Clematis columbiana

(Nuttall) Torrey & A. Gray

Fl. N. Amer. 1: 11. 1838.

IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Atragene columbiana Nuttall J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 7. 1834
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems viny, climbing or trailing (mainly rhizomatous, not viny in var. tenuiloba). Leaf-blade consistently 2-3-ternate; leaflets diverse in shape, thin or ± succulent, usually deeply lobed, margins serrate. Flowers: sepals violet-blue (rarely white in var. columbiana), lanceovate to ovate.

Distribution

Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Mont., N.Dak., N.Mex., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

The name Clematis columbiana was formerly misapplied to C. occidentalis var. grosseserrata; it is still associated with that taxon in some horticultural and popular publications. In such w C.columbiana is usually called C. pseudoalpina.

The two varieties of Clematis columbiana, although strikingly dissimilar in their extremes, intergrade extensively. The phenotype of C.columbiana var. tenuiloba may be at least in part a response to habitat; in some areas it grows on exposed summits while var. columbiana occurs nearby at lower elevations. In other areas, however, such as the Killdeer Mountains of North Dakota and the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, only the tenuiloba extreme is present.

The Thompson Indians used plants of Clematis columbiana medicinally in a head wash for scabs and eczema (D. E. Moerman 1986; varieties were not specified).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Aerial stems elongating, viny, 0.5–1.5(–3.5) m; ultimate divisions of leaves often more than 5 mm wide, thin. Clematis columbiana var. columbiana
1 Aerial stems tufted, not viny, usually less than 0.1 m; ultimate divisions of leaves mostly 1.5–5 mm wide, ± succulent. Clematis columbiana var. tenuiloba

"thin" is not a number."thin" is not a number.

... more about "Clematis columbiana"
flattened +
flattened +
reduced +
James S. Pringle +
(Nuttall) Torrey & A. Gray +
cuneate +, truncate +  and cordate +
Atragene columbiana +
curved +  and straight +
plumose +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (11 cm110 mm <br />0.11 m <br />) +
scale-like;leaflike +
globose;cylindric +
1-many-flowered +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
Ariz. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, N.Dak. +, N.Mex. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
flattened +
1-many-flowered +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
sessile +  and aggregate +
flattened-ellipsoid;terete;flattened-ellipsoid;terete;lenticular +
terminal +  and axillary +
unlobed +  and lobed +
petiolate +, sessile +, compound +  and simple +
cordate +  and orbiculate oblong lanceolate or oblanceolate lobed or unlobed +
lobed +  and diverse +
palmate +  and pinnate +
toothed;entire +
1-many-flowered +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
widely bell-shaped;rotate +
distinct +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
5 +  and 150 +
Fl. N. Amer. +
not arillate +  and stalked +
not connivent +
violet-blue +
not persistent +
distinct +
spreading +  and ascending +
3 +  and 6 +
lanceovate +  and ovate +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
climbing +  and viny +
persistent +
Clematis columbiana +
Clematis subg. Atragene +
species +
annual +  and perennial +