Matelea biflora
Matelea pubiflora
star milkvine, two flower matelea, two-flower milkvine
trailing milkvine
4–10, decumbent, often branched near base, 7–40 cm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
2–15, decumbent, trailing, or occasionally climbing, not twining, often branched near base, 20–110 cm, often purplish, hirsute with long eglandular and minute 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 1 or 2 colleters on each side of petiole;
petiole 0.5–3 cm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes;
blade ovate to deltate, 0.5–4 × 0.4–2.8 cm, base shallowly to deeply cordate, with 0–2 laminar colleters, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes, especially so on veins abaxially.
solitary, umbelliform, extra-axillary, sessile or subsessile, 1–2-flowered.
solitary, umbelliform, extra-axillary, sessile or subsessile, 1–6-flowered.
3–11 mm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
3–5 mm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute 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, ovate to lanceolate, 2–3 mm, apex acute, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes;
corolla green, yellow, brown, and/or pink tinged, not reticulate, campanulate, tube 2.5–4 mm, lobes spreading, deltate to ovate, 2–3.5 mm, densely pilose to hirsute adaxially;
corona united to corolla and column near base, composed of 5 erect, united segments forming a ring at base, each with an adaxial incurved appendage, maroon to dark brown, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous;
apical anther appendages white, green to brown at base, rounded;
style apex rounded, 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.
tan to light brown, orbicular to ovate, 7–11 × 6–9 mm, margins broadly winged, chalazal end erose, faces minutely rugose;
coma 2–4 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, ellipsoid to ovoid, 4.5–8.5 × 1.8–3.5 cm, apex acute, sparsely muricate, hirsute to glabrate.
Matelea biflora
Matelea pubiflora
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 pubiflora is uncommon in Georgia, where it is considered to be of conservation concern, and increasingly so in Florida due to habitat loss. It is most common in open sand on and around the central Florida ridges and uplands, where it can be found in turkey oak woods and pine and oak savannas, lending the common name of sandhill spinypod. The species tolerates moderate levels of disturbance.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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