NZ Clematis afoliata

I'm 'over the moon' to have stumbled across this beautiful specimen and even more-so to have timed it right for flowering. Clematis afoliata is one of New Zealand's nine native clematis species.
 
A slender, scrambling vine with no leaves but very fragrant minute flowers which are delicately cream when young, darkening to soft tinges of pale yellow-green when fully opened during spring. Often found in open, rocky shrublands and tussock grasslands. Stems are stiff and wiry, and can grow to 3m long, often forming large bundles with an appearance like a large tangled wire or thick string. Its natural range follows the dry eastern flanks of the lower North Island (Wairarapa, Wellington and, historically, Hawkes bay) and South Island (where it is most prevalent within Marlborough and Canterbury).
 
Strangely enough if this small specimen wasn't in flower I would've walked straight passed it, as the leafless vine scrambles over other native plants and is only in a very small area of a local native park.

I was saddened to see Clematis petriei, which I blipped back in October 2010, no longer exists in this area. Some of you may remember the huge wind storms we had a couple of years ago which damaged many trees, I think C. petriei may've been disturbed during the clean up as I've never been able to find it since.

I'm touched by your lovely words, stars and hearts for yesterday's little experiment and previous blips, thank you :))
 
Warm thanks to BikerBear for continuing to host flower Friday, today I share with you a wee treasure, Clematis afoliata, a native flower from New Zealand.
 
Happy weekend everyone :)