Studies on the Floristic Characteristics and Geographical Distribution of the Genus Clematis Linnaeus from Hubei, China

In the present paper 37 species and 14 varieties of Clematis from Hubei Province are recognized based on extensive identification of specimens and review of literature. The genus Clematis is widespread throughout the world and its distribution center is situated in the subtropical regions of China. The Clematis species are richest in Yunnan and Sichuan from where the total species numbers of Clematis in other provinces decrease gradually in all directions in China. Most of the species of Clematis from Hubei concentrate in the west montane region of Hubei. The geographical elements of the flora of Clematis are rather simple, of which Chinese endemic elements are dominant, amounting to 68.6% of the total species from Hubei. Therefore its nature is temperate. According to the distribution of the primitive groups of Clematis and the conjecture of the origination center of the primitive taxa of Ranunculaceae Subfam. Helleboroideae, it is assumed that Clematis originated from Southwest China. And in the light of this assumption we explain the relations between the flora of Clematis from Hubei and those from neighbouring provinces.