Photos of Clematis terniflora, Sweet autumn virgin's bower, yam-leaved Clematis, Sweet autumn Clematis.

Clematis terniflora, Sweet autumn virgin's bower, yam-leaved Clematis, Sweet autumn Clematis. This Asian invasive alien was introduced to European botanical gardens around 1826. It grows naturally in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Russia. Now it is widely naturalized in North America. The root of C. chinensis and C. terniflora are both source plants of wei-ling-xian which is used to relieve arthritic conditions, neuralgia and rheumatism. Historically the American species C. virginiana has been used similarly. They contain protoanemonins which are substances found in many members of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) that are extremely acrid and caustic, both internally or externally applied. Whether that caution relates just to this one compound or the whole plant is unknown to me. If the fresh leaves are applied to the skin, they will cause blistering. Traditionally, both in Chinese and American folk traditions, the plant has been used to treat rheumatism as a “counterirritant.” In other words, the purpose is to produce irritation perhaps to distract one from pain.

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