Editing Clematis (section)

==Botany==
The genus is composed of mostly vigorous, woody, climbing [[vine]]s / [[liana]]s. The woody stems are quite fragile until several years old.<ref name=southern /> Leaves are opposite and divided into [[leaflet (botany)|leaflets]] and leafstalks that twist and curl around supporting structures to anchor the plant as it climbs.<ref name=southern /> Some species are [[shrub]]by, while others, like ''[[Clematis recta|C. recta]]'', are [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s. The cool temperate species are [[deciduous]], but many of the warmer climate species are [[evergreen]]. They grow best in cool, moist, well-drained soil in full sun.<ref>Hillier Nurseries, ''The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs'', David and Charles, 1998, p723 {{ISBN|0-7153-0808-4}}</ref>

''Clematis'' species are mainly found throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, rarely in the tropics. ''Clematis'' leaves are food for the [[caterpillar]]s of some [[Lepidoptera]] [[species]], including the [[Willow Beauty|willow beauty]] (''Peribatodes rhomboidaria'').

The timing and location of flowers varies; spring-blooming clematis flower on side shoots of the previous year's stems, summer/fall blooming clematis bloom only on the ends of new stems, and twice-flowering clematis do both.<ref name=southern />