Matelea carolinensis (Jacq.) Woodson

Carolina Milkvine; Carolina Spinypod

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Carolina Milkvine is a native herbaceous perennial vine in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is found throughout Alabama. Carolina Milkvine occurs in hardwood or mixed pine-hardwood forests, on ravine slopes, in prairie woods, and along road or powerline right-of-ways. It is a perennial, herbaceous, twining vine up to 8 feet in length. The stems are green in color and slightly pubescent. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate to elliptic in outline, cordate at the base, slightly pubescent, and entire. Both stems and leaves emit a milky white latex when injured. Flowers are produced in racemes or panicles in the axils of the leaves. The calyx is 5-lobed, pubescent, and green in color. The corolla is rotate with 5 triangular spreading lobes, and is glandular-puberulent. The corolla is usually purple-to-maroon in color, but yellowish flowered plants are not uncommon. There is a dark maroon ring surrounding the corona. The corona is 10-lobed (5 short broad lobes alternating with 5 narrower 2-toothed lobes). The fruit is a spiny green follicle. The seed are flattened disc-shape with a tuft of long white hairs. Carolina Milkvine is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a moist, organic rich soil in full to partial sun. The plants require a trellis or other support to climb on.—A. Diamond.

**

Native

**