Seasonal Wild Flowers

Traveller's-joy

Latin name

Clematis vitalba

Family

Ranunculaceae

Other names

Old Man’s Beard

Flowering season

July to September

English distribution

Native strains are found roughly south of the Wash

Planted strains are found roughly north of the Wash

See the BSBI distribution map for Traveller's-joy

Habitat

It grows in hedges and scrub alongside railways,roads and

paths.

Description

Traveller's-joy is a native, climbing, perennial growing over

shrubs and trees up to 30m.

Flowers are in trusses.

Each flower is up to 2cm across, with 4 green-white petals,

numerous stamens, staminodes and styles.

Often the petals drop.

Fruits develop feathery plumes (from the styles) and form

the masses of Old Man's Beard, which last through the

winter.

Leaves are opposite, entire or toothed.

Stems are woody and twine and spread over shrubs

and trees.

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Traveller's-joy overlying hedge

Flowers

Single flower

Newly emerged flowers

Stamens, staminodes and styles

Clambering vine leaves

Toothed leaves

Old Man's Beard in November

Young fruits in September

Mature fruits

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