Clematis montana

Native from Afghanistan through the Himalayas to China and Taiwan, this vigorous deciduous woody vine climbs through surrounding vegetation. Its leaf stalks curl around supports, and its leaves usually have three toothed leaflets. Young shoots can be bronze or purple before turning green. The flowers have four spreading white or pink sepals surrounding numerous yellow stamens. Flowering occurs on growth made the previous year. Small, dry, single-seeded fruits retain long, feathery styles, forming fluffy seed heads. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.