Clematis flammula

Clematis flammula

Clematis flammula is a liana of temperate regions. It extends throughout the Mediterranean basin, the Azores and western Asia. In the Iberian Peninsula it is found mainly in the south and east. It lives in scrub, cleared holm oak groves and crop margins, in open and sunny places, generally at low altitude and almost never too far from the marine influence. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental. It is popularly known as wedder grass or rabid cat, the latter name due to the property it causes intense burning on the skin if rubbed on it.

Flowers.

View of the plant in flower

Detail

Description

It is a perennial climbing plant that uses its leaves to climb, winding its petiolules around the twigs of neighboring shrubs. It can measure more than 5 m, although it is usually much smaller. Semi-woody and evergreen, although in colder places it can become bare in winter. The leaves are bipinnatisect, that is, they are divided into two orders of leaflets. These are narrow, although the plants are somewhat variable for this feature. The flowers are white, very aromatic, about 3 cm in diameter, and open in summer. They are grouped in peaks.

Diversity

Clematis flammula var. Maritima is a stronger variety that adapts to dune areas. It is used to stabilize very loose soils, with erosion in maritime beach areas.

Uses

Ornamental: It is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant.

Popular medicine: it causes irritations when rubbed against the skin. It is used as a rubefacient, vesicant, and irritant.

Other uses: adapts to dune areas. It is used to stabilize very loose soils, with erosion in maritime beach areas.

Evolution, phylogeny and taxonomy

Basionym: Clematis flammula L.(first published in Species Plantarum in 1753 by Charles Linnaeus)

Etymology

Clematis: generic name from the Greek klɛmətis. (klématis) "climbing plant".

flammula: Latin epithet, diminutive of flamma, which means "little flame". Presents when covered with flowers.

Sinonimia

• Sybilical meclatis Spach [1838, Hist. Nat. Vég., 7: 273]
• Clematis pallasii J.F.Gmel. [1791, Syst. Nat, ed. 13: 873]
• Clematis lasiantha Fisch. [1812, Catal. Hort. Gorenk. 2: 47]
• Clematis hexapetala Pall. [1776, Reise Statth. Russ. Reich, 3: 735]
• Clematis fragrans Here. [1811,1815, Fl. Nap., 1: Prodr.: 32] non Salisb. [1796, Prodr.: 371]
• Clematis canaliculata Lag. [1816, Gen. Sp. Pl.: 17]
• Clematis Fallspitous Scop. [1771, Fl. Carniol. (ed. 2), 1: 389]
• Clematis angustifolia Jacq.

Cytology

Her base number of chromosomes is: 2n = 16.

Hybrid

• Clematis ×aromatica Lenne & K.Koch
• Clematis ×triternata DC.

Common names

• Glue, clemish, clemish, clemish, clemish, squirrel queue, crystalline, waistband, tailing, spicy waist, flammula, flammula, razor, gata rabiosa, gatas, herb of Job