| Traveller's Joy, Old Man's Beard | Buttercup family |
| Clematis vitalba | Ranunculaceae |
When in flower, this plant is known as Traveller's Joy as travellers used to make a refreshing tea from the young leaves, and also made them into a poultice for tired feet. In autumn and winter the name Old Man's Beard describes the feathery seeds.
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| Flower sepals | Flower petals | Feathery seeds |
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Technical Information
Woody climber, can reach 30m Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, ovate pointed leaflets Flowers: 4-5 cream or greenish white sepals, cluster of numerous thin petals, 2 cm across Fruit: bearded structures formed by clusters of 1-seeded achenes with feathery styles, which assist the dispersal of the fruits by the wind Flowering time: July-September; fruits present all winter Habitat: Hedgerows, mostly on lime soils Distribution: Common as far as northern England |