Leatherflower
Clematis sp. · Ranunculaceae
How it looks
Leatherflower is a vine bearing bell- or urn-shaped flowers with thick, leathery petals. Purple, violet, and pink are common, and the flowers are smaller and firmer than those of common clematis. The leaves are opposite, feather-shaped compound leaves.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Leatherflower contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Leatherflower rarely leads to serious trouble, but its protoanemonin can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Clematis sp.
- Common name
- Leatherflower
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Protoanemonin
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
