Clematis recta

Upright Clematis (Clematis recta )

The Upright Clematis (Clematis recta ) is a flowering plant in the family of the buttercup family ( Ranunculaceae ). It is closely related to the widely occurring in Central Europe Commons Clematis and differs from it inter alia by not climbing, but upright habit.

Description

The Upright Clematis grows as a perennial herbaceous plant and usually reaches stature heights between 50 and 150 centimeters. The stalk is rarely woody at the base of something. The oppositely arranged leaves are constantly pinnate are about 20 inches long. The 3 to 5 -inch-long leaflets are ovate acuminate and almost always entire.

The flowering time is mainly during the months of June and August. In terminal, paniculate inflorescences scheindoldigen many flowers stand upright on the stalk. The four whitish tepals are oblong, blunt and somewhat hairy tomentose only marginally.

Clematis recta produces numerous fruits, which are provided with about 2 inches long, feathery hairs pencils.

Use

The Upright Clematis is an old folk medicinal herb and is also used in homeopathy among other things for skin rashes. The juice of the fresh plant is irritating to the mucous membranes strong and leads to blistering of the skin. Therefore, it was sometimes used in former times by beggars for faking of skin diseases.

Toxicity

All plant parts are poisonous. The dried plant parts, however, are free of toxins. Main ingredients are: protoanemonin Anemonin, according to older data also Anemonol.

Symptoms of poisoning are gastroenteritis, symptoms of irritation of the kidneys and the nervous system, which manifest itself through convulsions and paralysis. Effects on the skin are a blistering effect that beggars used in earlier times to excite pity.

Occurrence and risk

The Upright Clematis is a sub-Mediterranean - Eurasian- continental Florenelement. It comes from Southern, Eastern and Central Europe to northern temperate Asia.

In Germany, the Upright Clematis rare, especially in central Thuringia, located in the Tauber and Main area and the eastern Danube area. After BArtSchV it is classified as endangered.

In Austria you can find Clematis recta scattered to rare in colline to submontane altitudes. It is endangered in the northern Alps and their foothills.

In Switzerland, the Upright Clematis occurs only in the central Valais and Ticino.

Clematis recta bush grows in woods and clearings. She prefers more or less dry, warm and calcareous soils.