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western blue virginsbower

Scientific Name: Clematis occidentalis var. dissecta

Family: Ranunculaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Vine

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Clematis occidentalis: Western Blue Virginsbower

Clematis occidentalis is a flowering plant species belonging to the buttercup family.

Common Names

  • Western Blue Virginsbower
  • Western Blue Clematis
  • Columbia Clematis
  • Purple Clematis
  • Blue Rock Clematis
  • Purple Virgin's-bower

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Clematis occidentalis (Hornem.) DC.
  • Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
  • Genus: Clematis
  • Species: occidentalis
  • Rank: Subspecies (var. occidentalis, var. dissecta, var. grosseserrata)
  • Synonyms:
    • Clematis columbiana var. dissecta
    • Clematis occidentalis var. dissecta
    • Clematis occidentalis var. grosseserrata
    • Atragene americana Sims
    • Atragene occidentalis

Distribution and Habitat

Clematis occidentalis is native to much of North America. One specific location mentioned is the Wenatchee Mountains (Chelan and Kittitas Counties), where it grows on shady forest trails, such as the Teanaway Ridge trail, at elevations around 1450 m (4756 ft). It is also found in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Growth Habit: Vine, reaching 1-12 feet long.
  • Flowers: Lack true petals but have light blue sepals that look like petals, about 2 inches long with many stamen. Flowers May-July
  • Leaves: Trifoliate
  • Fruit: Has long, fuzzy appendages.

Habitat

Prefers Full to partial shade and moist conditions

Interactions with Other Organisms

It grows in forest trails and interacts with the environment. It assumes a red pink coloring in the spring.

Further Information

Additional resources include Discover Life and wpclipart.com.