Single Record

Participant Info

Species
Clematis ligusticifolia [Clematis neomexicana]
Family
Ranunculaceae
CommonName
western white clematis, virgin’s bower, old man’s beard, devil's thread, pepper vine, etc.
Presence
YES
Status
native
EarliestDate
1934
LatestDate
2020
Ecosystem
basin, shrubland, foothill, montane, ruderal, urban
Geobotanical
SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, NCristos, UBasin, LBasin
Counties
Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache
Passes
WildlifePreserves
Baca, Great Sand Dunes
Other Localities
Alamosa (town), Del Norte
Comments
Virgin's bower is a basin, foothill, and lower montane plant growing on well-drained slopes but also adapting to stream side and disturbed ground such as fence rows and railroad right of ways. It needs support, most commonly large rocks or fences. Found all around the Valley, the plant is sometimes mistakenly thought to be exotic because of its invasive nature. It is present in all USA states west of the Great Plains, and follows the Rio Grande drainage down to far-west Texas. Note that the species is unisexual, with male and female flowers usually growing on separate vines. The female flower has many pistils and a few stamens that do not produce pollen. The male flower has many stamens. The species can also reproduce by vegetative part.