Clematis cumberlandensis

Clematis cumberlandensis, the Cumberland leatherflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to eastern-central Tennessee.^{[1] [2]}

Clematis cumberlandensis is a perennial woody climbing vine in the Clematis subgenus Viorna. Like other members of the Clematis reticulata species complex, it produces nodding, urn-shaped flowers.

The species is characterized by its long primary pedicels (typically 58–104 mm, occasionally longer), which are held erect above the subtending leaves during flowering and fruiting.^[3] Sepals are typically light pink to purple, and the longest sepal trichomes are relatively short compared to related species.^[3]

The achenes are elongate (length-to-width ratio typically 1.1–1.5) and bear dark yellowish-brown to coppery-brown tail hairs, distinguishing the species from closely related taxa with shorter achenes or lighter-colored tails.^[3]

The species was described in 2022 by D. Rodgers, T.H. Murphy, and D.E. Estes as part of a revision of the Clematis reticulata complex based on morphometric and molecular evidence.^[4]

It is placed within Clematis subgenus Viorna, a group of primarily southeastern North American species characterized by nodding, campanulate flowers.

Clematis cumberlandensis is restricted to eastern-central Tennessee, where it occurs on the Cumberland Plateau, Eastern Highland Rim, and rarely the Central Basin.^[3]

It inhabits river-scour grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands over sandstone, and also occurs on limestone bluffs and in mesic coves.^[3]

Flowering occurs from late April through mid-August.^[3]

Clematis cumberlandensis can be distinguished from other members of the Clematis reticulata species complex by a combination of pedicel length, floral morphology, and geographic distribution.

• Clematis terminalis differs in being erect to ascending during flowering and bearing terminal, solitary, ebracteate flowers, whereas C. cumberlandensis is a consistently vining species with axillary flowers borne on elongated pedicels.^{[3] [4]}
• Clematis ouachitensis differs in having shorter, pendulous pedicels that hang below the leaves during flowering, whereas C. cumberlandensis has long pedicels that are held erect above the leaves.^{[3] [4]}
• Clematis arenicola differs in its occurrence in the West Gulf Coastal Plain and in having more coriaceous leaves with densely reticulate venation, whereas C. cumberlandensis occurs in inland upland habitats and has more membranaceous foliage.^{[3] [4]}
• Clematis reticulata (sensu stricto) differs in its Coastal Plain distribution, thicker leaves, and denser reticulate venation, whereas C. cumberlandensis occurs in inland regions and is distinguished by its elongated pedicels and reproductive morphology.^{[3] [4]}
• Clematis subreticulata differs in having shorter pedicels, broader geographic distribution, and differences in leaf venation and texture, whereas C. cumberlandensis is more geographically restricted and is characterized by its long, erect pedicels and associated floral traits.^{[3] [4]}

• Clematis
• Endemic flora of the United States
• Endemic flora of Tennessee
• Flora of Tennessee
• Plants described in 2022

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles with 'species' microformats
• Taxonbars without primary Wikidata taxon IDs