Asclepias

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Milkweed" is also a children's novel by Jerry Spinelli.

iMilkweeds

Asclepias tuberosa in bloom, showing pollinators

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Asclepiadoideae
Genus:	Asclepias L.

Species

See text.

Asclepias L. (1753), the milkweeds, is a genus of herbaceous perennial, dicotyledonous plants that contains over 140 known species. It used to belong to the family Asclepiadaceae, but is now classified in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae.

Milkweeds are an important nectar source for bees and other nectar seeking insects, and a larval food source for monarch butterflies. Milkweed is named for its milky juice, which contains alkaloids, caoutchouc, and several other complex compounds including cardenolids. Some species are known to be toxic.

Carolus Linnaeus named the genus after Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants.

Species in the Asclepias genus grow their seeds in pods. These seed pods contain soft filaments known as either silk or floss. The filaments are attached to individual seeds. When the seed pod ripens, the seeds are blown by the wind, each carried by several filaments.

1 Species
2 Uses
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Species

Some Asclepias species:

	Asclepias acida	also known as Soma. Known for creating a sort of safe, artificial intoxication.
	Asclepias amplexicaulis	Blunt-leaved milkweed
Image:Asclepias asperula - Antelope Horns.jpg	Asclepias asperula	Antelope horns
Image:Asclepias curassavica crop.jpg	Asclepias curassavica	Scarlet milkweed, Bloodroot, Bastard Ipecacuanha
	Asclepias exaltata	Poke milkweed
Image:Asclepias fascicularis flowers 2003-06-05.jpg	Asclepias fascicularis
Image:Ascelpias incarnata.jpg	Asclepias incarnata	Swamp milkweed
	Asclepias lanceolata	Lanceolate milkweed
	Asclepias linearis
	Asclepias obovata
Image:Asclepias purpurascens1.jpg	Asclepias purpurascens	Purple milkweed
	Asclepias quadrifolia	Four-leaved milkweed
	Asclepias rubra	Red milkweed
	Asclepias speciosa	Showy milkweed
Image:Asclepias subulata flowers 2.jpg	Asclepias subulata	Rush milkweed(Leafless milkweed)
	Asclepias sullivantii	Sullivant's milkweed
Image:Common milkweed-tracy.jpg	Asclepias syriaca	Common milkweed
Image:Butterfly Weed Entire Flower Head 2608px.jpg	Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly weed, Pleurisy root
	Asclepias variegata	White milkweed
	Asclepias verticillata	Whorled milkweed
	Asclepias vincetoxicum

Image:Milkweed-in-seed2.jpg

[edit] Uses

These milkweed filaments or floss are coated with wax, and have good insulation qualities. Tests have shown them to be superior to down feathers for insulation. During World War II, over 11 million pounds (5000 t) of milkweed floss were collected in the United States as a substitute for kapok.

In the past, the high dextrose content of the nectar led to milkweed's use as a source of sweetener for Native Americans and voyageurs.

Milkweed latex contains about 1 to 2% caoutchouc, and was attempted as a natural source for rubber by both Germany and the United States during World War II. No record has been found of large-scale success.

Milkweed is a common folk remedy used for removing warts. Milkweed sap is applied directly to the wart several times daily until the wart falls off. Dandelion sap is often used in the same manner.

Milkweed is beneficial to nearby plants, repelling some pests, especially wireworms.