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 | It has been suggested that this page be merged into Asclepias variegata. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2023. |
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| Species: | A. variegata
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| Binomial name | |
| Asclepias variegata L.
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Asclepias variegata is a species of milkweed commonly called Redring Milkweed or White Milkweed. The plant occurs in the eastern United States and Canada.
Description
editRedring Milkweed is a perennial herb from a fleshy rhizome. This herbaceous perennial wildflower is 1½-3' tall, consisting of an unbranched stem with several pairs of opposite leaves. The erect central stem is light green to purplish green and more or less pubescent in either patches or lines. The leaves are 3-6" long and 1-3" across; they are oblong-ovate to oblong-obovate in shape and smooth along their margins. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous, while the lower surface is pale green. The leaves taper abruptly to oblique tips, while their bases are either rounded or wedge-shaped. The petioles are ¼-1¼" long, light green to purplish green, and appressed-hairy. Leaf venation is pinnate. The central stem terminates in 1-4 umbels of white flowers on peduncles ½-2" long. In addition to the terminal umbels, 1-2 axillary umbels of flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves, although this is uncommon. The peduncles of these umbels are light green to purplish green and short-pubescent. Individual umbels of flowers span about 2-3" across, consisting of 15-35 flowers; the umbels are dome-shaped to nearly globoid. The flowers are usually densely arranged within the umbels, although in shaded situations the umbels can be more open. [1]
Habitat
editRedring Milkweed prefers a semi-shade environment such as woodland edges or open woodlands with dry or rocky soil. [2]
Ecology
editInsects that take nectar from the plant include bumblebees and other bees, wasps, ants, flies, and butterflies. The caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly feed on the foliage.
Toxicity
editMost Asclepias are toxic if consumed in large quantities due to cardiac glycoside content.[3]
Cultivation
editRedring Milkweed produces large showy flowers but it is rare in cultivation.[4]
References
edit- ^ http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/wht_milkweed.html
- ^ http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASVA Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- ^ http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASQU Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- ^ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54147/#b Dave's Garden Listing
quadrifolia
Category:Flora of Northern America
Category:Wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains
Category:Native Forbs of Ontario
Category:Butterfly food plants