Slimy clematis?

My clematis Montana Marjorie, planted in ground for about 5 years, is looking properly ropey this year and there’s white slime at the base. Diagnosis? Thanks

 

I've done a quick Google, does the slime smell bad? If so it could be clematis slime flux, never heard of it myself but worth a thought.

 

No idea what that is, but probably worth washing it away to see if that makes any difference.

Those buds/shoots do look as if they are curling a little, have you watered /fed the plant recently as the ground is getting very dry with so little rain this month.

 

Eeew, that does look like a possibility, thanks for finding it Looks like there an orange, stinky version, and a white version, unsure if that stinks. I’ll smell it tomorrow, looks like it’s coming out though No cutting it off below the infection, it’s down to the ground!

 

thanks that next to last pic shows a stem with a dried up leaf followed by a healthy one, so don’t think it’s watering and my garden is pretty wet

 

So I chopped it down It was mainly white slime but a bit of orange had appeared too. It did smell a bit fishy very close up, but not dreadful. Haven’t dug it out yet, I suspect the roots will be fairly extensive