Gonolobus Species, Angularfruit Milkvine

Thank You, Ted_B. I have renamed this plant Gonolobus suberosus, as the old name is never been resolved.

The botanical name "Matelea gonocarpos" was never resolved, and is obsolete. The most widely accepted name is "Gonolobus suberosus."
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This climbing milkweed very closely resembles several Matelea sp. (e.g. M. carolinensis), but is most easily differentiated by inflorescence and its angular (as opposed to spiny seedpod. When in a vegetative state, there are subtle differences in leaf morphology, but this species is associated with a mild aroma that emanates from the foliage that can be described as akin to burnt peanut butter. Matelea sp. may or may not give this odor.

In its natural habitat, I've found this climber mostly in the understory or edge of mixed hardwood forests, preferring rich soils that remain consistently moist, and tolerating a wide variety of lighting conditions. A quick sniff is often all that's needed to make a positive identification. This species is unfortunately uncommon in commercial trade, so procuring seed or propagating/collecting a wild specimen is the best means of procuring it for cultivation. One thing that is for certain, is it will be the only plant in one's garden that smells like peanut butter.

I haven't seen anyone in any of the references I've found on this plant mention the smell. When I touched it, the plant exuded a strong o...Read Moredor (not pleasant, but not awful... kind of a musk-spice).

Have any of you noticed this on your plants? The one I've seen is wild, so I don't know if this is common to the entire species or if this is a variation of some sort. It does it if you touch the leaf or stem, forgot to try the flower itself.

Volunteer twining freely on untended 7-ft. quince; first discovered in fall 2009 by appearance of seedpods; appears to be larger/longer t...Read Morehis year. Foliage is nondescript but not ugly, flower petals (5 ea.) are very narrow like skinny stars and grow in loose heads of a dozen or so; they are dun-colored and not showy. Seed pods are very notable and very like those of common milkweed. USDA classes as "threatened" in FL but naturally present in entire SE US. If not invasive, it might be of value to 'naturalizing' gardeners.