Matelea

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Apocynaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Matelea

  • Description

    Genus Description - Erect subshrubs or twining vines, with mixed indument, consisting of long nonglandular hairs and short glandular hairs. Leaves opposite, petiolate; without stipules. Flowers in axillary cymes; calyx 5-parted, the sepals often with glands at base within; corolla nearly rotate, deeply to shallowly parted; corona annular, short, with 10 appendages; stamens inserted near the corolla base, the filaments connate into a short tube, the anthers connivent around the style; ovary of 2, free carpels, the stigma capitate, projecting beyond the anthers. Fruit of a fusiform to ovoid follicle; seeds numerous, with tuft of hairs at apex.

  • Distribution

    A genus of approximately 100 species from southern United States to South America.

    South America|