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Friday - June 08, 2007
From: Cleveland, OH
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identification of Matelea reticulata
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I recently saw blooming in an Austin park a small white-green flower ( 3/4 ") with a center that looked like a small pearl. Any idea what it is. I can't find it in my flower book, It was on a waist high somewhat leggy bush.ANSWER:
What you saw was Matelea reticulata (pearl milkweed vine), one of Mr. Smarty Plants favorite plants. It, along with other members of the Family Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family), is a host for the monarch butterfly. Texas has a wealth of milkweeds for monarchs to feed on.
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