Clematis Explained

Clematis is a genus of about 380 species[1] [2] within the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.[3] Their garden hybrids and cultivars have been popular among gardeners,[4] beginning with Clematis 'Jackmanii', a garden staple since 1862; more cultivars are being produced constantly. They are mainly of Chinese and Japanese origin.

Species names

Most species are known as clematis in English, while some are also known as:

Etymology

The genus name Clematis is from Ancient Greek κληματίς : clēmatís, ("a climbing plant") from κλήμα : klḗma – 'twig, sprout, tendril'.

Botany

The genus is composed of mostly vigorous, woody, climbing vines / lianas. The woody stems are quite fragile until several years old. Leaves are opposite and divided into leaflets and leafstalks that twist and curl around supporting structures to anchor the plant as it climbs. Some species are shrubby, while others, like C. recta, are herbaceous perennial plants. The cool temperate species are deciduous, but many of the warmer climate species are evergreen. They grow best in cool, moist, well-drained soil in full sun.[5]

Clematis species are mainly found throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, rarely in the tropics. Clematis leaves are food for the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species, including the willow beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria).

The timing and location of flowers varies; spring-blooming clematis flower on side shoots of the previous year's stems, summer/fall blooming clematis bloom only on the ends of new stems, and twice-flowering clematis do both.

Taxonomy

The genus Clematis was first published by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753,[6] the first species listed being Clematis viticella. The genus name long pre-dates Linnaeus. It was used in Classical Greek for various climbing plants, and is based on κλήμα (klēma), meaning vine or tendril.[7]

Archiclematis and Naravelia

Some morphologically distinctive taxa lacking the combination of characters defining Clematis were formerly segregated as the genera Archiclematis (1 species) and Naravelia (several species). DNA sequence studies have found that these two genera are deeply nested in Clematis, the morphological characters they were erected on being either reversals or misinterpretations, and that consequently the genera should be reduced to the synonymy of Clematis. Naravelia is a monophyletic group within Clematis.[8] [9] [10]

Species to be transferred include:

Species

See main article: List of ''Clematis'' species.

A partial list of species:

Formerly placed here

Subdivisions

One recent classification recognised 297 species of clematis. Consequently, taxonomists and gardeners subdivide the genus. Several classification systems exist.

Magnus Johnson divided Clematis into 19 sections, several with subsections.[14] Christopher Grey-Wilson divided the genus into 9 subgenera (Clematis, Cheiropsis, Flammula, Archiclematis, Campanella, Atragene, Tubulosae, Pseudanemone, Viorna), several with sections and subsections within them.[15] Several of the subdivisions are fairly consistent between these two systems; for example, all of Grey-Wilson's subgenera are used as sections by Johnson. Alternatively, John Howell defined twelve groups: the Evergreen, Alpina, Macropetala, Montana, Rockery, Early Large-Flowered, Late Large-Flowered, Herbaceous, Viticella, Texensis, Orientalis, and Late Mixed groups.

Many of the most popular garden forms are cultivars belonging to the Viticella section of the subgenus Flammula as defined by Grey-Wilson. These larger-flowered cultivars are often used within garden designs to climb archways, pergolas, or wall-mounted trellises, or to grow through companion plants. These forms normally have large 12–15 cm diameter upward-facing flowers and are believed to involve crosses of C. patens, C. lanuginosa, and C. viticella.[16] Early-season, large-flowering forms such as 'Nelly Moser' tend towards the natural flowering habit of C. patens or C. lanuginosa while later-flowering forms such as ×jackmanii are nearer in habit to C. viticella.

Garden history

Clematis patens C.Morren et Decne. (Kazaguruma), native to Japan, was introduced to Europe in 1836 by Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold. Today, it is the most frequently used species for developing large-flowered cultivars.[17]

The wild Clematis species, such as Clematis florida, native to China had also made their way into Japanese gardens by the 17th century. These species were also brought to Europe through Japan.

