Virgin's Bower
Old Man's Beard

Clematis drummondii

Mature fruit with long, plumose styles. Photographed in the Wickenburg Mountains, sw. Yavapai Co., Arizona, taken Dec 2006. This photo is hosted at Wikimedia where there are additional images of spectacular Clematis species.

FRUIT: Each carpel bares a long, plumose awn derived from the style - and with a dozen plus carpesl per fruit the result is a very attractive fluff-ball which remain on the plant for many months.

VINE: Grows as a vine clambering up through mesquites and other shrubs adjacent to washes.

FLOWERS: White sepals and numerous white, conspicuous stamens.

RANGE: Fairly common throughout the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and also in the Chihuahuan Desert. Find it especially on a major wash bank or near a riparian stream.

LEAVES: - Pinnately compound leaves with 7 or fewer leaflets.

UNARMED.

Ranunculaceae -- Buttercup Family

More Info:

• Jepson Manual
• USDA Profile
• ITIS Taxonomic Report
• Firefly Forest - nice photo of flowers
• Google Images
• Google Scholar Literature Search