Biology:Clematis ouachitensis
| Clematis ouachitensis | |
|---|---|
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| Clematis ouachitensis in flower | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Clematis |
| Species: | C. ouachitensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Clematis ouachitensis T.Murphy & D.Estes
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Clematis ouachitensis, the Ouachita leatherflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to the south-central United States, where it occurs in southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas.[1][2][3]
Description
Clematis ouachitensis is a perennial woody vine or climbing shrub in the Clematis subgenus Viorna. It produces nodding, urn-shaped flowers typical of the Clematis viorna species complex.
The species is characterized by membranaceous to subcoriaceous leaflets with a sparsely concentrated network of raised reticulate venation. Leaflets are typically lanceolate to ovate with acute to acuminate apices and a glabrate to moderately pubescent undersurface. Veins are relatively narrow and the areoles comparatively large.
Reproductive morphology is distinctive within the complex, including relatively short primary pedicels (typically (13.5–38.0) mm long) that are pendulous during flowering, with flowers hanging below the subtending leaves. Sepal trichomes are relatively long, and sepal base coloration ranges from dark purple to faded lilac. Achenes are proportionally shorter, with pale to yellowish tail hairs.[3]
Morphometric and molecular analyses have demonstrated that C. ouachitensis forms a distinct lineage within the Clematis reticulata complex.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the southern Ouachita Mountains of southwestern Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.[3][1]
Clematis ouachitensis occurs in specialized habitats including river-scour shrublands and woodlands on sandstone or shale substrates. These environments are typically well-drained and subject to periodic disturbance from flooding or erosion.[3]
Available occurrence data indicate that the species is relatively sparsely documented, with a limited number of georeferenced records and observational occurrences.[2]
Ecology
Clematis ouachitensis inhabits open, disturbance-influenced habitats, particularly river-scour systems where periodic flooding maintains open conditions. It is adapted to rocky, well-drained substrates and occurs in ecotonal zones between shrublands and woodlands.
As a climbing vine, it depends on surrounding vegetation for support and occupies structurally open environments.
Phenology
Flowering occurs from late April to late June.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was described in 2022 by T. Murphy and D. Estes as part of a revision of the Clematis reticulata species complex.[4]
It represents one of several taxa segregated from a formerly broad concept of Clematis reticulata, which had historically been treated as a single, variable species. Morphometric and molecular evidence supports its recognition as a distinct lineage.[4]
Identification
Clematis ouachitensis can be distinguished from other members of the Clematis reticulata complex by a combination of leaf morphology, pedicel length and orientation, floral traits, and geographic distribution.
- Clematis reticulata (sensu stricto) differs in having densely reticulate venation with smaller areoles, thicker leaves, shorter sepal trichomes, and a Coastal Plain distribution east of the Mississippi River.[3]
- Clematis subreticulata differs in having longer pedicels that are typically erect or spreading at anthesis, larger areoles, thinner veins, and an inland distribution east of the Mississippi River.[3]
- Clematis arenicola differs in having coriaceous leaves with densely concentrated venation, broader and often more rounded leaflets, and a distribution in the West Gulf Coastal Plain on deep sandy soils.[3]
- Clematis terminalis differs in its erect or ascending growth form and terminal inflorescences, whereas C. ouachitensis is consistently vining with axillary inflorescences.[3]
- Clematis cumberlandensis differs in having much longer pedicels (typically 58.5–104.0 mm), flowers held erect above the leaves at anthesis, and differences in sepal coloration and achene morphology.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Clematis ouachitensis T.Murphy & D.Estes". Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77313412-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Clematis ouachitensis". GBIF. https://www.gbif.org/species/12219538.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 "Clematis ouachitensis". Flora of the Southeastern United States. https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon.php&plantname=Clematis+ouachitensis.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Murphy, T.H.; Harris, J.; Estes, L.D. (2022). "Morphometric and molecular evidence delimit six species in Clematis reticulata s.l. (Ranunculaceae: Clematis subg. Viorna)". Systematic Botany 47 (3): 667–690.
Wikidata ☰ Q138849345 entry
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