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The Virgin's bower (Clematis terniflora) belongs to Ranunculaceae (the Buttercup family). It is a deciduous woody vine that is native to all over Japan, as well as the southern Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and southern China. This herb grows on sunny roadsides and forest margins, and climbs up adjascent shrubs and trees. It resembles to Clematis, though it is defined by non-serrated, pinnate compound leaves. The white flowers bloom in August and October. The corolla has four petaloid sepals. The plant contains poisonous protoanemonin, and the white saps cause a skin irritation. In Taiwanese, it is called "鵝鑾鼻鐵線蓮", and in Chinese, "圓錐鐵線蓮" (yuan zhui tie xian lian).
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