Japanese garden selections, mostly cultivated in Edo Period using species that are native to Japan or China, were the first exotic clematises to reach European gardens, in the 18th century, long before the Chinese species were identified in their native habitat at the end of the 19th century.[18]

After it arrived in Europe, it acquired several meanings during the Victorian era, famous for its nuanced flower symbolism. It came to symbolize both mental beauty and art as well as poverty.[19]

Cultivation

The climbing varieties are valued for their ability to scramble up walls, fences, and other structures, and also to grow through other plants, such as shrubs and trees. Some can be trained along the ground to provide cover. Because of their adaptability and masses of spectacular flowers, clematis are among the most popular of all garden plants. Many choice and rare cultivars are to be had from mail order and online catalogues. Specialists regularly put on displays in national flower shows such as the Chelsea Flower Show. In theory, it is possible to have a clematis in flower at any time throughout the year. Many varieties provide a second period of interest with a flush of flowers, or decorative seed heads.

They will grow in any good garden soil. The roots usually require a moist, cool substrate, while the herbage can take full sun. Some more delicate cultivars such as 'Nelly Moser' do better in light shade. Many clematis can be grown successfully in containers.[20] [21]

Pruning

Different varieties and cultivars require varied pruning regimes from no pruning to heavy pruning annually.[22] The pruning regime for a cultivated clematis falls into three categories:

Cultivars

Over 80 varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[25]

In the Atragene group are woody deciduous climbers with bell-shaped flowers in spring, produced on the last year's growth. These include 'Markham's Pink', a pale pink breed.[26]

In the early large-flowered group, which flower on the last year's growth, are:

In the Clematis integrifolia group (or Integrifolia group) are non- or semi-climbing plants that flower on the current year's growth. These include the violet-pink 'Arabella'.[34]

In the late large-flowered group, which flower on the current year's growth, are:

In the Clematis montana group (or Montana group) are vigorous climbers that flower in spring, such as:

In the Clematis viticella group (or Viticella group) are compact deciduous climbers with small flowers produced on the current year's growth, such as:

Other breeds include:

For further details see the List of Award of Garden Merit clematis.

Horticultural classification

This follows the classification adopted by V. Matthews in The International Clematis Register and Checklist 2002, except that C. ispahanica, now considered to have been included in error, has been omitted from the list of parent species in Tangutica Group.[47] [48]

Use and toxicity

The European species did not enter into the herbalists' pharmacopeia.[49] In the American Old West, the Western white clematis, Clematis ligusticifolia, was called pepper vine by early travelers and pioneers, who took a tip from Spanish colonials and used seeds and the acrid leaves of yerba de chivato as a pepper substitute.[50] The entire genus contains essential oils and compounds which are extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. Unlike black pepper or Capsicum, however, the compounds in clematis cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. C. ligusticifolia is essentially toxic. When pruning them, it is a good idea to wear gloves. Despite its toxicity, Native Americans used very small amounts of clematis as an effective treatment for migraine headaches and nervous disorders. It was also used as an effective treatment of skin infections.[51] Clematis is also a constituent of Bach's Rescue Remedy. Leaf extracts from two Ethiopian species (Clematis longicauda steud ex A. Rich. and Clematis burgensis Engl.) are used locally to treat ear disorders and eczema. Phytochemical screening of the extracts from both of these species showed antibacterial and antifungal activity.[52] The extracts of these plants also possess wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities which could also be attributed to the phytoconstituents.[53]

Clematis has been listed as one of the 38 plants used to prepare Bach flower remedies,[54] a kind of alternative medicine promoted for its effect on health. However, according to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".[55]

