A member of a genus of woody climbers native throughout temperate regions; stems sometimes thick and liane-like; leaves pinnate, the stalk sensitive on the lower side, acting as a tendril and bending around supports on contact; flowers with four petaloid perianth-segments, styles long and feathery, aiding wind dispersal of the seeds, and giving seed-heads a white, hoary appearance. Many garden forms have brightly-coloured flowers. (Genus: Clematis, 250 species. Family: Ranunculaceae.)