Galactia elliottii

Last updated

Galactia elliottii
Galactia elliottii mosbo6.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Galactia
Species:
G. elliottii
Binomial name
Galactia elliottii
Nutt. 1818

Galactia elliottii, commonly known as Elliott's milkpea or white milkpea, is a species of flowering plant found in the south-eastern United States, a member of the family Fabaceae. [2]

It is native to Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. [3] It can be found in habitats such as sandy scrub, pine flatwoods, and dry pine woods. [4]

It is a dicot [5] with compound leaves ranging from 7 to 9 rounded leaflets. Leaves are light yellow when newly opening. It is a vining plant that can be found climbing or sprawled on the ground. Flowers and buds are white, on dark stems. Seed pods are lightly fuzzy and flattened, drying to dark brown. The seeds are small, round, and tan with darker brown stripes. The plants flower from March to September.

Galactia elliottii flower buds, with leaves visible For Wikimedia Commons Galactia elliotti July 9 2024 flower buds with leaves visible Sterling Creek Park Richmond Hill Georgia.png
Galactia elliottii flower buds, with leaves visible
Galactia elliottii climbing a young pine tree For Wikimedia Commons Galactia elliotti July 27 2025 leaves only climbing tree Sterling Creek Park Richmond Hill Georgia.png
Galactia elliottii climbing a young pine tree
An open dried seed pod of Galactia elliottii, showing the seeds and inside of the pod For Wikimedia Commons Galactia elliotti September 16 2024 seeds and open dried pod Sterling Creek Park Richmond Hill Georgia.png
An open dried seed pod of Galactia elliottii, showing the seeds and inside of the pod

References

  1. "Galactia elliottii". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. "Galactia elliottii". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. "Galactia elliottii". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Edwin L. Bridges,  R.K. Godfrey, Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, Robert A. Norris, Steve L. Orzell. States and Counties: Florida: Bay, Highlands, Nassau, Polk, St. Johns, Taylor, Volusia.
  5. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org.