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West Indian swallow-wort
Scientific Name: Cynanchum ?lineare
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Vine, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Cynanchum lineare: West Indian Swallow-wort
Cynanchum lineare, commonly known as West Indian swallow-wort, is a perennial vine or forb/herb found in various regions. It has a number of other common names, including West Indian Swallow-wort.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant is sometimes referred to as "milkweed," though not a true milkweed (Asclepias).
- The text notes that the plant is found in the West Indies.
Considerations for Children
- The text mentions that the Western Indians boil the tubers for food, prepare a crude sugar from the flowers, and eat the young seed-pods after boiling them.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cynanchum lineare (Bello) Alain, nom. inq.
- Family: Asclepiadaceae
- Synonyms: Metastelma lineare Bello
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the East and West Indies.
- Also found in the West Indies throughout Eastern Asia (particularly Indian and Pakistanian Indian).
- Naturalized in the East and West Indies and Sri Lanka.
- Presence confirmed in the Caribbean Sea, specifically the Puerto Rican Bank.
Morphological Characteristics
- Growth Habit: Vine, Forb/herb.
- Duration: Perennial.
- Height: 60 centimeters.
- Flower Color: White/Crème.
- Reproduction: Seeds/Cuttings.
Common Names
- West Indian swallow-wort
- West Indian Swallow-Wort
- Caribbean Swallow-wort (Cynanchum anegadense)
- Gulf Coast swallow-wort (Cynanchum angustifolium)
Quirky Facts
- In the past, the Western Indians have boiled the tubers of some related species for food, prepared a crude sugar from the flowers, and consumed the young seed-pods after boiling.