The taxonomic status of clematis gattingeri small (Ranunculaceae)

Recognition ofClematis gattingeri Small as an independent species has been based primarily on the smaller flowers and glandular pubescence of specimens collected from 1897 to 1901 by A. Gattinger. Recent studies have indicated that flower size varies among all members of subsect.Viornae to whichC. gattingeri belongs and should not be considered a significant taxonomic character for species delimitation. Studies using both light and scanning electron microscopy confirm the presence of glandular pubescence on Gattinger’s specimens, but other specimens with glandular pubescence have never since been found.Clematis gattingeri is believed to have been a minor variant ofC. viorna L. and is accordingly placed in synonymy.