Clematis apiifolia — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Leaves - tea

Young shoots can be cooked and used as a vegetable — caution is advised regarding toxicity. The dried leaves serve as a tea substitute, and another report notes that roasted leaves are also used in this way.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It grows on the edges of forests and along streams between 100-2,300 m above sea level in China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A woody vine. The stems are 1-6 m long. The branches have 5 or 6 grooves along them.

How to Grow

Prefers a deep moist soil with its roots in the shade and its shoots growing up to the light. Dislikes poorly-drained heavy clay soils, but grows well in clay if grit is added for drainage. Dislikes light sandy soils. Does well on chalk. Succeeds in acid as well as alkaline soils. A twining plant, it is fast-growing and is possibly best in the wild garden. The leafstalks wrap themselves around twigs and branches for support. When a side of the stalk touches an object, the growth on that side slows down whilst the other side grows at its normal rate - this causes the leaf stalk to entwine the object it is touching. When planting out, in order to avoid the disease 'clematis wilt', it is best to plant the rootball about 8cm deeper in the soil. This will also serve to build up a good root crown of growth buds. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes.

Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame; stored seed should be sown as soon as it is obtained. Pre-soak seed for 12 hours in warm water and remove as much of the tail and outer coat as possible. A period of cold stratification is beneficial. Germination occurs in 1–9 months or more at 20°C. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame for the first winter; plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Alternatively, take internodal cuttings of soft to semi-ripe wood in late spring in sandy soil in a frame, or layer old stems in late winter or early spring, or layer the current season's growth in early summer.

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the stems is used to treat colic, dysentery, dyspepsia, and sweating. The plant is carminative and digestive.

Other Uses

None known

Wikipedia

Clematis apiifolia is a fast-growing deciduous climbing vine reaching 5m in height and spread, hardy to UK zone 7. Flowers bloom September to October with seeds ripening October to November. The hermaphroditic flowers attract bees and flies. The plant grows in light, medium, or heavy well-drained soils, tolerating mildly acid through very alkaline pH levels. It thrives in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Notes

There are about 250 Clematis species.

References (4)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 190
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 69
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Syst. nat. 1:149. 1817