Pests and diseases

Clematis species are susceptible to several pests and diseases. Clematis wilt, a stem rot caused by the fungus Phoma clematidina, causes dramatic wilting and death of whole branches, although many species are resistant to it.[56] The species of this genus are also alternate hosts of Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici.[57] C. mandshurica specifically is known to provide inoculum transferrable to wheat in the former eastern Soviet territories, and several of this genus are hosts for several other P. recondita strains and other Puccinia. Other pests and diseases include powdery mildew, viruses, slugs and snails, scale insects, aphids, earwigs, and green flower disease, which is usually caused by infection with a phytoplasma, a type of bacterium.[58]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. 329401-2 . Clematis L. . 26 January 2023 .
  2. There are more wild species of clematis even than of roses", Alice M. Coats remarks in Garden Shrubs and Their Histories (1964) 1992, s.v. "Clematis".
  3. Web site: List of plants in the family Ranunculaceae Genera & Species Britannica . 2024-05-05 . www.britannica.com . en.
  4. Encyclopedia: Clematis . The Southern Living Garden Book . Bender . Steve . January 2004 . 2nd . 978-0-376-03910-1 . Oxmoor House . Birmingham, Alabama . 250–2.
  5. Hillier Nurseries, The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs, David and Charles, 1998, p723
  6. Web site: IPNI Plant Name Query Results for Clematis . . 2018-03-28.
  7. Book: Hyam . R. . Pankhurst . R.J. . 1995 . Plants and their names : a concise dictionary . Oxford . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-866189-4 . amp . 115.
  8. Miikeda . Osamu . Kita . Koichi . Handa . Takashi . Yukawa . Tomohisa . 2006-10-01 . Phylogenetic relationships of Clematis (Ranunculaceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences . Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society . en . 152 . 2 . 153–168 . 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2006.00551.x . 0024-4074. free.
  9. Xie . Lei . Wen . Jun . Li . Liang-Qian . 2011 . Phylogenetic Analyses of Clematis (Ranunculaceae) based on Sequences of Nuclear Ribosomal ITS and Three Plastid Regions . Systematic Botany . American Society of Plant Taxonomists . 36 . 4 . 907–921 . . 27 March 2018.
  10. Jiang . Nan . Zhou . Zhuang . Zhang . Shu-Dong . Guan . Kai-Yun . Tan . Yun-Hong . Yu . Wen-Bin . 2017 . Phylogenetic reassessment of tribe Anemoneae (Ranunculaceae): Non-monophyly of Anemone s.l. revealed by plastid datasets . PLOS ONE . 12 . 3 . e0174792 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0174792 . 28362811 . 5376084 . 2017PLoSO..1274792J. free.
  11. Web site: Clematis pickeringii . F.A. Zich . B.P.M Hyland . T. Whiffen . R.A. Kerrigan . Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, Edition 8 . 2020 . Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) . 6 March 2021.
  12. http://www.voyageurcountry.com/htmls/floweringplants/plants/purplevirginsbower.html purple virgins bower
  13. Miscellanea Botanica XIX . Antonii . Bertolonii . Antonio Bertoloni . Memorie della Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna . 9 . 1858 . 167 at 171–172 . la.
  14. Book: Johnson, Magnus . The Genus Clematis . Magnus Johnson Plantskola AB . 2001.
  15. Book: Grey-Wilson, Christopher . Clematis: The Genus: A Comprehensive Guide for Gardeners, Horticulturists and Botanists . Timber Press . 2000.
  16. Book: Evison, Raymond J. . The Gardener's Guide to Growing Clematis . Timber Press/David and Charles . 1998.
  17. Book: Kaneko, Akihito . Clematis . NHK . 2017 . 978-4-14-040277-1 . Tokyo . P9.
  18. Coats (1964) 1992.
  19. Web site: Language of Flowers - Flower Meanings, Flower Sentiments . www.languageofflowers.com. 2016-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20161124141728/http://languageofflowers.com/flowermeaning.htm. 2016-11-24. dead.
  20. Book: Lloyd, Christopher . Clematis . 1989 . Viking . United Kingdom . 978-0670802333 . 232.
  21. Book: Grey-Wilson, Christopher . Clematis the genus . 2002 . Batsford . United Kingdom . 978-0713487268 . 219.
  22. News: Clematis Varieties I . Green Valley Supply. 2018-08-22 . en. 2018-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20180822215709/https://greenvalleysupply.com/blogs/green-valley-supplys-gardening-encyclopedia/clematis-varieties. dead.
