Matelea biflora
Matelea reticulata
star milkvine, two flower matelea, two-flower milkvine
green milkweed vine, net-vein milkvine, netted milkvine
4–10, decumbent, often branched near base, 7–40 cm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
1–5, twining, 30–200 cm, densely hirsute with long 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 0–1 colleter on each side of petiole;
petiole 1–6 cm, densely hirsute with long eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes;
blade ovate, 2–10 × 1.5–7 cm, base deeply cordate, basal lobes rarely overlapping, with 2–4 laminar colleters, apex acute, surfaces hirsute with long eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes abaxially, sparsely hirsute with eglandular trichomes adaxially.
solitary, umbelliform, extra-axillary, sessile or subsessile, 1–2-flowered.
solitary, umbelliform to racemiform, extra-axillary, pedunculate, 3–10-flowered;
peduncle 1–7 cm, hirsute with long eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes.
3–11 mm, hirsute with long eglandular and minute glandular trichomes.
12–25 mm, hirsute with long 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, lanceolate, 3–3.5 mm, apex acute, hirsute with long eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes;
corolla pale green with darker green reticulations on lobes, rotate, tube 1.5–2 mm, lobes spreading, broadly ovate to nearly orbiculate, 4–5 mm, hirsute with long eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes abaxially, glabrous adaxially;
corona united to column near base, a low, undulate-erose ring, yellow, 0.5–0.7 mm, not reaching one-half of the height of the style, glabrous;
apical anther appendages silvery, reflective, deltoid, covering more than 50% of style apex;
style apex nearly round, flat to broadly convex.
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, 9–10 × 5–9 mm, margins winged, chalazal end entire, faces rugulose;
coma 3–4 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.
sometimes striate, lance-ovoid to fusiform, somewhat thickened near base, 8–15 × 1.5–2 cm, apex acuminate, sparsely to moderately muricate, glabrate.
, herbaceous.
Matelea biflora
Matelea reticulata
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 reticulata co-occurs with the similar M. edwardsensis but is more common, more widespread, and more ecologically labile than that species. Characters distinguishing these species are discussed under 14. M. edwardsensis. The reflective apical anther appendages of M. reticulata are unusual among the milkweeds of the flora region, and their role in pollinator attraction seems important but is unstudied. The species is quite uncommon and sporadic west and south of the Edwards Plateau.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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