Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_1824.JPG-08-16-2017
Flower name (scientific): Clematis virginiana Linnaeus PY: 1755. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) KLEM-ah-tiss (or CLEM-ma-tis) ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
Flower name (common): Virgin's Bower
Family name (common): Buttercup
Family name (scientific): Ranunculaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek word κληματιζ for a type of climbing plant.
    Specific epithet: From or referring to Virginia.
Common name origin: According to Prior (1870) the plant was named as fitting to be a bower for maidens, and with possible allusion to Elizabeth I, Queen of England. Bower being used in the sense of a shelter under trees or climbing plants in a garden.
Flower description: Flowers are unisexual.
     Size: 0.6 to 0.8 inches (1.5 to 2.0 cm)
     Petal count: 4 Petaloid sepals (no petals).
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Panicle
Plant description: Aggressive growing vine.
     Size: 72 to 240 inches (1.8 to 6.1 m) long.
     Stem hairy: pubescent
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is compound and lobed
     Size: Leaflets are about 4 to 10 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide.
     Color: medium green
     Hairy: upper surface glabrous to glabrate, lower surface sparsely or densely pilose.
     Other: Shape: leaf, 3-foliolate, leaflet, ovate to lanceolate (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, meadows, streambanks, sun or part shade, moist.
Fruit: Achenes 2.5 to 5 cm in length including the beak, with spreading hairs.
Seed: Brown to dark brown, to about 3.5 mm in length.
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Clematis terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis) is similar, but this species is not present in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa, but has a more southern distribution in the midwest. This also appears to be the case for most other species of the genus Clematis. Clematis occidentalis (Purple Clematis), which does occur in Wisconsin, is readily distinguished by its purple-colored flowers.
Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. Employed by the Cherokee aand Iraquois to treat various ailments including stomach troubles, nerve issues, venereal disease, and kidney problems (Moerman, p. 169, 1998).
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Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 3 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 13 heterotypic synonyms for this species.
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FAC
Wetland Status (MW): FAC