About Jacquemontia curtissii Peter ex Small
Jacquemontia curtissii Peter ex Small is a dicotyledonous perennial low-growing vine or trailing herb. It grows from a woody or semi-woody base, producing slender stems that spread or weakly twine, and it often reaches up to 3 ft (0.91 m) in height. Its leaves are simple, ovate to narrowly ovate, and have entire margins. The plant produces showy, star-shaped white flowers, with a corolla that ranges from rotate to shallowly funnel-shaped; flowers are borne singly or in small axillary clusters. Flowering typically occurs from autumn through late spring, with peak abundance between October and June, and may extend into summer if conditions are favorable. This species is endemic to southern Florida in the United States, where it has a highly localized, fragmented distribution. It grows primarily along the Miami Rock Ridge and in nearby parts of Miami-Dade and northern Broward counties, and it also occurs in parts of the Big Cypress region. Jacquemontia curtissii is strongly associated with pine rockland, a globally imperiled habitat with exposed limestone substrate, seasonal moisture variation, and an open canopy dominated by South Florida slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. densa). It can also be found in closely related habitats including mesic pine flatwoods and calcareous wet prairies. The species is adapted to open, fire-maintained landscapes, and it benefits from periodic burning that reduces canopy closure and competition with other plants. Its flowers produce nectar for native insects, including bees and other pollinators, and it contributes to local pollination networks within pine rockland communities.
