Plantae | Ranunculales | Ranunculaceae | Clematis | Clematis ligusticifolia |
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous Vine.
- Common Names: Old-Manโs Beard, Native White Clematis, Western White Clematis, Pepper vine, Hierba De Chivo.
- Color: Creamy-white
- Flower Dimensions: 1 inch in width.
- Blooming Seasons/ Month: Mid-spring to late summer (April-August).
- Desert with Old-Manโs Beard: Okanaga, Mojave and Sonoran.
Old-Manโs Beard Flower Characteristics
Clematis ligusticifolia is woody or semi-woody climber from the Ranunculaceae family. This desert flowering plant can grow up to 20 feet or more.
- Clematis ligusticifolia is a widely-adaptable plant. This species is drought-tolerant and has excellent resistance to diseases.
- The Old Manโs Beard leaves are pinnately compound. The leaves consist of 5-7 leaflets.
- The plant has multiple stems that arise from a central clump. These stems can arise up to 15 meters in length.
- The inflorescence of the Old-Manโs Beard involves several- to many-flowered.
- The Old Manโs Beard flowers are broad clusters of blossoms from the upper portion of the plantโs leaf axils. The flowers are showy and fragrant.
Old Manโs Beard Facts
- All parts of the plant can cause severe irritation[1] in the mouth if eaten. In addition, the plant can cause irritation even if inhaled.
- In the past, the leaves of Clematisare thought to heal leprosy[2]. In addition, the native North American Indian tribes used the plant to treat sores[3].
- Clematis ligusticifolia is called the Old Manโs Beard because the plant has long feathery seed heads.
- The hollow stems of the Clematis plant were once used by young boys for smoking as a pastime. Clematis ligusticifolia is also called โPepper vineโ because the seeds and the leaves were used as a substitute for pepper.
- Clematis is a Greek word that means โseveral climbing plants, and ligusticifolia is a Latin word that means โPrivet-like leavesโ. The genus name was given by Linnaeus in 1753, and the species name was given by Thomas Nuttal in 1838.
Suggested Reading: Flower Species
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BioExplorer.net. (2024, July 11). Old-Manโs Beard. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/plants/flowers/old-mans-beard/.
BioExplorer.net. "Old-Manโs Beard" Bio Explorer, 11 July 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/plants/flowers/old-mans-beard/.
BioExplorer.net. "Old-Manโs Beard" Bio Explorer, July 11 2024. https://www.bioexplorer.net/plants/flowers/old-mans-beard/.