Alabama Leather Flower

Clematis socialis is a rare species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name Alabama leather flower. It is native to the US states of Alabama and Georgia, where it is known from only five populations. The species is seriously threatened by habitat destruction. It is a federally listed endangered species.

This plant was discovered in 1980 next to a highway in St. Clair County, Alabama, and described to science as a new species in 1982. A second, very small population was found a few years later in Cherokee County. When searches revealed no more occurrences, the plant was placed on the endangered species list in 1986. As of 2010 there are four populations in Alabama and one in Georgia; four of the five populations appear stable but two of these occupy less than 1-acre (4,000 m2) of territory each and only two are protected.