VIRGIN

VIRGIN’S BOWER

Clematis virginiana
BUTTERCUP FAMILY (Ranunculaceae)

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This native vine has male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious). The female plant (B) scrambles over other vegetation after going to seed by late August. The male flower, similar to the female one (A) is about 1 inch across with four slender, creamy white sepals. The compound leaves have three lobed and coarsely toothed leaflets (C). The dried seeds, attached to long plumes, form wispy clusters (D). They often persist on the vine through most of the winter.

Grows along roadsides and in wet ditches, flowering in July and August. In Fontenelle Forest, rare; look along Camp Gifford Road just east of where it crosses the railroad tracks.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.