Galactia erecta

Galactia erecta
Photo taken by Kevin Robertson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae
Genus:	Galactia
Species:	G. erecta
Binomial name
Galactia erecta (Walter) Vail
Natural range of Galactia erecta from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: erect milkpea

Description

This plant is erect (FSU Herbarium).

Ecology

Habitat

This species has been found in open longleaf pine-wiregrass flatwoods along gum swamps, wiregrass savannas, pine-oak upland forests, and clearings within pine flatwoods (FSU Herbarium). This species does well in open light environments in dry loamy sands, drying sand, and sandy-peaty wet soils (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

It has been observed to have corolla white or light yellowish flowers (FSU Herbarium). “A purple flowered perennial herb about 1 foot high, occurring in dry pine lands of the Coastal Plain from north Carolina to Louisana. Seeds have been recorded from stomach of a single bobwhite.” It has been seen flowering from April to June and fruiting from June to July and in September (FSU Herbarium).

Fire ecology

It has been found in recently burned open scrub (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, John B. Nelson, R.K. Godfrey, Washington, Loran C. Anderson, Rodie White, William B. Fox, H. L. Blomquist, Sidney McDaniel, H. R. Reed, R. L. Wilbur, Samuel B. Jones, F. H. Sargent, Harry E. Ahles, J. Haesloop, and R. Kral. States and Counties: Florida: Wakulla, Jackson, Bay, Walton, Liberty, and Gadsden. Georgia: Thomas, Baker, and Dodge. North Carolina: Bladen and Onslow. Mississippi: George, McNeill, Lamar, and Pearl River. Alabama: Baldwin and Clarke.