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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Clematis''
| image = Clematis hybrid.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Clematis hybrid
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Ranunculaceae]]
| genus = '''''Clematis'''''
| genus_authority = [[Johann Jacob Dillenius|Dill.]] ex [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}

'''''Clematis''''' (from [[Ancient Greek]] ''klematis'', a climbing plant, probably [[Vinca|periwinkle]]) is a [[genus]] of mostly vigorous climbing [[liana]]s, with attractive flowers. Some species are [[shrub]]by, and some others are [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s. They are found throughout the temperate regions of both hemispheres, and also in mountains in the tropics. The cool temperate species are [[deciduous]], but many of the warmer climate species are [[evergreen]].

Most species are known as '''Clematis''' in English, while some are also known as '''traveller's joy''', '''leather flower''', '''vase vine''' and '''virgin's bower''', the last three being names used for [[North America]]n species.

One recent classification recognised 297 species of clematis. Unsurprisingly, therefore, modern taxonomists subdivide the genus. Magnus Johnson divided ''Clematis'' into 19 [[section (biology)|sections]], several with subsections [http://personal.inet.fi/koti/lofgren/Clemnet/Link_sections.htm#MJo]; Christopher Grey-Wilson divided the genus into 9 [[subgenus|subgenera]], several with sections and subsections within them [http://personal.inet.fi/koti/lofgren/Clemnet/Link_sections.htm#Gr-W]. Several of the subdivisions are fairly consistent between different classifications, for example all Grey-Wilson's subgenera are used as sections by Johnson.

Subgenera of Clematis according to Grey-Wilson:
:''Clematis, Cheiropsis, Flammula, Archiclematis, Campanella, Atragene, Tubulosae, Pseudanemone, Viorna''
Some of these were previously classed as separate genera.

''Clematis'' leaves are food for the [[caterpillar]]s of some [[Lepidoptera]] [[species]], including the [[Willow Beauty]] (''Peribatodes rhomboidaria'').

==Species==
[[Image:Clematis2.jpg|right|thumb|Purple clematis]]
[[Image:Clematis Montana 02.jpg|thumb|''Clematis montana'']]
[[Image:Clematis_vitalba.JPG|right|thumb|Flowers of ''Clematis vitalba'']]
[[Image:Old man's beard Clematis vitalba seeds.jpg|right|thumb|Seed heads of ''Clematis vitalba'' growing in a [[hedge]], showing why it is known colloquially as "Old man's beard"]]
[[Image:Clematis macro 1.JPG|right|thumb|Closeup of a Clematis flower]]
[[Image:Clematis seeds.jpg|thumb|Macro of seeds]]
A partial list of species:
*''[[Clematis addisonii]]'' - Addison's Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis albicoma]]'' - Whitehair Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis alpina]]'' - Alpine Clematis, a hardy clematis flowering in August
*''[[Clematis armandii]]'' - includes the 'Apple Blossom' and 'Snowdrift' cultivars.
*''[[Clematis baldwinii]]'' - Pine Hyacinth
*''[[Clematis bigelovii]]'' - Bigelow Clematis
*''[[Clematis campaniflora]]'' - Portuguese Clematis
*''[[Clematis caracasana]]'' - Clematis
*''[[Clematis catesbyana]]'' - Satin curls
*''[[Clematis cirrhosa]]'' - includes the 'Freckles,' 'Wisley Cream,' 'Jingle Bells,' and 'balearica' cultivars.
*''[[Clematis coactilis]]'' - Virginia Whitehair Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis columbiana]]'' - British Columbia Virgin's-bower
*''[[Clematis crispa]]'' - Curly Virginsbower
*''[[Clematis dioica]]'' - Cabellos de Angel
*''[[Clematis drummondii]]'' - Drummond Clematis
*''[[Clematis durandii]]''
*''[[Clematis flammula]]'' - Fragrant Virgin's Bower
*''[[Clematis Florida]]'' - Asian Clematis
*''[[Clematis fremontii]]'' - Fremont's Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis glaucophylla]]'' - Whiteleaf Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis hirsutissima]]'' - Hairy Clematis
*''[[Clematis integrifolia]]''
*''[[Clematis x jackmanii]]'' - Jackman's Clematis, also includes Polish Spirit, though this cultivar is sometimes listed under viticella
*''[[Clematis lasiantha]]'' - [[Pipestem Clematis]]
*''[[Clematis ligusticifolia]]'' - Virgin's Bower
*''[[Clematis macropetala]]''
*''[[Clematis marmoraria]]'' - New Zealand Dwarf Clematis
*''[[Clematis montana]]'' - Anemone Clematis
*''[[Clematis morefieldii]]'' - Huntsville Vasevine
*''[[Clematis occidentalis]]'' - Western Blue Virginsbower
*''[[Clematis ochroleuca]]'' - Curlyheads
*''[[Clematis orientalis]]'' - Chinese Clematis
*''[[Clematis palmeri]]'' - Palmer Clematis
*''[[Clematis pauciflora]]'' - Ropevine Clematis
*''[[Clematis pitcheri]]'' - Bluebill
*''[[Clematis pubescens]]''
*''[[Clematis recta]]'' - Ground Clematis
*''[[Clematis reticulata]]'' - Netleaf Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis socialis]]'' - Alabama Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis stans]]'' - Kusabotan
*''[[Clematis tangutica]]'' - Golden Clematis
*''[[Clematis terniflora]]'' - Leatherleaf Clematis
*''[http://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/b%20-%20c/clematis_ternifolia_sac.htm Clematis ternifolia]'' - aka Clematis paniculata
*''[[Clematis texensis]]'' - Scarlet Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis versicolor]]'' - Manycolored Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis viorna]]'' - Vasevine or Traveller's joy
*''[[Clematis virginiana]]'' - Devil's Darning Needles, Virginia Bower
*''[[Clematis vitalba]]'' - Traveller's Joy or Old Man's Beard
*''[[Clematis viticaulis]]'' - Millboro Leather Flower
*''[[Clematis viticella]]'' - Italian Clematis, may also include Polish Spirit

==References==
* Grey-Wilson, Christopher ''Clematis: The Genus : A Comprehensive Guide for Gardeners, Horticulturists and Botanists'' (Timber Press, 2000)
* Johnson, Magnus ''The Genus Clematis'' (Magnus Johnson Plantskola AB, 2001)
* ''Gardeners' Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers'', Christopher Brickell ed. (Dorling Kindersley, 1989)

== External links ==
{{commons|Clematis|Clematis}}
*[http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/index.cfm Clematis on the Web]
*[http://www.clematis.com.pl Clematis Nursery - Encyclopaedia of Clematis]
*[http://www.clematisviorna.info American Bells - A guide to the species in subgenus Viorna]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/clvi4.htm ''Clematis viorna'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/clvi5.htm ''Clematis virginiana'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]


[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Ranunculaceae]]