NameThatPlant.net: Matelea obliqua

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Lamiids: Gentianales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Matelea obliqua FAMILY Apocynaceae Go to FSUS key

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

Read more about Northern Spinypod at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Matelea obliqua FAMILY Asclepiadaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 157-03-003:

Matelea obliqua FAMILY Asclepiadaceae

COMMON NAME:
Northern Spinypod, Limerock Milkvine, Climbing Milkvine

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Matelea obliqua FAMILY Apocynaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Matelea obliqua FAMILY Asclepiadaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 157-03-003:
Matelea obliqua FAMILY Asclepiadaceae

3308

Herbaceous vine (twining)
Perennial

Habitat: In forests, woodlands, or thickets over calcareous rocks, per Weakley's Flora

Native to North Carolina & Georgia

Rare (historically in NC Piedmont, but not recently seen)

CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

DOES THE PLANT HAVE "MILKY SAP"?
Has milky sap (latex)

IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Follicle surface rough, with small sharp projections ("muricate")

LEAVES:
Simple
Opposite
Leaves cordate

FLOWER:
Summer
Rose/ Brownish-rose rarely cream
Radially symmetrical
5-merous
5-lobed rotate corolla
Superior ovary
Bisexual

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Follicle

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".

Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".