Alabama Leather Flower (Clematis socialis)
Description
Clematis socialis is a rare species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name Alabama leather flower. It is native to Alabama and Georgia, where it is known from only five populations.The species is seriously threatened by habitat destruction. It is a federally listed endangered species.This plant was discovered in 1980 next to a highway in St. Clair County, Alabama and described to science as a new species in 1982.A second, very small population was found a few years later in Cherokee County. When searches revealed no more occurrences the plant was placed on the endangered species list in 1986. As of 2010 there are four populations in Alabama and one in Georgia; four of the five populations appear stable but two of these occupy less than 1-acre (4,000 m2) of territory each and only two are protected.This is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing up to half a meter in erect height. It is not viny like many other Clematis. The plant generally forms colonies of stems that sprout up from its horizontal rhizome, so what appears to be a number of plants are actually one plant with several clones attached to its root. The lower leaves are simple or lobed, and the upper leaves may be compound, divided into thin, lance-shaped leaflets.Leaves at the very base of the plant may be scale-like. The inflorescence is a solitary flower at the tip of the stem. Its four purple-blue sepals are arranged in an urn shape with spreading, pointed tips; there are no petals. The flower may reach 3 centimeters in length. The fruit is up to 2.5 centimeters long including its hairy, elongated beak.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Ranunculales
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Family: Ranunculaceae
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Genus: Clematis
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