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bract milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias brachystephana
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Asclepias brachystephana
Also known as Bract Milkweed or Shortcrown Milkweed, Asclepias brachystephana is a perennial forb/herb.
Common Names:
- Bract Milkweed
- Shortcrown Milkweed
Taxonomy and Nomenclature:
- Scientific Name: Asclepias brachystephana Engelm. ex Torr.
- Family: Asclepiadaceae (also known as Apocynaceae or Dogbane Family)
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms: (The provided text does not give specific synonyms, but mentions "s.")
Considerations for Pets
- The text mentions that milkweed, generally, has a milky juice containing alkaloids and latex.
Distribution and Habitat:
- Native to Arizona (AZ), New Mexico (NM), western Texas, and south-central states.
- Found on desert mountains, plains, mesas, grasslands, and roadsides.
Morphological Characteristics:
- Classified as a forb/herb, which is a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
- Flowers are perfect (having both male and female reproductive parts) and fragrant.
- Individual flowers are 8-12 mm wide by 12-17 mm long.
- Features thicker bracts (4-5 mm long by 0.8-1.2 mm wide) at the base of the pedicels (flower stalks).
- Bracts can reach up to 8mm long.
Ecological Role:
- Serves as a host plant for monarch butterflies.
Quirky Facts
- The common name "milkweed" is derived from the plant's milky juice.
Further Information:
- Discover Life: Offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Asclepias brachystephana.