Κληματίδα η λευκάμπελος
Etymology of Clematis vitalba: "Clematis" comes from the Ancient Greek "κληματίδα" which means "clematis, vine, climbing plant, bower" because it grows and spreads as the vine. Latin "vitalba'' derives from "vitis", meaning "vine" and "alba", meaning "white", for its vine-like appearance bearing white flowers.
There are at least two Clematis species in Cyprus and Clematis vitalba is the only one that is naturalized, but non-invasive. A third species, Clematis viticella, has not been recorded since 1977 when Meikle traced it at an altitude of 1300 metres on the Troodos Mountains range and it may have extinct.
Clematis vitalba is encountered in the Troodos and Kyrenia regions only. It is an uncommon plant which primarily grows near streams. It grows at an altitude of up to 1525 metres. Its flowering period is between June and August.
How to identify Clematis vitalba:
What distinguishes vitalba from the other species are the following: its flowers are small (1.5-2cm in diameter) in branched panicles; its sepals are creamy or greenish-white; its leaflets are 6-10 cm long, and finally, it is a deciduous shrub.