Matelea biflora
Matelea hirtelliflora
star milkvine, two flower matelea, two-flower milkvine
hairy faced spinypod
4–10, decumbent, often branched near base, 7–40 cm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
1(–5), twining, 50–200 cm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes.
1 or 2 colleters on each side of petiole;
petiole 0.5–2.5 cm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes;
blade ovate to deltate, 0.8–5 × 0.6–3.2 cm, base shallowly to deeply cordate, with 0–2 laminar colleters, apex acute (rounded), surfaces hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes, especially so on veins abaxially.
with 2 colleters on each side of petiole;
petiole 2–7 cm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes;
blade ovate to oval, 7.5–17 × 3.5–12 cm, base shallowly to deeply cordate, with 2–4 laminar colleters, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes.
solitary, umbelliform, extra-axillary, sessile or subsessile, 1–2-flowered.
solitary, simple or compound umbelliform, extra-axillary, pedunculate, 1–20(–30)-flowered;
peduncle 0.5–6 cm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes.
3–11 mm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
6–13 mm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes.
calyx lobes spreading, oval to ovate, 1.8–2.5 mm, apex rounded or acute, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes;
corolla maroon to dark brown, not reticulate, rotate-campanulate, tube 1–1.5 mm, lobes spreading, ovate to narrowly deltate to spatulate, 3–6 mm, margins usually reflexed, pilose to hirsute adaxially;
corona united to corolla and column near base, composed of 5 united segments forming a ring at base, each with an adaxial incurved appendage arching above or incumbent on anthers, equaling or exceeding style apex, maroon to dark brown, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous;
apical anther appendages white, maroon to brown at base, broadly deltoid;
style apex rounded, flat.
calyx lobes spreading, elliptic to lanceolate, 2–2.8 mm, apex acute to acuminate, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes;
corolla pale maroon to green with a maroon tinge abaxially, purple to maroon (with a green tinge) adaxially, not reticulate, shallowly campanulate, tube 1.5–2 mm, lobes erect to spreading, slightly twisted, oblong to narrowly deltate, 3.2–7.5 mm, margins plane (recurved), minutely hirtellous to glabrate;
corona united to column near base, of 5 united, fleshy segments, each with 2 lateral lobes at apex equaling or exceeding medial lobe, forming a ring exceeding style apex, adaxial appendages incurved, incumbent on anthers, maroon, 0.7–1 mm, 3–4 mm diam., glabrous;
apical anther appendages bright white with yellow to green patch at base;
style apex green, pentagonal, flat.
tan to light brown, oval to nearly orbicular or ovate, 8–11 × 7–10 mm, margins broadly winged, chalazal end erose, faces minutely rugose;
coma 2.5–4 cm.
brown, ovate, 6–7 × 5–6 mm, margins broadly winged, chalazal end entire, faces rugose;
coma 3–4.2 cm.
not striate, ellipsoid to ovoid, 4.5–8.5 × 1.8–3.5 cm, apex acute, densely muricate (more than 1 protrusion per cm of length), villous to hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
not striate, lance-ovoid, 6–10 × 1.3–3 cm, apex acuminate, moderately muricate, minutely hirsute.
, herbaceous.
Matelea biflora
Matelea hirtelliflora
Matelea biflora is occasionally found in grasslands and savannas of the southern Great Plains. It is most common on and around the Edwards Plateau of central Texas, where it occurs in grass-dominated habitats including disturbed areas. The range extends mostly northward and westward of that region to central Oklahoma and extreme eastern New Mexico (Lea County), where the species is much less common. Its conservation status in New Mexico merits evaluation. The plants are covered in short, glandular hairs and are malodorous when touched. The flowers occur most often in pairs, hence the common name two-flowered milkvine.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Matelea hirtelliflora is nearly endemic to the Piney Woods of eastern Texas. There is photographic documentation of the species in extreme southwestern Arkansas (Miller County), but we have not seen specimens. The few historical collections of this species were typically identified as M. decipiens prior to the description of the new species. Distinctions from M. decipiens are described under that species. Development with consequent habitat loss in the restricted range of M. hirtelliflora is cause for conservation concern.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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