Galactia floridana
(Florida Milkpea)
Common Name, Latin Name and Family
The common name is Florida milkpea.
The Latin name is Galactia floridana.
It is found in the Fabaceae, or pea family.
Form
Florida milkpea is an herbaceous vine that can reach 3 feet in length.
It tends to stay prostrate and trailing on the ground, but will climb if given a support
Leaves
Florida milkpea leaves are compound and appear alternately on the stem. Each leaf has three leaflets.
The leaflets are oblong to elliptic in shape.
The stems are hairy.
Flowers
Florida milkpea has small lavender flowers that appear throughout the year.
They have the typical pea flower shape with two joined petals at the top, which makes it appear to be one, and four at the bottom. The two outer bottom petals are shorter than the second pair in the center, and curve in slightly.
The stamens are fused together nearly to the end of the flower petals and the stigma extends past the petals and curves slightly upwards.
Fruit/Seeds
This native vine of the pea family develops little pea pods once the flowers get pollinated.
At first they are bright green and flat but as the seeds inside mature the pod gets larger in diameter. When the seeds are fully ripe the pod turns brown.
The pods have sutures along the edges and once the seeds ripen the sutures separate and the seeds spring out. Sutures in botanical terms means a seam, or in this case a lateral seam, that runs along the length of the pod where it splits open to expose the ripe seeds.
The seeds are small, brown speckled, and pea shaped.
If you collect the seeds it is best to collect them just before they open, when they are brown, and store them in a container with a covering of cheese cloth or mesh. This prevents the seeds from bursting out and becoming lost in the carpet or behind furniture.
Habitat
Pinelands and sandhills.
Native Range
In Florida it occurs from Washington to Lee County.
It is native to AL, FL, GA, and MS.
Landscape Use
In the home landscape it grows in part-shade with average to dry soils.
It is a diminutive vine that can easily get lost in a garden setting and covered by other plants. It works well at the base of pine trees where a dense layer of needles keep most other wildflowers from growing.
Wildlife Use
Small butterflies and bees use the flowers as a nectar source.
Songbirds and small mammals eat the flowers, beans, and dried seeds.
It is a larval host plant for the Ceraunus blue butterfly.
Propagation
It can be propagated by seeds and transplants.
When transplanting be sure to remove most of the upper foliage and flowers to allow the plant to recover from the shock and put its efforts into recovering and focusing on root growth. New growth should start to appear rather quickly. Keep watered until you see new growth.
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