Clematis occidentalis var. dissecta (syn: Clematis columbiana)
Western Blue Virginsbower

Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Photo taken near the Mad River by Entiat, shaded wooded area

Flowers:

without petals; 4 sepals, free and petal-like, reddish purple to blue, usually at least 20 mm; flowers solitary

Seed:

achene style long, plumose, and persistent

Leaves:

ternate, leaflets often deeply lobed

Plant:

woody perennial; creeping or climbing, but more often creeping in our area

Habitat:

foothills to lower mountains

Distribution of species:

Wenatchee Mountains, Chelan and Kittitas Counties

Distribution of genus:

250 species: worldwide