Clematis drummondii and Viguiera dentata
While photographing some Ageratina havanensis flowers on the west side of Mopac on November 5th, I also managed to get my latest fix of Clematis drummondii in the fluffy stage that has caused the plant to be called old man’s beard. The yellow in the background was from some flowers of goldeneye, Viguiera dentata.
The length of this photograph represents only a couple of inches, but these feathery white strands strike me as a good complement to the much taller pink plumes of the gulf muhly grass that you saw twice yesterday.
© 2013 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
I would love to see a photo of that clematis in the stage after this beautiful, fluffy one. Or is this stage the one after the bloom?
morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer
December 1, 2013 at 6:20 AM
Yes, this is the stage after bloom. A post from the early days of this blog included a picture of a bud and an opening flower:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/clematis-drummondii-flowers-2/
A year later I showed a picture of the feathery stage coming apart, and there you can see some of the seeds attached to the fluff:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/farther-beyond-sleek/
Steve Schwartzman
December 1, 2013 at 8:30 AM
Some clematis just keep on giving! A beautifully feathery capture Steve.
xx
Heyjude
December 1, 2013 at 7:32 AM
Thanks, Jude. This is definitely the gift that keeps on giving: if you put “Clematis drummondii” into the search box in the upper right part of the page (on the website), you find I’ve treated this species at least a dozen times, and in various stages of its life. In Austin there are usually at least some plants in the fluffy stage from the summer through the late fall.
Steve Schwartzman
December 1, 2013 at 8:37 AM
Beautiful Steve! Feathery. Like a tiny bird is putting on a tiny display!
Brenda Jones
December 1, 2013 at 9:37 AM
That’s a good comparison, Brenda. I’ve often thought about the similarity between birds’ feathers and the plumes that certain plants produce. Sometimes when I’m out wandering and come across a little feathery thing caught on a plant, I can’t tell whether I’ve found something that’s been cast off from a bird or from another plant.
Steve Schwartzman
December 1, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Speaking of nature’s analogies, here’s another. One of my readers, who lives in Australia, raises peacocks. She posted this photo of her white bird just today. I opened her post first, and thought of Clematis when I saw the photos.
Not only that, I’m giving myself a gold star. This is the first day since I began following your blog that I’ve seen two scientific names as the title and knew immediately which plants you’d be showing us. Slow, but steady…
shoreacres
December 1, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Happy Clematization and Viguierization to you. With plants that I often see and photograph I’ve got the scientific names down, but with those that I run into only occasionally I usually have to look them up again. As you’re well aware, the plants in today’s duo are in the former group.
I’d never seen a white peacock or even a picture of one: it’s quite striking. I can easily see why you thought of “old man’s beard,” as I probably would have too. Nature seems to like certain structures enough to use them in different parts of the plant and animal world.
Steve Schwartzman
December 1, 2013 at 2:31 PM
so fluffy
sedge808
December 1, 2013 at 8:08 PM
This plant is one of the queens of fluff.
Steve Schwartzman
December 1, 2013 at 9:06 PM
The movement is beautiful. The tight framing really helps emphasize it.
Maria F.
December 1, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Thanks for pointing out and appreciating the tight framing.
Steve Schwartzman
December 1, 2013 at 9:07 PM
So delicate!
John Hric
December 1, 2013 at 10:52 PM
Definitely so, and that’s why I’ve kept photographing this species for over a decade.
Steve Schwartzman
December 2, 2013 at 7:03 AM
how beautiful !!!
gwenniesgarden
December 2, 2013 at 9:23 AM
With the following post, I’m two in a row with you. Thanks for your enthusiasm.
Steve Schwartzman
December 2, 2013 at 9:33 AM
thank you for the beautiful pictures !!!
gwenniesgarden
December 2, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Amazing…. Thank you friend, there are many inspirational articles
and thank you for following my web and regards compassion ^_^
Gede Prama
December 3, 2013 at 2:07 AM
You’re joyfully welcome.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2013 at 7:34 AM
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