Clematis terniflora var. terniflora(sweet autumn clematis, "Senninso")
Japanese name: センニンソウ（仙人草） Scientific name:Clematis terniflora var. terniflora
[Overview]
A deciduous climbing perennial found at sunny forest edges, in grasslands, and along roadsides.
The stem is green and hairless.
When a petiole or leaflet stalk touches something to wrap around, the opposite side grows and the stalk coils around it.
The leaves are opposite and odd-pinnately compound.
There are 3–7 leaflets (usually 5), which are ovate and slightly glossy.
The leaflet margins are entire, but the lower ones are often notched.
Large conical three-branched cymes emerge at the branch tips and in the leaf axils, bearing many upward-facing flowers.
The flowers are white and 2–3 cm across, with no petals; 4 petal-like sepals are arranged in a cross.
The sepals are oblanceolate, with dense white hairs on the margins.
The numerous stamens are conspicuous.
The fruit is a reddish-brown achene 7–10 mm long.
The pistil's style remains on the fruit, extending to 2.5–3 cm, and is densely covered with silvery-white hairs, giving it a feathery look.
[Notes]
The name is said to compare the hairs on the fruit to the beard of a sennin (a hermit sage).
