Old Man's Beard. Aug 2021
Old Man's Beard (Clematis Vitalba). Also known as, Traveller’s Joy and Scrambles.
Like other members of the Clematis genus, old man's beard or traveller's joy climbs (or scrambles ) over other plants using its leaf stalks (petioles) and flower stalks. The leaves are not unlike the familiar garden forms of Clematis. The leaf stalks entwine around any convenient support / structure in their vicinity and then lignify (become woody).
The leaves are described as opposite and 1-pinnate, that is, they have one pair of leaflets opposite to each other plus one terminal leaflet.
As the plant grows and matures, it forms woody stems which can be as thick as a wrist; the plant can grow to a height of 40 feet or more.
The flowers appear in August and September. When the plant has finished flowering, the developing seeds (known as achenes - an achene is a one seeded fruit) retain part of the flower – the style. This has long, silky hairs, which form the grey tufted balls that are so conspicuous in some woodlands and hedgerows in autumn and winter. These are, indeed, the 'old man's beard'. These silky structures are important in the dispersal of the seeds.
Seen at Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottingham.
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Old Man's Beard. Aug 2021
Old Man's Beard (Clematis Vitalba). Also known as, Traveller’s Joy and Scrambles.
Like other members of the Clematis genus, old man's beard or traveller's joy climbs (or scrambles ) over other plants using its leaf stalks (petioles) and flower stalks. The leaves are not unlike the familiar garden forms of Clematis. The leaf stalks entwine around any convenient support / structure in their vicinity and then lignify (become woody).
The leaves are described as opposite and 1-pinnate, that is, they have one pair of leaflets opposite to each other plus one terminal leaflet.
As the plant grows and matures, it forms woody stems which can be as thick as a wrist; the plant can grow to a height of 40 feet or more.
The flowers appear in August and September. When the plant has finished flowering, the developing seeds (known as achenes - an achene is a one seeded fruit) retain part of the flower – the style. This has long, silky hairs, which form the grey tufted balls that are so conspicuous in some woodlands and hedgerows in autumn and winter. These are, indeed, the 'old man's beard'. These silky structures are important in the dispersal of the seeds.
Seen at Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottingham.
--
No Group Banners, thanks.