Flora of New Zealand Series

leafless clematis

Evergreen woody climber, often forming tangled mounds of leafless stems over rocks and shrubs. Lvs reduced to petioles and petiolules, twining, glabrous, (3)-5-8-(10) cm long; leaflets 0 except in shaded and young plants, small, entire, ovate, acute. Fls unisexual, solitary or 2-3 clustered in lf axils. Bracts paired, united, pilose, inserted about middle of peduncle. ♂ fls: sepals 4-(5), imbricate, greenish yellow, hairy at least beneath, ovate-lanceolate, (10)-15-25-(35) × 5-10 mm; anthers 2-4 mm long; filaments glabrous. ♀ fls: sepals similar to ♂, 8-15 × 3-7 mm; staminodes few. Achenes reddish brown, hairy, 2-4 mm long. Style 1.5-2-(3) cm long at fruiting.

N.: Wellington (S. Wellington coasts, and E. Wairarapa); S.: Marlborough, Canterbury, N. Otago (Waitaki Valley).

Endemic.

Rocky and open places, tussock grassland and scrub.

FL Aug-Nov FT Nov-Jan.