Asclepias purpurascens L. - Purple Milkweed


 

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Asclepias purpurascens - (image 1 of 8)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Asclepiadaceae

Habitat

Dry soil. Prairies, woodland edges.

Associates

 

Distribution

Southern NH south to VA, west to WI, IA, KS, and OK.

Morphology

Perennial. Leaves opposite, thick, somewhat pubescent, ovate to elliptic-oblong, acuminate to acute, short petiolate, rounded at base. Corona hoods red to purple, with slender horn-like processes originating near their bases; reflexed corolla lobes 5 mm or longer, deep red or purple

Notes

Flowers June to July

Wetland Indicator: Facultative Upland

Prefers edges of woods that are shaded for part of the day. Contains cardiac glycosides.

References

Foster, S. and R.A. Caras. 1994. A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants: North America North of Mexico.

Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, NY. 244 pp.

 

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 


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© Michael Hough 2004