About Stylisma patens (Desr.) Myint
Stylisma patens (Desr.) Myint is a perennial prostrate vine, with stems that can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length. Stems may be either hairy or glabrous (smooth and hairless). Its leaf blades range in shape from elliptic to lanceolate. Two varieties of this species are recognized, which differ in leaf size: S. patens var. patens has leaf blades 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) long and 6 to 8 mm (0.24 to 0.31 in) wide, while S. patens var. angustifolia has leaf blades 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) long and 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in) wide. Its inflorescence holds 2 to 5 flowers, and bears scale-like bracteoles. The sepals are ovate-lanceolate in shape, measuring approximately 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in) long and 3 to 5 mm (0.12 to 0.20 in) wide. The corolla is white, and blooming occurs from spring through fall. Within North America, S. patens is found in the southeastern United States. Its native range covers the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. S. patens grows in relatively dry, sandy habitats, including longleaf pine sandhills, and the xeric and subxeric sandhill communities of north Florida.
