traveler's-joy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• traveler's-joy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clematis biloba
• Clematis brachiata var. burkei
• Clematis comosa
• Clematis kerrii
• Clematis orientalis var. subglabra
• Clematis petersiana
• Clematis orientalis subsp. brachiata
• Clematis orientalis f. massoniana
• Clematis stewartiae
• Clematis stewartiae var. wilmsii
• Clematis triloba var. congensis
• Clematis thunbergii var. congensis
• Clematis tibestica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Clematis brachiata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and the genus Clematis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically in Senegal. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can be found within West-Central Tropical Africa in both Cameroon and Congo. The species also extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the territory of Chad. Finally, its geographical range reaches as far as Ethiopia in the northeast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Clematis brachiata is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit diverse topographical landscapes. It can be found across a wide elevational range, starting from sea level at 0 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum altitude of 2125 m AMSL. This expansive vertical gradient suggests that the species possesses a high degree of adaptability to varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels found throughout different montane and lowland ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2125 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Clematis brachiata is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a chamaephyte life form, typically maintaining its buds or woody structures at or near the soil surface to survive varying environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Clematis brachiata is characterized by its growth habit as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that relies on external structures for support. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant vertical variability, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 6.09 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 3.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6.09 m

Plant height mean:

3.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Clematis brachiata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant primarily fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM species, making its efficiency highly dependent on ambient temperature and moisture levels. Furthermore, in terms of nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or biological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Clematis brachiata is characterized by the production of seeds with specific morphological weight profiles. The seed mass within a population exhibits subtle variations, ranging from a minimum of 0.00146 g to a maximum of 0.00186 g. When considering the collective data, the average seed mass is calculated at a mean of 0.001686667 g. These precise measurements indicate a highly consistent seed size distribution, which is a critical factor in the plant's dispersal and subsequent germination success.

Seed mass max:

0.00186 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001686667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00146 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Clematis brachiata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Flower

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Root

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Stem

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Chemicals

Clematis brachiata has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids, Saponins, Steroids, Tannins.

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Saponins

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Steroids

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Tannins

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Terpenoids

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Activities

Clematis brachiata has 7 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial.

Analgesic

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antibacterial

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antifungal

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antiplasmodial

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antipyretic

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Vermifuge

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Medicinal Uses

Clematis brachiata has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include back pain, eye disorders, fever, headaches, malaria.

Most Reported Uses