GENUS CODE: ASCLE GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Asclepias GENUS AUTHORITY: L. GENUS COMMON: Milkweed GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 100 species, herbs, temperate and tropical, of North and Central America. GENUS IDENTIFICATION: GENUS REFERENCES: Woodson (1954)=Z; Turner (2009b)=Y; Farmer & Bell (1985)=X.
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: APOCYN FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Apocynaceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789 FAMILY COMMON: Dogbane Family FAMILY SUMMARY: As here circumscribed including the Asclepiadaceae, a family of about 480 genera and about 4800 species, lianas, shrubs, herbs, and trees, widespread in tropical and temperate areas. There appears to be overwhelming evidence favoring the combination of the Asclepiadaceae into the Apocynaceae; see, for instance, Rosatti (1989), Sennblad & Bremer (1996), and many others. FAMILY REFERENCE: Rosatti (1989); Liede (1997a).
NCBG DESCRIPTIVES
INTRO:Erect to ascendingperennial of woodland margins, roadsides and pastures. STEMS: Stems often several from a single woodytaproot, mostly unbranched, sometimes tinged reddish-purple, rough with stiff hairs. LEAVES: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, to 4 in. long, hairy. INFLORESCENCE: FLOWERS: Flowers in terminal and upper axillarycompound umbels, orange or reddish-orange, about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexedcorolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages (“hood” and “horn”)--surrounding another complex structure of fused anthers and style. FRUITS:Fruit an erect, narrowly spindle-shaped follicle containing tufted seeds. COMMENTS: The sap of this milkweed is clear, not milky. A native over much of the eastern U.S., it is a popular garden plant. Nectar-rich flowers attract many pollinators. HEIGHT: 1-3 ft. DURATION:
Perennial
HABIT:
Herb
LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
Alternate LEAF COMPLEXITY:
Simple LEAF RETENTION:
Deciduous FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
Radial (Actinomorphic)
BLOOM TIME: May-August
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
x
x
x
x
BLOOM COLOR: Orange
White
Red
Pink
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Lavender
Purple
Violet
Brown
Not Applicable
x
FRUITING PERIOD: DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Disturbed, Woods margins
NATIVE RANGE: United States & eastern Canada HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: Butterfly milkweed is a common roadside wildflower in our area, and like other members of Asclepias genus, is a host to monarch butterfly caterpillars. The distinctive linear leaves and bright orange flowers make butterfly milkweed a standout in summer. Its modest size provides a splash of color without overwhelming small spaces. Drought tolerant and deer resistant, this plants is a “must have” to support Monarch butterflies and up to 12 species of lepidoptera! 1985 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.
USDA Symbol: ASTU
USDA Common Name: Butterfly Milkweed
Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV), CAN (ON, QC)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
COMMON NAME:
SYNONYMY:
PHENOLOGY:
HABITAT:
COMMENTS:
RANGE MAP:
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Apocynaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Dogbane Family) SUMMARY: As here circumscribed including the Asclepiadaceae, a family of about 480 genera and about 4800 species, lianas, shrubs, herbs, and trees, widespread in tropical and temperate areas. There appears to be overwhelming evidence favoring the combination of the Asclepiadaceae into the Apocynaceae; see, for instance, Rosatti (1989), Sennblad & Bremer (1996), and many others. REFERENCE: Rosatti (1989); Liede (1997a).ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Asclepias L. (Milkweed) SUMMARY: A genus of about 100 species, herbs, temperate and tropical, of North and Central America. REFERENCE: Woodson (1954)=Z; Turner (2009b)=Y; Farmer & Bell (1985)=X.
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Asclepias tuberosa in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Asclepias tuberosa in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)