Virgin's Bower

Virgin's Bower is in crazy bloom right now.  Mom found tons of them around the local library; before that we would see them in spots along our walking trails.

Also known as Old Man's Beard and Devil's Darning Needles, Clematis virginiana is part of the Buttercup family.  It's a perennial vine and is often seen growing in clusters.  A native species, its peak blooming times are from July to September (so there's still plenty of time to see more).  When the flowers change to fruit, they resemble white fibrous strings hence the alternative common names.  I will have to remember to post images of the fringe like fruit when we find them.

Virgin's bower is poisonous, but Native Americans have used extractions and infusions of its parts in the past.  Iroquois would use extract from the stems to induce strange dreams, while the Cherokee used infusions with milkweed for backaches.  Both tribes would use root infusions for stomachache and kidney troubles.  It is also said the Iroquois would use infusions to treat veneral disease sores.

The flowers of the virgin's bower attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  I've mostly seen little skippers around the flowers.

Information source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin