Clematis quadribracteolata
Common name
clematis
Family
Ranunculaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lianes & Related Trailing Plants - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
CLEQUA
Chromosome number
2n = 16
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2018 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Vine with small entire to three-lobed-lobed leaflets and purplish coloured flowers.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (from Waitomo and the Bay of Plenty south to the Eastern Wairarapa), South Island (n Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago and Southland). Mainly in the drier east.
Habitat
Lowland to subalpine. A species favouring grey scrub, frost flats and forest margins.
Features
Evergreen slender, low-growing woody climber; branchlets grooved, glabrous of finely puberulent when young. Leaves 1.5-3(-4.5) x 0.5-2(-3) cm, simple to 3-foliate, opposite; petioles 1-2.5(-3.5) cm long. Leaflets sparsely hairy on petiole and petiolule; petiolules c. 5-10 mm long; midvein and secondary veins inconspicuous above and below; leaflet variable, glabrous above and below, lamina 1-11 mm long, simple, trifid or with basal lobe, broadly spathulate, usually entire, thin, brownish green, tip acute to obtuse, base truncate to subcordate, undersides paler. Juvenile leaves larger, thinner. Inflorescences unisexual, inconspicuous against foliage, soliatry or in 2-3-flowered clusters in leaf axils, up to 8 cm long; inflorescence bracts elliptic, obtuse to hooded, 2-3 paired, connate, hairy. Flowers dull light purple, strongly scented. Male to 1 cm diam., sepals 4, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, imbricate, glabrous above, +/- silky hairy beneath, 5-15 x 1-2 mm, purplish to reddish brown; stamens 25-28, anthers 0.5-1.5 mm long, filaments glabrous., up to 1 cm long. Female 4 sepals, generally darker and hairier than male, otherwise similar; carpels 22-24; staminodes few. Achenes hairy, elliptic, narrowed to apex, compressed, margin thickened and distinct, surface unornamented, (2.2-)2.8-3.5(-3.8) mm long, styles (12-)15-25(-35) cm long at fruiting, white-plumose for most of length, glabrous or with short hairs at base.
Similar taxa
The wider green hairy sepals (petals are not present in Clematis) distinguish Clematis marata species from the very similar Clematis quadribracteolata, which has narrow purple sepals that are glabrous on the inner surface. When not in flower they are more difficult to distinguish, but C. marata leaflets and branchlets are hairier. The distribution of these two species overlaps through the eastern South Island.
Flowering
September - October
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Violet/Purple
Fruiting
November - December
Life cycle
Pappate achenes are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown. However, on account of its inconspicuous foliage, and dull coloured flowers it is not very popular with most gardeners. Best grown up through a divaricating shrub. Like all clematis this species does best planted in a permanently damp, fertile soil, in a site where its root stock can remain shaded, and its stems can grow up into the sunlight.
Etymology
clematis: From the Greek klema ‘vine’, alluding to the vine-like habit of many species
Attribution
Description adapted from Allan (1961), Webb et al. (1988, Eagle (2000) and Webb and Simpson (2001).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington.
Webb, C.J; Sykes, W.R; Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Vol. IV. DSIR, Christchurch.
Eagle, A. 2000. Eagle’s Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand. Te Papa Press, Wellington.
Thorsen, M.J.; Dickinson, K.J.M.; Seddon, P.J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309.
Webb, C.J. & Simpson, M.J.A. 2001. Seeds of New Zealand gymnosperms and dicotyledons. Manuka Press, Christchurch.