Orthosia angustifolia

 Orthosia angustifolia (Turcz.) Liede & Meve

Synonym: Cynanchum angustifolium, Metastelma angustifolium

Common Names: Marsh Metastelma

Family: Apocynaceae

Habit Orthosia angustifolia grows as a glabrous, climbing vine to over 1 m in length.  The leaves are oppositely arranged, to 8 cm, linear, with an entire margin and acute leaf apex.

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in axillary cymes. The calyx has 5 unfused sepals. The corolla has 5 unfused, glabrous greenish white to purple petals. There are 5 unfused stamens. Within the flower there are appendages (crown) that arise from the corolla. The superior ovary has 2 locules with many ovules.  The fruit is a follicle at maturity.

Habitat Orthosia angustifolia grows near fresh and saltwater wetlands as well as Dunes and along roadsides.

Distribution Orthosia angustifolia occurs on all island groupings within the Lucayan Archipelago, Cuba, and the southern United States.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage Orthosia angustifolia is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.