Wildflower Wednesday: Anglepod

 For years I thought the name of this plant was angelpod!  

 

Although angelpod is not its name, I think you'll agree with me that our Wildflower wednesday star,  Gonolobus suberosus, is a cool plant. 

It's called anglepod because it's milkweed like fruiting body has sharp angled edges. Gonolobus suberosus is it's botanical name but it has many common names: anglepod milkvine, anglepod milkweed or angular-fruit milkvine. It has leaves that are heart shaped  and opposite. The stems, petioles and leaf veins may show purplish shading that fades as the plant ages. The greenish-yellow star shaped flowers occur in a cluster near the top of the plant.  It is naturally occurring throughout the southeastern U.S. from Texas to southeastern Kansas to southern Illinois and Indiana to Maryland and southward to Florida. It's a perennial herbaceous vine that prefers habitats like borders, thickets, and open areas within forests. It's native to middle Tennessee and I am not sure how it got in to my garden, but I am glad it's here and gladly accept the gift.

I discovered it while checking out pollinator visitors on the ever expanding mountain mint. I almost walked into the vine that was draped across the path where it was climbing from a Frostweed plant onto the Smokebush, its tendrils were wrapped tightly around the shrub as it climbed to the top of the tree.

The characteristic five sided milkweed-like fruiting body was the first thing I saw. Then I noticed the 5 petaled starfish shaped flowers. They're small and typically greenish-purple or yellow. The petals surround a five-sided central disk with a yellow nectary that offers a sweet treat for pollinators.

 If you look closely at the above photo you may even see a blurry fly nectaring on the flower. Flies are the primary pollinator for this native plant. I read that the flowers have a slight carrion smell that attracts flies, but, I didn't notice any scent when I was snapping photos. 

Finding anglepod in my garden was exciting...I love discovering wildflowers that seem to just appear and its appearance following a very wet spring makes me wonder if the two are connected. Perhaps the seed was in the seedbank and the wet spring allowed it to germinate. On the other hand it might have been here all along and I finally noticed it. 

This quote from my friend Joanna Brichetto  explains why I am thrilled to have it in my garden.

"Anglepod is one of the three "secret" milkweeds in Nashville: volunteer vines that no one sells but that shows up anyway. People may not notice another weedy vine with heart shaped leaves, but Monarch butterflies do."  It's a "host plant for Monarch and other specialists who only use milkweed leaves and seeds for food."

the 5 sided central disk surrounded by the nectary

Ecological value

• Larval host plant: is a host plant for some milkweed-associated insects.   
• Food source: Although not a preferred host, it can still provide food for Monarch caterpillars.  
• Shelter: The dense foliage of the vine can offer shelter for small animals.  
• Pollination: Its flowers attract insects for pollination

 

 The Particulars

 Botanical name: Gonolobus suberosus

 Common Name(s): Anglepod Anglepod Milkvine Angularfruit Milkvine 

Family: Apocynaceae 

Life Cycle: Perennial

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Needs a structure to climb-a tree, a shrub or a screen

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

 

Height: 6.00 to 10.00 feet 

 

Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet

 

Bloom Time: June to August

 

Bloom Description: Showy Yellowish-Green with purple center s on some

 

Fruit: Pods, about 4″ long and 1½” wide, are five-sided with two wide sides and three narrow sides, each separated by a pronounced angular ridge, hence its common name.  Dry pods split along the middle of the inner narrow side. (source)

 

Propagation: Seed, wind dispersed like other milkweeds

 

Wildlife Value: Larval host for monarch and queen butterflies and other critters that specialize on feeding on milkweed 

 

Comments:  Potential medicinal uses: Some people use the plant for its potential medicinal properties. Found in rich woods, streambanks, and shaded thickets—often scrambling through shrubs or low tree branches. Ideal for native shade gardens, woodland borders, or educational plantings focused on native milkweed relatives. Contains latex-handle with care.

(source) 

 

There are two varieties of Gonolobus suberosus in the southeastern USA. For this post I am using the general descriptions of Gonolobus suberosus. There is overlap and  some discussion about the differences. Go here for a science journal article.

These are:

• Gonolobus suberosus var. granulatus - West of the Appalachian Mountains
• Gonolobus suberosus var. suberosus - Primarily of the Appalachian Mountains and eastward 

 

Welcome to Clay and Limestone and Wildflower Wednesday. This day is about sharing wildflowers and other native plants no matter where one gardens~the UK, tropical Florida, Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, India or the coldest reaches of Canada. It doesn't matter if we sometimes share the same plants, how they grow and thrive in your garden is what matters most. Sharing native wildflowers on social media is one of the best ways to educate others of their value to wildlife and the ecosystem. Please share your wildflowers with others through your writing or your photos.

 

xoxogail 

 

 Gail Eichelberger is a gardener, Tennessee Naturalist and nature writer in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.