Wildflowers of the United States
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Leather Vasevine, Leather Flower, Vasevine - Clematis viorna


Family: Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family Genus Common Name: Leather Flower Native Status: Native
Clematis viorna - Leather Vasevine, Leather Flower, Vasevine. Clematis viorna is a vine that is grows to around 20 feet long. Primarily a southeastern species, it is listed as endangered in Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Journal Articles Referencing Leather Flower
Distribution of Clematis viorna in the United States and Canada:
USDA Plants Distribution Map
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 08 Sep 2010). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2010-July-12Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
The blossom of Clematis viorna is dominated by the red to purple leathery sepals. The calyx makes an urn-shaped blossom.
Clematis viorna
Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2010-July-12Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
Long, silky tails on the achenes (seeds) are a characteristic of Clematis species.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Clematis viorna
Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2010-July-12Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/60 f/8 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
The styles of Clematis viorna are somewhat hairy. This is one of the differences between this species and C. Pitcheri - Pitcher's Leather Flower – a very similar plant.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Clematis viorna
Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2010-July-12Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Pinnate leaf of Clematis viorna has 3 to 9 leaflets.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Clematis viorna
Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Leather Vasevine pollenator.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Clematis viorna

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2010
Photographs Copyrighted by the named photographer


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