Vase-flower, Sugarbowl, Leather-flower, Hairy Clematis - Clematis hirsutissima
|
Clematis hirsutissima - Vase-flower, Sugarbowl, Leather-flower, Hairy Clematis. When I saw this flower in the campground at Ponderosa State Park I immediately thought of Clematis viorna due to the shape of the flower, except that unlike C. viorna this plant is not a vine - all my prior Clematis experience - and it is hairy - the blossom of C. viorna is smooth and leathery. I then thought maybe this is Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum), but a quick look in my copy of Idaho Mountain Wildflowers - A. Scott Earle confirmed the Clematis connection - Clematis hirsutissima. There are two varieties of this species - var. hirsutissima and var. scottii. The one presented here is var. hirsutissima.
Found in:
AZ, CO, ID, MT, NE, NM, OK, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY
Leave comments on Clematis hirsutissima at this link. | 
Distribution of Clematis hirsutissima in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
Do a general Google search of the entire site:
#ad
 Follow USWildflowers on Twitter
| | Site: Ponderosa State Park, Valley County, ID Date: 2012-May-31 | Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | The blossom of Clematis hirsutissima looks like a silvery-purple upside down vase. The shape gives it one of its common names - Vase Flower. The silvery sheen is caused by the many hairs on the blossom - referenced by the Hairy Clematis common name, and the species epithet - hirsutissima. | | 
| | Site: Ponderosa State Park, Valley County, ID Date: 2012-May-31 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | The stems of Clematis hirsutissima are hairy, although sometimes very sparsely. The leaves are 2 or 3 pinnate and are usually deeply lobed. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Ponderosa State Park, Valley County, ID Date: 2012-May-31 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | This blossom was resting on a leaf, providing a view from a different angle. Clematis hirsutissima is in the Viorna subgenus of Clematis. The 18 species in this subgenus found in North America are characterized by having leathery sepals forming an urn- or bell-shaped perianth | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Ponderosa State Park, Valley County, ID Date: 2012-May-31 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | One of the sepals had dropped off of this blossom, providing a cutaway view inside. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
|
|
|
| |
| #ad
|
|
