WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

A widely but infrequently grown plant which may escape. Habitat includes: hedgerows, banks, walls etc. Other names include: Evergreen Clematis, Minorca Clematis, Winter-flowering Clematis.

Stace 4:

Clematis cirrhosa L. var. cirrhosa - Early Virgin's-bower.

Climber to 4m but often much less; leaves simple to 2-ternate; leaflets rounded to cordate at base, remotely serrate; flowers mostly 1 per leaf-axil, pendent; sepals 1.5-2.5cm, yellowish-white, often tinged or spotted with purple; style becoming long and feathery in fruit; (2n=16). Neophyte-survivor; in hedges and on banks and walls; South England, Guernsey; South Europe.

Key:

• Leaves evergreen; 2 bracteoles on each pedicel fused into 2-lipped calyx-like structure