'TAARUK' SMALL LEAVED CLEMATIS / HEADACHE VINE (Clematis microphylla) Seeds

Clematis microphylla, Noongar Name: Taaruk  is one of 8 Clematis species native to Australia. Clematis microphylla is found in dry and wet forests of Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, SA, It does not occur in WA, as Clematis linearifolia.

It is a common, quick-growing, small-leaved climbing species which prefers full sun and good drainage. It is very frost tolerant.

Clematis microphylla flowers from July to December. Male and female flowers develop on different plants, female plants develop fluffy, cottonwool-like fruits.
A woody climbing shrub to about 3 m high, often found scrambling over other vegetation or rocky outcrops.

Bush Tucker: Roots, peppery when raw, cooking and kneading them into a dough.  The taproot can be eaten roasted.

Bush medicine: Leaves crushed and inhaled to treat headaches.

Germination: It is a suitable species for direct seeding,  C. microphylla seed takes at least 8 weeks to germinate, can be speed up by removing the pericarp, by exposing seed to a cycle of wetting and drying before planting.

Place seed beneath the soil to 5 mm, cover with layer of soil or fine gravel and keep moist in open sunny position.
Sow from springtime, if growing into containers. For direct seeding sow from mid winter in the drier regions to spring in the higher rainfall areas.