Re: Identify this plant - Clematis ligusticifolia

At 09:39 AM 6/16/00 -0700, you wrote:
>Looking for Information: please
>
>The plant photographed in the attachment was found at Foothill Reserve 
>open space , Palo Alto [Calif., Bay Area]. hanging from a tree or bush.
>
>We cannot find the botanical name or even a common name or description..
>Can you help us identify it?
>
>Please contact us at ammac@earthlink.net     or   lnaiman@mindspring.com
>
>Thanks,
>Anne MacKenzie          <photo attachement not included>

Anne -

It seems very obvious that these are the silky seed-heads of a Clematis 
vine.  There are a couple of species native to here-abouts (Calif. Bay 
Area), one growing primarily in chaparral, and the other in forests, 
especially near streams.  You mention it hanging from trees or shrubs, so I 
assume this is the latter.  You did not include enough of the foliage for 
me to be more certain.  Clematis ligusticifolia, the Western Virgin's 
Bower, is the species mentioned to grow in forests near streams, and is 
likely your candidate.  It tends to grow more on the eastern side of the 
coast ranges than the western, which also fits.  The number of leaflets 
varies from 5-7 per leaf.  It starts flowering in June, so I would expect 
it to be noticed about now.  Other common names for this vine are Western 
White Clematis and Yerba de Chiva.

C. lasiantha, the Chaparral Clematis is almost identical, except for 
leaflets of 3-5, and growing in drier openlands.  This second species also 
tends to flower earlier, and would likely be drying up by now - perhaps 
another indication that this is not your plant.

http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/8253_3202/4145/0079.jpeg
The above is another photo of C. ligusticifolia, showing flowers quickly 
giving way to the silky heads of your photo.  It's a beautiful vine and the 
easiest thing to grow in a native garden.  There are various similar 
species throughout the northern hemisphere, all with clouds of tiny white 
flowers and the same, signature seed heads of this genera.  The flowers and 
seed heads, while ephemeral, always generate lots of attention in their season.

Regards,
Sean O.

Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@groupmail.com
h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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