Species page

Net-vein Milkvine

Matelea reticulata

At first glance, it’s almost hard to believe that these five-lobed veiny green objects with a pearl in the center of each are even flowers. They are the odd but attractive blooms of a viny milkweed, the most common milkvine of the Edwards Plateau; it is also found in regions south, west and north of there. The vine has an unpleasant odor when brushed against, and, as the common names suggests, it has a milky sap.