July 9, 2024
Just when I was feeling confident about the morphology of the milkweed family of plants, a new twist on the familiar leaps out shoutin’ “ Hey, lookie here!” Expecting to see a common vine gracefully twirling its way up a desert shrub, I paused ……. searching for the crimson red trumpet-shaped flowers of Ipomoea cristulata (Trans-Pecos morning glory). But instead there was an umbrella of 5 flowers, each with 5 widely spreading greenish-brownish-mauve colored petals crowned in the center of an unmistakable floral corona, a sure fire characteristic of a milkweed! Could it be?
Oh Yes!
This unexpected, undeniable discovery had me puzzled though. It’s been two years since I created a detailed post about the Asclepias genus of milkweed (see Summer Botany: Meet the Milkweeds). At that time and throughout the decades prior, my knowledge of milkweeds was limited to Asclepias, and the specific characteristics of that genus.
But here was something new-to-me; so worthy of whatever time it might take to learn all about this find in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), aka the Milkweeds. I quickly confirmed this vine does not belong with the Asclepias species of milkweeds, but is of the genus Funastrum, which is Latin for rope (funis) with twining stems (astrum), commonly referred to as the “twinevines.” And the full name of this plant is Funastrum crispum, commonly called Wavyleaf Twinevine.
Most of what I uncovered about Wavyleaf Twinevine is included on my 2 journal pages, along with some confusing taxonomy involving family and subfamily names, tribe and subtribe names, and how until 2012, this plant was known as Sarcostemma crispum. Curiosity about the taxonomic history will undoubtedly tempt me to sort through the confusion ……. maybe someday soon!
Have you discovered anything new-to-you in nature lately? What was it, and did it lease to more discoveries?
Thanks for stopping by!
a curious nature 
Wonderful discovery! You know I love all things milkweed, even though we don’t have any growing west of the Cascades here, and therefore no Monarchs! In May, I was in eastern WA and the native Showy milkweed was just about to bloom. I found a couple of plants that had started to bloom and their scent was gentle but fragrant. Very interesting to learn about this “vine-y” milkweed plant and now you’ll be in tune to see it again and again! Thanks for sharing this beautiful plant!
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Hi there! Showy milkweed is my absolute favorite! Oh, hahahahaha, what am I thinking ….. they’re all my favorites! Except now, maybe my fav will be this vine-y twine-y sweet thing. I was seriously speechless when I found this new one. Especially since most of the plant was disguised by shrub. Not sure what caught my attention, other than I seem to gravitate to anything out of place. Thanks for the comments, Karen!
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Wonderful learning and artistic viewing from you! 🌼
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Michele!
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I hope to never miss a post. l admire your work! Thank you, Barb.
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Super cool discovery! Gosh I just love your pages and shares. I have a bunch saved in my inbox and hope to get through them during vacation week this coming week. Hello from blistering HOT northern CA!
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Thanks so so much Sarah! What nice comments you posted. Enjoy your vacation ….. hope it’s someplace cooler than No. CA! and hope you’re not breathing smoke.
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