(Note images in this series were generated with the assistance of modern AI tools. No actual human individuals are portrayed here. See the first installment of the series for further explanation)
One of my other favorite genera of plants is Clematis (Ranunculaceae), a relative of Aquilegia, which was feaured in the first installment of this series. Clematis species are mostly vines that climb by means of their thigmotrophic leaves, i.e. when they touch a potential supporting object, the leaves can wrap around it like tendrils. Like Aquilegia, they can be found in all colors of the rainbow, though red is rare among natual species. Various species have been used traditionally to treat inflammation. There are some 380 species of Clematis, about 2/3 of which occur in Asia.
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| The mention of Clematis immediately evokes images of the highly prized garden cultivars with large flowers in shades of blue, red, purple, pink and white. These garden varieties have complex histories of breeding and hybridization, with genes for blue colors coming from several wild species. The red colors in these cultivars, however, comes from just one species, Clematis texensis. |
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| In moist soil around swamps in Florida, and as far north as Virginia and west to Texas, one can find the blue-flowered, Clematis crispa. It's nodding, bell-shaped flowers are pollinated primarily by bumblebees. |
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The nodding bell-shaped or urn-shaped species of Clematis are mostly pollinated by pollen-gathering bumblebees.
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| Clematis baldwinii is related to C. crispa, but is not vining and found exclusively in peninsular Florida. It inhabits pine flatwoods, prairies, and sandhills, where periodic fire keeps down competing vegetation. |
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| Clematis texensis is the only deep red species. It occurs only in moist soil in limestone regions of western Texas. It is the source of red-flowered genes in garden cultivars. |
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Uyghur children admire a patch of yellow-flowered Clematis tangutica, found in the highlands of central Asia to western China.
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| A number of Clematis species, like this C. terniflora growing in Taiwan, produce masses of fragrant white flowers that attract a variety of insects. |
