About Stylisma patens subsp. angustifolia (Nash) Myint
Stylisma patens is a perennial prostrate vine, whose stems can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length. Stems of this species may be either hairy or glabrous. Its leaf blades range in shape from elliptic to lanceolate. The two taxa of this species differ in leaf dimensions: typical S. patens (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 (Stylisma patens subsp. 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. The inflorescence holds 2 to 5 flowers and bears scale-like bracteoles. 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, Stylisma 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. This plant grows in relatively dry, sandy habitats, including longleaf pine sandhills and the xeric and subxeric sandhill communities of north Florida.
