Stylisma patens
Stylisma patens, commonly referred to as coastal dawnflower or common dawnflower, is a member of the Convolvulaceae family found in North America. There are two known varieties: Stylisma patens var. patens and Stylisma patens var. angustifolia Shinners.
Description
Stylisma patens is a perennial prostrate vine, with stems that may reach up to in length. Stems may be either hairy or glabrous. The leaf blades are elliptic to lanceolate in shape. The two varieties have differing leaf dimensions; S. patens var. patens possesses blades long and wide, while S. patens var. angustifolia possesses blades long and wide.Inflorescence is 2 to 5 flowered with scale-like bracteoles. The sepals are ovate-lanceolate in shape, approximately long and wide. The corolla is white. Blooms occur from springtime into the fall.
Distribution and habitat
Within North America, S. patens can be found in the southeast region of the United States. Its native range encompasses the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.S. patens occurs in relatively dry, sandy habitats such as longleaf pine sandhills, and the xeric and subxeric sandhill communities of north Florida.