clematis

(clematis and leatherflowers)
genus Clematis

Member of buttercup family (family Ranunculaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

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All Clematis are ± woody vines. Flowers have sepals only, no petals.

western white clematis
Clematis ligusticifolia

• leaflets 5–15 [but CalPhotos shows many with 3]
• inflorescence several- to many-flowered
• sepals 6–10 mm, ± = stamens
• flower Jun–Sep
• Ecology: Along streams, wet places
• scattered

old man’s beard
Clematis vitalba

• leaflets usually 5
• flowers in a terminal axillary panicle, i.e. in stalked clusters from the upper leaf axils
• not in Jepson; info from here
• rare, mostly in and near Muir Woods

Toxicity of clematis, leather flower (Clematis spp.):
1 – Skin contact with these plants can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching, and rash to painful blisters like skin burns.
3 – Ingestion of these plants is expected to cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms that may cause illness but is not life-threatening.

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1 observed taxon / 2 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 25 (24 are research grade)

Locations:

• Almaden Quicksilver CP: 4
• Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 4
• Fremont Older OSP: 4
• Picchetti Ranch OSP: 2
• Pinnacles NP: 2
• Stevens Creek CP: 2
• Alum Rock Park, San Jose
• Calero CP
• Henry Coe SP
• Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills
• Monte Bello OSP
• Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP
• Waterdog Lake & Open Space

Months:

• Feb.: 1
• Mar.: 3
• Apr.: 6
• May: 3
• Jun.: 4
• Jul.: 3
• Aug.: 1
• Sep.: 0
• Oct.: 3
• Nov.: 0
• Dec.: 1

For more details, use advanced search.

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora