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Clematis

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Clematis is a genus of mostly vigorous climbing lianas, with attractive flowers. Some species are shrubby, and some others are herbaceous perennials. They are found throughout the temperate regions of both hemispheres, and also in mountains in the tropics. The cool temperate species are deciduous, but many of the warmer climate species are evergreen.

Clematis viticella v. Etiole Violette
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Clematis viticella v. Etiole Violette

Most species are known as Clematis in English, while some are also known as traveller's joy, leather flower, vase vine and virgin's bower, the last three being names used for North American 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 [link]; Christopher Grey-Wilson divided the genus into 9 subgenera, several with sections and subsections within them [link]. 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, Tubulosae, Pseudanemone, Viorna
Some of these were previously classed as separate genera.

Species

Purple clematis
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Purple clematis

Clematis montana
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Clematis montana

Flowers of Clematis vitalba look different from most other Clematis
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Flowers of Clematis vitalba look different from most other Clematis

A partial list of species:

References

External links

 


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