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.