Matelea alabamensis
Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 28: 234. 1941.
Vines, herbaceous. Stems 1–5, twining, 20–150 cm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes. Leaves with 0–2 colleters on each side of petiole; petiole 1–5 cm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes; blade ovate to nearly orbiculate, 4–12 × 2–10 cm, base shallowly to deeply cordate, with 0–2(–4) laminar colleters, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes. Inflorescences solitary, umbelliform, extra-axillary, pedunculate, 1–5-flowered; peduncle 0.2–1.2 cm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes. Pedicels 5–15 mm, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes. Flowers: calyx lobes spreading, elliptic, 1.9–3.4 mm, apex acute, hirsute with eglandular and inconspicuous glandular trichomes; corolla dark green abaxially, creamy yellow to pale green with dark green reticulations, with a deep yellow ring at base of corona adaxially, very widely rotate-campanulate, tube 0.5–1.5 mm, lobes spreading, plane, ovate, 7–10 mm, glabrous abaxially, hirtellous adaxially at base of lobes; corona united to column near base, a saucer-shaped ring with small apical teeth and 5 pointed lobes, greatly exceeded by style apex, appressed to stamens, deep yellow, 0.5–1 mm, glabrous; apical anther appendages bright white with green patch at base, ovate, covering more than 50% of style apex; style apex yellow, pentagonal, flat. Follicles not striate, lance-ovoid to ovoid, 4.9–8 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apex acuminate, densely muricate, minutely hirsute. Seeds tan to brown, broadly ovate, 7–9 × 6–8 mm, margins broadly winged, chalazal end scarcely erose, faces rugulose; coma 3.5–4 cm.
Phenology: Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun; fruiting Jun–Dec.
Habitat: Sandy oak-hickory and mixed hardwoods on ravine slopes.
Elevation: 10–100 m.
Distribution
Ala., Fla., Ga.
Discussion
Matelea alabamensis is distributed on the Gulf Coastal Plain from the Choctawhatchee to the Chattahoochee-Apalachicola watersheds. It is uncommon and restricted to a handful of populations in Dale and Henry counties in Alabama; Gadsden, Liberty, Walton, and Washington counties in Florida; and Clay and Early counties in Georgia. A report from southeastern Georgia has not been confirmed and is doubtful. The species has experienced significant habitat loss and degradation resulting in serious concerns for conservation across its range. The greenish flowers with darker reticulations and densely muricate follicles are an unusual trait combination that is unique among the spinypods of the Gulf Coast.
Matelea alabamensis is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
Selected References
None.