Headachevine

Clematis microphylla is a slender, quick-growing perennial climber in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and one of the small group of Clematis species native to Australia. It scrambles over shrubs and low vegetation by twining petioles and produces opposite, ternately or biternately divided leaves with narrow, often linear leaflets, the smaller-leaved form having leaflets less than 20 mm long. In spring the plant carries panicles of fragrant, four-tepalled, cream-green to greenish-white flowers about 2 cm across; the species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Pollinated flowers develop into clusters of plumose achenes with long silky-haired styles that aid wind dispersal and give the fruiting plant a bearded appearance. It is widespread across temperate Australia in open woodland, coastal scrub and dry sclerophyll forest, and is very frost tolerant.