  23. Book: Chesshire, C. . Clematis (RHS practicals) . 1999 . Dorling Kindersley . United Kingdom . 978-0751347265.
  24. Web site: British Clematis Society Web Site . www.britishclematis.org.uk.
  25. Web site: Clematis / Royal Horticultural Society . 2012-06-22 . 2012-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120701122221/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=97 . dead.
  26. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=473
  27. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=439
  28. Web site: Clematis 'Josephine' (Early Large-Flowered Clematis).
  29. Web site: Clematis 'Marie Boisselot' (EL) . RHS. 2020-03-14.
  30. Web site: RHS Plant Selector Clematis 'Miss Bateman' (EL) AGM / RHS Gardening . 2012-06-22 . 2011-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111106055813/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=478 . dead.
  31. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=485
  32. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=486
  33. Web site: RHS Plant Selector Clematis 'The President' (EL) AGM / RHS Gardening . 2012-06-22 . 2014-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140218075710/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=498 . dead.
  34. Web site: RHS Plant Selector Clematis 'Arabella' (I) AGM / RHS Gardening . 2012-06-22 . 2014-04-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123428/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=452 . dead.
  35. Web site: RHS Plant Selector Clematis 'Jackmanii' (LL) AGM / RHS Gardening . 2012-06-22 . 2014-02-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140217154748/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=469 . dead.
  36. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=489
  37. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=490
  38. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=4686
  39. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=479
  40. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=482
  41. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=444
  42. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=455
  43. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=475
  44. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=503
  45. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=491
  46. Web site: Clematis x triternata 'Rubromarginata' | clematis 'Rubromarginata'/RHS Gardening. https://archive.today/20121224234033/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=508 . dead . December 24, 2012 .
  47. http://www.ishs.org/sci/icralist/50.htm RHS
  48. http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plantsmanship/plant-registration/Clematis-registration/Clematis Clematis Register
  49. Of the native European C. vitalba Alice Coats observes "The leaves are acrid and poisonous, and not even the early herbalists attempted to use the plant in internal medicine", but she notes that John Gerard called Clematis flammula biting clematis or purging periwinkle. (Coats 1992).
  50. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=clli2 US Native Plant Database Clematis ligusticifolia
  51. Book: Tilford, Gregory L. . Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West . 978-0-87842-359-0 . 1997. Mountain Press .
  52. Web site: Hawaze S, Deti H, Suleman S. 2012. In vitro antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of clematis species indigenous to Ethiopia. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 74:29-35..
  53. Web site: Hawaze S, Deti H, Suleman S. 2013. Wound healing activity of the methanol extracts of Clematis species indigenous to Ethiopia. International Journal of Green Pharmacy 7:304-308.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203024717/http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258%3Byear%3D2013%3Bvolume%3D7%3Bissue%3D4%3Bspage%3D304%3Bepage%3D308%3Baulast%3DHawaze. 2013-12-03.
  54. Book: D. S. Vohra . Bach Flower Remedies: A Comprehensive Study . 2 September 2013 . 1 June 2004 . B. Jain Publishers . 978-81-7021-271-3 . 3.
  55. Web site: Flower remedies . Cancer Research UK. 2 September 2013.
  56. Howells, J., Choosing your Clematis, Garden Art Press, 2003, pp115-116
  57. Book: Roelfs . Alan P. . Ravi Prakash . Singh . Eugene E. . Saari . Rust diseases of wheat: Concepts and methods of disease management . 1992 . 84123050.
  58. Buczacki, S. and Harris, K., Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Garden Plants, HarperCollins, 1998, p65