pepper is a flowering plant vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning....
 or Capsicum
Capsicum

Capsicum is a genus of plants from the nightshade family native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands of years by the people of the tropical Americas, and is now cultivated worldwide....
, however, the compounds in clematis cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. The plants are essentially toxic. Despite its toxicity, Native Americans used very small amounts of clematis as an effective treatment for migraine headaches and nervous disorders. It was also used as an effective treatment of skin infections.

Species

Clematis2
Clematis Montana 02
Clematis Vitalba
Old Man's Beard Clematis Vitalba Seeds
A partial list of species:
  • Clematis addisonii - Addison's Leather Flower
  • Clematis albicoma - Whitehair Leather Flower
  • Clematis alpina - Alpine Clematis, a hardy clematis flowering in August
  • Clematis armandii - includes the 'Apple Blossom' and 'Snowdrift' cultivars.
  • Clematis baldwinii - Pine Hyacinth
  • Clematis bigelovii - Bigelow Clematis
  • Clematis brachiata
    Clematis brachiata

    Clematis brachiata, commonly known as Traveller's Joy, is a hardy, deciduous South African liana belonging to the Ranunculaceae family....
     - 'Traveller's Joy' from South Africa
    South Africa

    The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
  • Clematis campaniflora - Portuguese Clematis
  • Clematis caracasana - Clematis
  • Clematis catesbyana - Satin curls
  • Clematis chinensis - Wei ling xian in Chinese
  • Clematis cirrhosa - includes the 'Freckles,' 'Wisley Cream' and 'Jingle Bells,' cultivars.
  • Clematis cirrhosa v. balearica from Balearic Islands
  • Clematis coactilis - Virginia Whitehair Leather Flower
  • Clematis columbiana - British Columbia Virgin's-bower
  • Clematis crispa - Curly Virginsbower
  • Clematis dioica - Cabellos de Angel
  • Clematis drummondii - Drummond Clematis
  • Clematis durandii
  • Clematis flammula
    Clematis flammula

    Clematis flammula is a temperate liana known by the common name fragrant virgin's bower. It is native to southern Europe and northern Africa, but it is cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant in gardens....
     - Fragrant Virgin's Bower
  • Clematis florida - Asian Clematis
  • Clematis fremontii - Fremont's Leather Flower
  • Clematis glaucophylla - Whiteleaf Leather Flower
  • Clematis glycinoides - Headache Vine
  • Clematis hirsutissima
    Clematis hirsutissima

    Clematis hirsutissima is a species of flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae known by the common name hairy clematis. It is native to much of the western United States, from Washington to Nebraska....
     - Hairy Clematis
  • Clematis integrifolia
  • Clematis lasiantha - Pipestem Clematis
    Pipestem Clematis

    The Pipestem Clematis is a creamy-white flowering liana, belonging to subgenus Clematis of the large Clematis genus. It is found on the Pacific coast of North America, from the San Francisco Bay Area southwards into Baja California....
  • Clematis ligusticifolia
    Clematis ligusticifolia

    Clematis ligusticifolia is a species of the climbing, spreading vine of the clematis genus native to North America.It is also known as Virgin's bower, Old-man's Beard, and Yerba de Chiva....
     - Virgin's Bower
  • Clematis macropetala
  • Clematis marmoraria
    Clematis marmoraria

    Clematis marmoraria is an evergreen plant with parsley-like, leathery and dark green foliage. The white flowers are about 2 cm wide, blooming in early spring....
     - New Zealand Dwarf Clematis
  • Clematis microphylla
    Clematis microphylla

    Clematis microphylla is one of 8 Clematis species native to Australia. It occurs in all in all states and the Australian Capital Territory, but not in the Northern Territory....
     - Small-leaved Clematis
  • Clematis montana
    Clematis montana

    Clematis montana or the Anemone Clematis is a flowering plant of the genus Clematis....
     - Anemone Clematis
  • Clematis morefieldii - Huntsville Vasevine
  • Clematis occidentalis
    Clematis occidentalis

    Clematis occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae known by the common name western blue virginsbower. It is native to much of southern Canada and the northern United States....
     - Western Blue Virginsbower
  • Clematis ochroleuca - Curlyheads
  • Clematis orientalis - Chinese Clematis
  • Clematis palmeri - Palmer Clematis
  • Clematis pauciflora
    Clematis pauciflora

    Clematis pauciflora is a species of clematis known by the common name ropevine. This flowering plant is native to the high desert and chaparral slopes of southern California and Baja California....
     - Ropevine Clematis
  • Clematis pitcheri - Bluebill
  • Clematis pubescens
    Clematis pubescens

    Clematis pubescens, known locally as Common Clematis, is a climbing shrub of the Ranunculaceae family, found in coastal regions of southern Western Australia....
  • Clematis recta
    Clematis recta

    Clematis recta, the Erect Clematis or Ground virginsbower, is a species of Clematis unusual in that it is a free-standing shrub rather than a climbing plant....
     - Ground Clematis
  • Clematis reticulata - Netleaf Leather Flower
  • Clematis socialis - Alabama Leather Flower
  • Clematis stans - Kusabotan
  • Clematis tangutica - Golden Clematis
  • Clematis terniflora
    Clematis terniflora

    Clematis terniflora is a plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is native to Asia, but is cultivated in gardens and has naturalized in parts of North America....
     - Leatherleaf Clematis
  • - aka Clematis paniculata
  • Clematis texensis
    Clematis texensis

    Clematis texensis is a scarlet-flowered climbing vine, a member of the family ranunculaceae, native to Texas, USA. Because of its thick-textured petals it is sometimes called the Leather Flower or Scarlet leather flower....
     - Scarlet Leather Flower
  • Clematis versicolor - Manycolored Leather Flower
  • Clematis viorna - Vasevine or Traveller's joy
  • Clematis virginiana
    Clematis virginiana

    Clematis virginiana is a vine of the Ranunculaceae family native to the United States. This plant is a vine which can climb up to 10-20ft tall....
     - Devil's Darning Needles, Virginia Bower
  • Clematis vitalba
    Clematis vitalba

    Clematis vitalba is a shrub of the Ranunculaceae family....
     - Traveller's Joy or Old Man's Beard
  • Clematis viticaulis - Millboro Leather Flower
  • Clematis viticella - Italian Clematis,


External links