Clematis vitalba
Not a native plant, it has become quite invasive here (particularly in places like the trees lining Canterbury's braided river beds). Fergus helped me photograph examples along the Ashburton River.
Old Man's Beard smothers everything right up to full canopy height in the tallest trees - you can also see it in the background (might need to bigify). You can read more about it here
Individually those seed heads are a thing of wonder despite being such a destructive plant.
It can smother things here too.
ReplyDeleteSome basket weavers use the vines...a good use of a pest plant!
Fergus looks to be a very attentive assistant!
Noted about use for the vines. Blackberry is also a resource for baskets and sjep-making but I can't (or won't) take the time to prep any of the menace I am dedicated to removing. I suspect it needs meatier vines than the scraggly stuff I am digging out.
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteIt is a rather attractive structure when studied closely... but yeah, a bit of a menace en masse (just as a bunch of old men in their beards can be!) YAM xx
Yet another example of an invasive species doing harm. So sad.
ReplyDeleteYAM Aunty is right and it is so pretty up close!
ReplyDeleteWoodbine- old man's beard- is common (native) up here in the PNW, invasive and climbs to great heights. In Autumn Telephone poles and lines are covered by their wispy seed pods. Banks along trails and RR tracks also covered. Creates a fairy land and is rather charming.clematis but weedy and toxic. Irritating to skin- dogs , especially feel the effects. It is a plant that does not belong where you live- must have traveled quite far on the wind to get there.
ReplyDeleteHi Fergus what a fun and handsome hiking companion.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how all the invasive plants, i.e. Wisteria and Clematis vitalba are so pretty.
Hugs Cecilia
What an interesting looking plant...true to its name. I can see how it might smother other plants.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us for Nature Friday!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny (and Beth)
I’ve never heard of it. It does look like it’s taking over.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not even particularly pretty. I wonder how it arrived in NZ
I wonder too but like a lot of things (gorse for instance) some 'lets make it like home' immigrant apparently thought it was a good idea. Makes me wonder why they left home…
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