''Clematis viticaulis'' is a species of flowering plant in the
buttercup family
Ranunculaceae (buttercup or crowfoot family; Latin "little frog", from "frog") is a family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide.
The largest genera are ''Ranunculus'' (600 species), ''Delphinium' ...
known by the common names Millboro leatherflower and grape clematis.
Distribution and habitat
It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...
in western
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, in the
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, commonly referred to as the American East, Eastern America, or simply the East, is the region of the United States to the east of the Mississippi River. In some cases the term may refer to a smaller area or the East C ...
. It is known from
Bath
Bath may refer to:
* Bathing, immersion in a fluid
** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body
** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe
* Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities
Plac ...
,
Augusta, and
Rockbridge Counties.
[The Nature Conservancy: ''Clematis viticaulis'']
/ref>
This plant is limited to the shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock formed from mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4) and tiny fragments (silt-sized particles) of other minerals, especial ...
barrens habitat and woodlands along its edges.[''Clematis viticaulis''.]
Center for Plant Conservation. There are 18 to 20 occurrences, with a total global population of 1500 to 2500 individuals. Despite its rarity and endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
status, the plant's population is generally stable, with only minor threats, such as herbivory
A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...
and road maintenance. Recruitment
Recruitment is the overall process of identifying, sourcing, screening, shortlisting, and interviewing candidates for jobs (either permanent or temporary) within an organization. Recruitment also is the processes involved in choosing individual ...
from seed is uncommon but the plants live a long time once established.[
]
Description
''Clematis viticaulis'' is a woody vine, producing erect, hairy stems up to long. The thin, leathery oval leaves are up to 8 centimeters long by 4.5 wide and are oppositely arranged on the stems.
The inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
is a single urn
An urn is a vase, often with a cover, with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal. Describing a vessel as an "urn", as opposed to a vase or other terms, generally reflects its use rather than any particular shape or ...
-shaped flower. There are no petals, just hairy purple or blue-[ or green-tinged ]sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s which are lance-shaped and up to 2.5 centimeters long. The sepal tips are pointed or rounded and spread, curve, or curl backward.
The fruit is an achene
An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...
with a plumelike, copper-colored extension up to 4 centimeters long.[''Clematis viticaulis''.]
Flora of North America.
See also
*
References
External links
USDA Plants Profile for ''Clematis viticaulis'' (Millboro leather flower)
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5131222
viticaulis
Endemic flora of the United States
Flora of Virginia
Flora of the Appalachian Mountains
Augusta County, Virginia
Bath County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
Endangered flora of the United States