Japanese clematis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese clematis
• Japanese virgin's-bower
• autumn clematis
• leather-leaved clematis
• sweet autumn clematis
• sweet autumn virgin's-bower
• yam-leaved clematis
• yam-leaf clematis

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clematis recta subsp. terniflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Clematis terniflora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae 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 wide geographical distribution across parts of East Asia. Within the Russian Far East, its range extends through the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye regions. In China, the species can be found spanning from the Inner Mongolia area to the South-Central provinces. These diverse locations indicate that the plant is well-adapted to various regional climates. Overall, its presence connects several distinct ecological zones across northern and central Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Clematis terniflora is characterized by a specific environmental niche, primarily thriving at a consistent elevation of approximately 400 m AMSL, with its minimum, maximum, and mean elevational ranges all centered at this level. This species demonstrates significant versatility in its habitat preferences, colonizing a diverse array of ecosystems including forests, forest edges, meadows, and mountainous regions. It is frequently found in proximity to rivers and can establish itself in substrates ranging from sand to dense shrubberies. Furthermore, its biological associations are distinct in that it does not rely on mycorrhizal fungi for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, meadows, mountains, rivers, sand, shrubberies

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Clematis terniflora is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, ensuring its persistence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. Functioning primarily as a phanerophyte, the plant utilizes woody stems to elevate its foliage and reproductive structures above the ground level, often climbing or sprawling to reach sunlight. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its leaves annually, typically in response to colder temperatures or reduced light availability. Interestingly, its growth habit can also be categorized under the nanophanerophyte life form, reflecting its ability to maintain small, woody structures that aid in its structural development and survival through various environmental transitions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Clematis terniflora is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb that functions as a climbing vine. It is an obligatory climber, utilizing its structural properties to ascend supports rather than being self-supporting. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The species is an independent organism, meaning it does not act as a parasite on its host plants. Its physical structure is defined by its woody nature, which provides the necessary durability for its liana-like climbing habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Clematis terniflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes typical of many temperate climbing vines. Its leaf morphology plays a critical role in its metabolic efficiency and resource acquisition, featuring a distinct hastate leaf form with entire margins and an absence of both thorns and spines. The foliage exhibits significant dimensional plasticity, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 18 cm, and an average length of approximately 3.58 cm. Similarly, leaf width varies widely, from a narrow 0.8 cm to a broad 14 cm, maintaining a mean width of 5.075 cm. The Specific Leaf Area (SLA) is recorded at a constant value of 195.975 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum measurements, reflecting a consistent leaf mass per area ratio. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the assimilation of available soil nitrogen to support its physiological functions and structural growth.

Leaf form :

hastate

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.58333333333333 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

14 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.075 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

195.975 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Clematis terniflora is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and specialized pollination and dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August, featuring inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.15 m. The individual flowers produced are between 1.5 cm and 3 cm in length. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically involving insects. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of approximately 0.63 cm (ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.9 cm) and a mean width of approximately 0.41 cm (ranging from 0.25 cm to 0.6 cm). The seeds produced are highly uniform in their dimensions, maintaining a consistent length of 4 mm and a mean mass of 0.00524 g. Dispersal of these seeds is classified as anemochorous, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.633333333333333 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.408333333333333 cm

Fruit width min:

0.25 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.00524 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Clematis terniflora has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-aminobutyric acid, 6-Hydroxyferuloyl-CoA, Coumarins, Feruloyl-CoA, Jasmonic acid.

4-aminobutyric acid

1. Physiologia plantarum

6-Hydroxyferuloyl-CoA

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Coumarins

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Feruloyl-CoA

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Jasmonic acid

1. Physiologia plantarum

coumarin

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

proline

1. Physiologia plantarum

salicylic acid

1. Physiologia plantarum