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common milkweed

Scientific Name: Asclepias syriaca

Family: Asclepiadaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Asclepias syriaca: Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca, commonly known as common milkweed, butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, and Virginia silkweed, is a well-known species of flowering plant celebrated for its ecological importance.

Considerations for Pets

  • All parts of the common milkweed plant exude a milky white, sticky sap when cut or bruised.

Considerations for Children

  • All parts of the common milkweed plant exude a milky white, sticky sap when cut or bruised.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Asclepias syriaca
  • Common Names: Common Milkweed, Butterfly Flower, Silkweed, Silky Swallow-wort, Virginia Silkweed
  • Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family)
  • Synonyms: A. cornuttii, Asclepias kansana Vail
  • Taxonomic Rank: Asclepias syriaca var. kansana (Vail) E.J. Palmer &amp Steyerm.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to North America.
  • Found in fields, open woods, waste areas, roadsides, and along railroad tracks.
  • Currently, its range includes the eastern half of the United States and much of Canada.
  • Common in all New England states.
  • Distribution limited by mean July temperatures (18 and 30 degrees) in the north and south, respectively.

Ecological Role

  • Important plant for many insect species.
  • Monarch butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed plants; it is the sole food source for their larvae.
  • Also an important nectar plant for bees and other insects.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Erect perennial that reproduces by seeds, underground stems, and roots.
  • Herbaceous perennial plant, typically 2-6 feet tall and unbranched (except at the top).
  • Usually has a solitary, simple stem, 0.5-1.8 meters tall.
  • Flowers range from light green to pink-purple, appearing in 2-inch round clusters of 5-petaled flowers.
  • Leaves are opposite, short-stalked, oblong to oval, with a rigid and leathery quality and downy hairs.
  • Stems excrete a milky sap when broken.

Quirky Facts

  • The fruits of common milkweed resemble small parrots in shape.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed as the exclusive food source for their larvae.
  • Milkweed is an important nectar source for bees and other insects.