Ronnie Estes
Rocky Mountain Flora
March 31, 2015
Milkweed
Description
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, is a biennial to perennial herb in the family Asclepiadaceae. This forb usually has a solitary, simple stem, 0.5-1.8 meters (1.5-6 feet) tall, though clumps of multiple stems may be found. Milkweed may also be rhizomatous through the growing season. This may be evident with stems being at different life stages throughout the summer. The leaves are opposite, ovate, and 5-25 centimeters (2-10 inches) long with a short thick pedicel. The surface of the leaf is glabrous above and hairy beneath.
Special Characteristics
Milkweed expels a thick white sap from any cut or broken surface. This sap contains a poison called Cardiac Glycoside. Many insects rely on milkweed for a food source, specifically the monarch butterfly depends on milkweed with the larvae eating the leaves of the plant. Interestingly the monarch caterpillar eats the leaves and absorbs the glycosides within its body and …show more content…
A rhizome is a specialized underground stem that may produce multiple genetically identical suckers or clones.
Economic Uses
Milkweed is considered a weed in many areas, resulting in attempts to remove it. Most species of milkweed are not seriously threatened, although one type of milkweed is on the endangered species list. Some strains of milkweed are sensitive to smog, a form of air pollution, also called ground-level ozone. This pollutant chemically damages the leaves of milkweed plants and poses a threat to the milkweed family.
Germination
Milkweed seeds require a cold and moist stratification period. This means that the seed has to be exposed to cold temperatures, usually below a particular temperature range for a certain period of time as well as maintain the proper moisture. This is achieved in nature after the seeds have been wind dispersed and occurs over the winter
Rocky Mountain Flora
March 31, 2015
Milkweed
Description
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, is a biennial to perennial herb in the family Asclepiadaceae. This forb usually has a solitary, simple stem, 0.5-1.8 meters (1.5-6 feet) tall, though clumps of multiple stems may be found. Milkweed may also be rhizomatous through the growing season. This may be evident with stems being at different life stages throughout the summer. The leaves are opposite, ovate, and 5-25 centimeters (2-10 inches) long with a short thick pedicel. The surface of the leaf is glabrous above and hairy beneath.
Special Characteristics
Milkweed expels a thick white sap from any cut or broken surface. This sap contains a poison called Cardiac Glycoside. Many insects rely on milkweed for a food source, specifically the monarch butterfly depends on milkweed with the larvae eating the leaves of the plant. Interestingly the monarch caterpillar eats the leaves and absorbs the glycosides within its body and …show more content…
A rhizome is a specialized underground stem that may produce multiple genetically identical suckers or clones.
Economic Uses
Milkweed is considered a weed in many areas, resulting in attempts to remove it. Most species of milkweed are not seriously threatened, although one type of milkweed is on the endangered species list. Some strains of milkweed are sensitive to smog, a form of air pollution, also called ground-level ozone. This pollutant chemically damages the leaves of milkweed plants and poses a threat to the milkweed family.
Germination
Milkweed seeds require a cold and moist stratification period. This means that the seed has to be exposed to cold temperatures, usually below a particular temperature range for a certain period of time as well as maintain the proper moisture. This is achieved in nature after the seeds have been wind dispersed and occurs over the winter