Kingdom Plantae Family Ranunculaceae Scientific name Clematis texensis Rank Species | Order Ranunculales Genus Clematis Higher classification Leather flower | |
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Similar Leather flower, Clematis viticella, Clematis integrifolia, Golden Clematis, Clematis montana | ||
Clematis texensis
Clematis texensis is a scarlet-flowered climbing vine, a member of the family Ranunculaceae, native to the US state of Texas. Common names include crimson clematis and scarlet clematis. Because of its thick-textured petals it is sometimes called the Leather Flower or Scarlet leather flower.
Contents
This is a herbaceous and slightly woody vine that can climb to nine feet and its bell-shaped flowers bloom on new growth. The flower petals are thick and leather-like with scarlet-colored sepals. After the flower blooms a feathery ball of plumed seeds will be displayed. This Clematis is a very hardy and drought tolerant and when planted in sunny conditions flowers may persist until the first frost. It is native to the southeastern Edwards Plateau in Texas.
Crosses with other clematis varieties have yielded varieties showier than the species, such as 'Duchess of Albany', 'Princess Diana', 'Gravetye Beauty', 'Sir Trevor Lawrence', and 'Etoile Rose', in colors from pink to dark scarlet red. Texensis and its crosses tend to have four petals; blossoms resemble lily-flowered tulips, and sometimes display as downward-facing bells.
Uses
Chop dried stems can be brewed into a tea that treats headaches and migraines. Historically, a tincture could be made to function as a counter-irritant that, when applied to the skin's surface, produces an irritation that counteracts an underlying discomfort.
