Erect Silky Leather Flower

Clematis coactilis is known only from western Virginia. C. S. Keener (1967, 1975) suggested that this species may be a stabilized derivative of past hybridization between C. albicoma and C. ochroleuca .

In fruit, Clematis coactilis is distinguishable from C. ochroleuca by its combination of spreading to reflexed hairs on the achene rims and whitish to pale yellow (rarely tawny) hairs on the beaks, contrasting with the strongly ascending hairs on the achene rims and tawny (rarely yellowish white) hairs on the beaks of C. ochroleuca . This species and C. ochroleuca lack stomates on the adaxial surface of the leaves, whereas the closely related species C. albicoma , C. fremontii , and C. viticaulis have stomates on both leaf surfaces (C. S. Keener 1967).

Stems erect, not viny, 2-4.5 dm, densely silky, hirsute, or ± tomentose with appressed hairs. Leaves simple. Leaf blade rarely 1-pinnate, narrowly to broadly ovate, unlobed or sometimes few-lobed, 5-12 × 3-9.5 cm, leathery, ± prominently reticulate adaxially; surfaces abaxially densely silky-tomentose with appressed hairs, not glaucous. Inflorescences terminal, flowers solitary; bracts absent. Flowers broadly urn-shaped; sepals pale yellow to rarely purple-tinged, lanceolate, 1.9-3.4 cm, margins not expanded or narrowly expanded to 1.7 mm wide, thin, not crispate, tomentose, tips obtuse, spreading, abaxially finely tomentose. Achenes: body pilose, hairs of rim spreading; beak (2.5-)3-4.5(-5.5) cm, plumose. 2 n = 16.

Va.

Flowering spring-early summer.

Shale barrens, rarely on sandstone, dolomite, or limestone outcrops; of conservation concern; 300-600m.

Clematis albicoma Wherry var. coactilis Fernald, Rhodora 45: 407. 1943

Clematis coactilis, common name Virginia white-hair leather flower, is a plant species endemic to the western part of the US State of Virginia. It is reported from only Botetourt, Roanoke, Craig, Montgomery, Giles, Wythe, and Pulaski Counties. It is usually found on soils formed from shale, less often dolomite, limestone or sandstone.

Clematis coactilis is a shrub, not a vine like many of the other members of the genus. It is erect, up to 45 cm tall with silky, bristly or woolly hairs. Leaves are thick and leathery, simple but sometimes lobed, up to 12 cm long. Flowers are bell—shaped, borne one at a time at the tips of branches, pale yellow sometimes with a purplish tinge. Achenes are hairy, with a feathery beak up to 6 cm long.