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butterfly milkweed

Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior

Family: Asclepiadaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly Milkweed, also known as Butterfly Weed, Orange Milkweed, or Pleurisy Root, is a vibrant and ecologically significant plant native to eastern North America.

Considerations for Children

  • While this species does not have milky sap, like some other milkweeds, the fruits are ornamental and similar in appearance to milkweed pods.
  • Some sources mention the milky sap of other Asclepias species as being toxic if ingested.

Quirky Facts

  • Some catalogs avoid the term "weed" and instead call it "butterfly plant" or "butterfly flower."
  • The variety 'Gay Butterflies' may have red, orange, or yellow flowers, unlike the typical orange blooms.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
  • Common Names: Butterfly Weed, Butterfly Milkweed, Orange Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Canada Root, Chieger Flower, Orange Butterfly Weed, Butterfly Plant, Butterfly Flower
  • Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to eastern North America.
  • Found in open areas, particularly prairies or remnants of prairies in the Tallgrass Prairie region.

Ecological Role

  • Crucial for Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus).
  • It serves as the sole host plant for Monarch caterpillars, which exclusively feed on milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.).
  • Monarch butterflies also need milkweed to lay their eggs.
  • It is an important food source for Monarch caterpillars and used as a nectar plant for adult butterflies.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Herbaceous perennial plant.
  • Typically grows 1-3 feet tall.
  • Has flat-topped clusters of orange flowers.
  • Tuberous rooted.
  • Seeds have a tuft of long silky hairs for wind dispersal.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Attracts a variety of butterflies with its blooms.
  • Aphids are known to like both swamp milkweed and butterfly weed.
  • Relies on Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Hymenoptera (bees, ants) for pollination.
  • Larvae sequester toxic steroids, known as cardenolides, from milkweed.

Traditional Uses

  • The Omahas and Poncas ate the raw root of the butterfly milkweed for bronchial and pulmonary troubles.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden
  • Live Monarch Foundation
  • Monarch Watch
  • Monarch Joint Venture
  • Monarch Butterfly Journey North