Matelea carolinensis (Jacquin) Woodson. Common name: Carolina Spinypod. Phenology: Apr-Jul (-Aug); Jun-Oct (-Nov). Habitat: Moist to dry, nutrient-rich forests. Distribution: DE, MD, KY, and s. MO south to GA and MS (and w. LA and e. TX?).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, FNA14, K1, K3, K4, RAB, Tn, Va, W; = Gonolobus carolinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Schult. – F, G, Tat; = Odontostephana carolinensis (Jacq.) Alexander – S; = Vincetoxicum carolinensis (Jacq.) Britton
Links to other floras: = Matelea carolinensis - FNA14
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Herbaceous perennial vine found in moist to dry, nutrient-rich forests.
Stems: Stems slender, climbing over other vegetation, hairy, leaking milky sap when broken.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, widely heart-shaped with the basal lobes sometimes overlapping, 2-4 in. long, minutely hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in clusters of 5-10, on stalks from between leaf petiole pairs; brown-purple to maroon (rarely yellowish); about 3/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 minutely hairy, widely spreading to slightly recurved, elliptic-oblong petals with rounded tips, and a central "crown" that encloses the reproductive structures.
Fruits: Fruit a spiny, oval to lance-shaped follicle.
Comments:
Height: 4-5 ft. (long)
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Herbaceous perennial vine found in moist to dry, nutrient-rich forests.
stems: Stems slender, climbing over other vegetation, hairy, leaking milky sap when broken.
leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, widely heart-shaped with the basal lobes sometimes overlapping, 2-4 in. long, minutely hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in clusters of 5-10, on stalks from between leaf petiole pairs; brown-purple to maroon (rarely yellowish); about 3/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 minutely hairy, widely spreading to slightly recurved, elliptic-oblong petals with rounded tips, and a central "crown" that encloses the reproductive structures.
fruits: Fruit a spiny, oval to lance-shaped follicle.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern United States