Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Beadle's Leatherflower - Clematis beadlei   (Small) R.O.Erickson
Members of Ranunculaceae:
Members of Clematis with account distribution info or public map:
Google Images
Section 6 » Family Ranunculaceae
Author(Small) R.O.Erickson
DistributionWeakley (2024) gives the previously named Clematis species 9 as C. beadlei. This newly split species, from C. viorna, occurs in the Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain. Counties of distribution have not yet been presented in BONAP, or in re-named specimens in SERNEC.

"Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain on NC, SC, and GA" (Weakley 2022).
AbundanceWeakley's (2022) map shows "uncommon" in the Piedmont and "rare" in the Coastal Plain. As the taxon is not yet in the NC NHP database, nor yet in SERNEC collections, the website editors have no clue as to its suggested State Rank. Thus, a rank of SU (Undetermined) is suggested, maybe not scarce enough for a Watch List.
HabitatOccurs on "acid substrates", as opposed to "calcareous and mafic substrates" for the widespread C. viorna, according to Weakley (2022). In general, these sites would be open upland forests, thickets, and forest edges for both species -- usually with at least some sunshine.
PhenologyNot given, but maybe flowers in May into July, and fruits into September.
IdentificationAccording to the Weakley (2022) key, this undescribed species has "Leaves thick, pseudo-reticulate, the leaf veins pronounced but not raised; peduncles and sepal exterior surfaces pubescent; sepal exterior magenta pink, the interior white". On the other hand, the familiar C. viorna has "Leaves thin, membranous, the leaf veins obscure; peduncles and sepals glabrous or puberulent; sepal exterior cherry red, the interior cream". Thus, observers should look for this undescribed species in more typical, acidic habitats, and look for less red flowers (more toward purplish-pink) with white on the inside of the flower (as opposed to creamy colored), and with thick and reticulate-veined leaves (and not thin leaves). In fact, as it is apparently not rare in the state, it is expected that most biologists have already unknowingly seen it and simply called it as C. viorna without a second thought.
Taxonomic CommentsSee above.

Other Common Name(s)None?
State Rank[SU]
Global RankGNR
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.