oriental virginsbower
(Clematis orientalis)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Appearance
Clematis orientalis is a deciduous perennial woody vine. It can climb and grows from 7-26 ft. (2-8 m) long and has longitudinally fissured or ridged gray-brown bark. C. orientalis is native to eastern and southeastern Europe as well as temperate and tropical Asia.
Foliage
Leaves of C. orientalis arranged oppositely on the stem. Leaves are divided with from three to seven leaflets. Leaflets are lanceolate to elliptic to ovate usually with two to three lobes.
Flowers
C. orientalis flowers have four yellow to greenish-yellow sepals each about one inch long. Flowers can be single or in clusters, on stems up to 4 inches long
Fruit
Fruits of C. orientalis consist of rounded clusters of fluffy winged seeds (achenes).
Ecological Threat
C. orientalis is generally seen invading riparian areas in shrublands and riparian forests in hot, dry valleys, desert and semidesert areas. It has spread rapidly since the mid-1970s, becoming invasive and overgrowing young trees and other native plant species.
Citations
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
Clematis orientalis is a deciduous perennial woody vine. It can climb and grows from 7-26 ft. (2-8 m) long and has longitudinally fissured or ridged gray-brown bark. C. orientalis is native to eastern and southeastern Europe as well as temperate and tropical Asia.
Foliage
Leaves of C. orientalis arranged oppositely on the stem. Leaves are divided with from three to seven leaflets. Leaflets are lanceolate to elliptic to ovate usually with two to three lobes.
Flowers
C. orientalis flowers have four yellow to greenish-yellow sepals each about one inch long. Flowers can be single or in clusters, on stems up to 4 inches long
Fruit
Fruits of C. orientalis consist of rounded clusters of fluffy winged seeds (achenes).
Ecological Threat
C. orientalis is generally seen invading riparian areas in shrublands and riparian forests in hot, dry valleys, desert and semidesert areas. It has spread rapidly since the mid-1970s, becoming invasive and overgrowing young trees and other native plant species.
Citations
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- New Invaders of the Northwest
- Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
- Washington Noxious Weeds
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Ranunculanae |
| Order: Ranunculales |
| Family: Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: Clematis |
| Clematis orientalis |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.