Clematis forsteri
It’s always a nice sign of Spring when this clematis has its mildly scented, lemony cream flowers. Clematis forsteri is widespread on the island in the reverting pasture, shrublands and forest margins. It is the only Clematis there- C. paniculata was listed in a 1996 survey, but we haven’t seen it ourselves. The “white” colour in the common name of C. forsteri doesn’t make huge sense to me; C. paniculata is the white one.
The fluffy seedheads also stand out and the seeds are easily moved around by the breezes.
I admire how well adapted this climber is. It can grow quickly into the sun, outstripping other colonisers, and its tendrils keep it anchored on the substrate plants pretty much regardless of how exposed it is. The (relatively) sparse leaves are shiny and limit moisture loss and the roots tend to be in shaded ground under and around the other plants in the forest margin. It’s also a good citizen, not shading out the plants that it’s on. I guess the areas where this plant can grow will slowly diminish as the forest comes back, but there will likely always be enough open spaces left for it.