Galactia striata (Jacq.) Urb.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Galactia striata (Jacq.) Urb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Semiwoody twining vine to 5 m long; stems slender, wiry, and pubescent. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets 3-6 X 2-3 cm, elliptic to ovate, chartaceous, pubescent on both surfaces, the apex mucronate and rounded or seldom obtuse, the base rounded, the margins entire; petioles to 4.5 cm long; stipules filiform, 2-3 mm long, persistent; stipels awl-shaped, minute. Pseudoracemes axillary, few- to several-flowered, 4-14 cm long, densely pubescent, the flowers 2 or 3 at swollen nodes; bracts minute, persistent. Calyx to 10 mm long, pubescent; corolla pink to lavender, the standard 8-10 mm long, elliptic, purple, white-striped, yellowish at base within. Legume 4-8 cm long, 6-9 mm wide, oblong, flattened, slightly curved at apex, pubescent. Seeds 4-5 mm long, flattened, kidney-shaped to oblong, dark brown, dull.

  • Discussion

    Galactia berteriana DC, Prodr. 2: 238. 1825.

  • Distribution

    A common species from open disturbed areas or secondary moist forests. Lameshur (B607), Maho Bay Quarter along Center Line Road (A3816). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout the neotropics.

    Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|