Lucas Land

Millboro Leatherflower

Clematis viticaulis Steele

The only description of this flower comes from the Center for Plant Conservation: Clematis viticaulis is an herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Branches are laden with leathery green, deciduous leaves. These leaves overtop the central axis, a way to differentiate this species from a closely related species (Keener 1967). Greenish flowers on long peduncles bloom from April to June then give way to dark purplish-brown fruits from June to September.

This plant is endemic to shale barrens only in Bath and Rockbridge Counties, Virginia. There are 21 known localities.