Galactia regularis

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Galactia regularis, commonly called the downy milk pea or eastern milkpea, is a perennial herb or vine in the bean family. It is native to the southeastern United States, from Texas to Florida and north to New Jersey, with its historical range extending to New York (now likely gone there). Some old records mention Cuba, but those aren’t supported by current observations. The plant grows upright or climbs, with hairy stems and leaves that are palmately divided into three thick leaflets (about 5–25 mm wide). It often appears in dry forests across the eastern U.S.

Its flowers are arranged on stalks that can hold 1–16 blossoms and come in white, pink, red, or purple. They bloom from July to September, with fruit forming from August to October. The plant is eaten by bobwhite quail and serves as a host for the caterpillar Automeris io io. Flower visitors include several bees such as Megachile brimleyi, white-footed leaf-cutting bee, golden sweat bee, and common little leaf-cutter bee. Being a legume, it forms a nitrogen-fixing relationship with Rhizobia bacteria.

Overall, Galactia regularis is considered secure, but it is relatively uncommon or threatened in some states. This may be partly due to competition from introduced species like Galactia officinalis. The species is described as gap-dependent, meaning it benefits from fires or other disturbances that create openings in forests or shrublands.