Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Formerly named G. volubilis in most references, including most recent ones. Read more at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
Galactia regularis is the species widespread across the eastern USA with twining stems, broadly elliptic leaflets, and relatively small flowers per Taxonomy of Galactia (Fabaceae) in the USA (Nesom, 2015).
583
Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Fabales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (2/8/20):
Galactia regularis
FAMILY
Fabaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED)
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Galactia volubilis
FAMILY
Fabaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Keys to the flora of Florida, Galactia (Leguminosae) (Ward & Hall, 2004)
Galactia regularis
SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED)
Native & naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the US (Isely, 1998)
Galactia volubilis
INCLUDING
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 098-50-005&006:
Galactia volubilis
FAMILY
Fabaceae
INCLUDING
Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968)
Galactia macreei
SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED)
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933)
Galactia volubilis
COMMON NAME:
Downy Milkpea, Hairy Milkpea, Twining Milkpea, Eastern Milkpea
To see a detailed map, click here
Look for it in dry forests and woodlands, per Weakley's Flora
Herbaceous vine, climbing or sprawling, twining
Perennial
Native to the Carolinas & Georgia
Documented growing wild in
GA
NC
SC
Common
DOES THE PLANT HAVE "MILKY SAP"?
Does not have milky sap
LEAVES:
Odd-pinnately compound: 3 leaflets
Mostly alternate
Leaflets have petiolules.
Leaflets are subtended by stipels.
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Pink
Bilaterally symmetrical
4-lobed calyx
5-parted papilionaceous corolla
Superior ovary
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Legume
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
Galactia regularis FAMILY Fabaceae
Downy Milkpea, Hairy Milkpea, Twining Milkpea, Eastern Milkpea
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Formerly named G. volubilis in most references, including most recent ones. Read more at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
Click the thumbnails to see larger pictures.
JK Marlow jkm100606_062
June Newberry County? SC
Leaflets mostly elliptic to broadly elliptic, usually widest at the midpoint, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
COMPARE
leaves that are trifoliolate and pinnately compound
Patrick D. McMillan pdmgmacreei_fs2122b
July
Flower 7-9mm long, per Keys to the Flora of Florida - 10, Galactia (Leguminosae) (Ward & Hall, 2004).
JK Marlow jkm140817_809
August Spartanburg County SC
Inflorescences generally exserted, the flowers well distributed, per Weakley's Flora (2012).
JK Marlow jkm140817_813
August Spartanburg County SC
G. regularis is the small-flowered plant previously called G. volubilis, per Keys to the Flora of Florida - 10, Galactia (Leguminosae) (Ward & Hall, 2004).
JK Marlow jkm140817_829
August Spartanburg County SC
Mature fruits less than 6mm broad, straight or slightly falcate, per Keys to the Flora of Florida - 10, Galactia (Leguminosae) (Ward & Hall, 2004).
JK Marlow jkm190810_0652
August Greenville County SC
G. regularis is the vigorously climbing plant previously called G volubilis, per Keys to the Flora of Florida - 10, Galactia (Leguminosae) (Ward & Hall, 2004).
JK Marlow jkm071021_019
October Oconee County SC
Sumter National Forest: Andrew Pickens Ranger District
The Greek word "gala" refers to milk, but no US Galactia have milky sap, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region.