Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_42.gif)
Friday - July 05, 2013
From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification of vine with fluffy-seeded pod
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I saw a fluffy seeded pod on our hike this morning. I have seen this vine before, but do not know the proper and scientific name of it. Its leaves appear to be opposite and heart shaped. Could it be a type of milkweed? I don't see a way of attaching photos here. Is there a better way to get an identification?ANSWER:
Your description suggests to me that it's one of two milkweed vines:
Matelea reticulata (Green milkweed vine) Here are more photos and information from Archive of Central Texas Plants from the University of Texas School of Biological Sciences.
Matelea edwardsensis (Plateau milkvine) Here are more photos and information from iNaturalist.
You can see photographs of both species on Milkweeds of Texas and Mexico.
It is isn't easy to tell which vine it is unless there are flowers blooming. Their flowers, however, are quite distinct from each other. There is, however, a difference between leaves and stems of the two as described in Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, p. 284, that you might use to tell which vine it is:
M. reticulata: "...stems and leaves with both long spreading hairs and short glandular hairs; leaves with a strong bad odor..."
M. edwardensis: "...stems and leaves with only sparse short pubescence of curved or appressed hairs; leaves without a strong bad odor..."
If neither of these appears to be the vine that you saw and you have (or can take) photos, please visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Identity of plant growing on deck
May 12, 2012 - I can't find the name of a plant that I had on my deck, it didn't come back this year. It was a bush like plant that grew wild, it bloomed May thru August with red small flowers. My deck gets full...
view the full question and answer
Houseplant identification.
February 03, 2011 - Please help me identify a houseplant that flowers a yellow flower at the base of plant. Its leaves are narrow, pointed and green on the topside and burgundy with small hairs on the underside of the l...
view the full question and answer
Identification of Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) in Virginia
April 15, 2006 - Hi, I am very curious about a bulb growing wild plant in our back yard. We have recently moved to the Woodbridge, VA area. There is a stream running trough our property. The plant looks almost like la...
view the full question and answer
Herb used in treating stomachache
May 14, 2008 - Growing up in St. Petersburg, Fl my father had an herb or plant that he pronounced kee-low and I always thought it was spelled kilo. He would take it and pick it, dry it out and then make tea with it....
view the full question and answer
Identification of small plant
May 31, 2011 - Hi, Mr. Smarty Plants,
We are doing a biology project where we have to identify certain plants found in our area. We encountered a infinity symbol-shaped light green plant, about 4 cm high, and light...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |