Herbs from an elongate woody taproot. Stems climbing-twining, often high-climbing, strongly lignescent, densely hirsute-pilose. Leaflets 3, blades elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, ovate-elliptic, or broadly elliptic, (20–)32–70 × 9–40(–50) mm, herbaceous, veins not raised, apex rounded to obtuse or subacute, surfaces hirsute, hairs erect to ascending. Inflorescences: flowers 10–20(–38) in pseudoracemes on distal 2/3–4/5 of axis, often fas­cic­ulate; axis (70–)100–280 mm. Flowers: calyx 5–7 mm, strigose; corolla lavender, bluish, pink-purple, purple, pink, banner striped with white lines, 8–11 mm. Legumes straight, 30–60 × 6–8 mm, loosely strigose. Seeds 5–12.

Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Hammocks, mangroves, thickets, scrubland, beaches, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–20 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Galactia striata is known from the southern half of Florida.

A. Burkart (1971) recognized three varieties within Galactia striata: var. striata and var. tenuiflora (Klein ex Willdenow) Burkart, both widespread and widely sym­patric, and var. crassirachis Burkart, endemic to Argentina. At least seven other varieties have been recognized, as well as various synonyms at specific rank, and this variable complex needs study before evolu­tionary morpho-geographic patterns are clearly evident. Galactia tenuiflora Klein ex Willdenow is treated as a distinct species in many accounts and is widely distributed.

Galactia striata and G. spiciformis sometimes have both been recognized in Florida and in the West Indies; distinctions observed between them have varied. Most Florida botanists (as well as D. Isely 1998) have treated G. striata more broadly, treating G. spiciformis as a synonym.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.