Clematis drummondii
StarClematis drummondii
Synonyms: Clematis dioica var. drummondii, Clematis dioica subvar. ochracea, Clematis caudata, Clematis dioica subvar. incana, Clematis nervata, Clematis dioica var. nervata
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
A tea made from Texas virgin's bower has been used as a folk remedy for headaches and migraine in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where the plant is known as barba de chivato (Kane, Applied Medical Botany). The acrid sap is irritant and the plant is moderately toxic, so such use is cautionary. The foliage, stems and roots have also been used as a source of dye.
Botanical Description
Clematis drummondii, commonly called Texas virgin's bower, old man's beard or barba de chivato, is a woody climbing vine of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it scrambles over fences, shrubs and trees in brushland, thickets and along roadsides and watercourses. It climbs by means of twining, sensitive leaf-stalks rather than tendrils, and bears opposite, pinnately compound leaves divided into several toothed or lobed leaflets. The plant is dioecious, with small, creamy-white to greenish flowers that lack true petals, the showy parts being four narrow sepals; flowers are borne in open clusters in spring and summer. Its most conspicuous feature comes in fruit, when the numerous achenes develop long, silvery, feathery plume-like styles that form fluffy silver-grey masses draping the vine, giving rise to the 'old man's beard' name. Like other clematis the sap is acrid and the plant is considered moderately poisonous if ingested, and contact with the bruised foliage can irritate the skin.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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