Asclepias tuberosa
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Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern and southwestern North America.<ref>(1) Template:Cite web
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(3) Template:Cite web</ref> It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar.<ref name=attractive>(1) Template:Cite web
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Description
[edit]It is a perennial plant growing to Template:Convert tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, Template:Convert long,<ref name="Audubon">Template:Cite book</ref> and Template:Convert broad.
From April to September, in the upper axils, Template:Convert–wide umbels of orange, yellow or red flowers Template:Convert wide appear. They each have five petals and five sepals.<ref name="Audubon" /> It is uncertain if reddish flowers are due to soil mineral content, ecotype genetic differentiation, or both. A cultivar named 'Hello Yellow' typically has more yellowish flowers than ordinary examples of this plant.
The fruit pod is Template:Convert long, containing many long-haired seeds.<ref name="Audubon" />
Similar species
[edit]The plant looks similar to the lanceolate milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata), but is uniquely identified by the larger number of flowers, and the hairy stems that are not milky when broken. It is most commonly found in fields with dry soil. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) can resemble Asclepias tuberosa in its red form but also lacks hairy stems.
Taxonomy
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Subspecies
[edit]- Asclepias tuberosa subsp. interior – (Central United States, Ontario and Quebec<ref>Species profile on VASCAN. Retrieved on February 21, 2018.</ref>)
- Asclepias tuberosa subsp. rolfsii – Rolfs milkweed (Southeastern United States)
- Asclepias tuberosa subsp. tuberosa – (Eastern United States)
Common names
[edit]Common names include butterfly weed,<ref name="GRIN">Template:GRIN</ref> Canada root, chieger flower,<ref name="GRIN" /> chiggerflower, fluxroot, Indian paintbrush, Indian posy, orange milkweed, orange root,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> orange Swallow-wort, pleurisy root,<ref name="GRIN" /> silky swallow-wort, tuber root, yellow milkweed, white-root, windroot, butterfly love, butterflyweed, and butterfly milkweed.<ref name="ROM">Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 138.</ref>
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The species can be found from South Dakota south to Texas and Mexico, west to Utah and Arizona, as well as many other areas further east.<ref name="Audubon" />
This plant favors dry, sand or gravel soil, but has also been reported on stream margins. It requires full sun.
Ecology
[edit]Most easily propagated by seed. The primary pollinators are bees and wasps, rather than butterflies.<ref>Fishbein, M., and D.L. Venable. 1996. Diversity and change in the effective pollinators of Asclepias tuberosa. Ecology 77:1061-1073.</ref> Sown outdoors after frost, a plant will flower and produce seed in the third year. It is difficult to transplant once established, as it has a deep, woody taproot.<ref>Loewer, Peter 'Native Perennials For the Southeast' Cool Springs Press. Nashville, Tenn. 2005 Template:ISBN</ref><ref>Druse, Ken 'Making More Plants The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation' Abrams. New York, NY. 2012 Template:ISBN</ref>
A. tuberosa is a larval food plant of the queen and monarch butterflies, as well as the dogbane tiger moth, milkweed tussock moth, and the unexpected cycnia.<ref name="attractive" /><ref name="The Field Museum Magazine">Template:Cite journal</ref> Because of its rough leaves and trichomes, it is not a preferred host plant of the monarch butterfly but caterpillars can be reared on it successfully.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Gomez">Template:Cite web.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Further, it is one of the very lowest Asclepias species in cardenolide content, making it a poor source of protection from bird predation and parasite virulence and perhaps contributing to its lack of attractiveness to egg-laying monarchs.<ref name="glycoside">(1) Template:Cite web
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Cultivation
[edit]Butterfly weed is frequently grown in gardens for its showy orange flowers which are especially attractive to bees, though also visited by hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies.<ref name="NCExtension">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It is easily grown from seeds and is difficult to transplant due to the size of its roots.<ref name="MBGPlant Finder">Template:Cite web</ref> Grown from seed plants will take about two to three years to reach flowering size in average conditions.<ref name="NCExtension" /> The seeds do not require stratification and can be immediately planted, though in commercial growing they are generally moist stratified at 5 °C for 30–60 days because this increases the germination rate.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Propagating">Template:Cite journal</ref> For other milkweeds a thin layer of mulch a layer 1–2 cm thick increases the germination rate, though specific research on butterfly weed is lacking.<ref name="Propagating" />
Butterfly weed has few serious pest or disease problems. It is susceptible to crown rot if planted in poorly drained or too constantly moist locations.<ref name="NCExtension" /> It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9.<ref name="MBGPlant Finder" />
Toxicity
[edit]The plant contains toxic glycosides, alkaloids and resinoids. These can cause weakness, seizures and corneal injuries.<ref>Multiple sources:
- Template:Cite book
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- Template:Cite web</ref> Use of the plant is contraindicated in pregnancy, during lactation or with infants due to its toxins, which include resinoids and pregnanes.<ref>Multiple sources:
- Template:NPIN "Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Roots, plant sap from all parts. Not edible. Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Symptoms include vomiting, stupor, weakness, spasms. Toxic Principle: Resinoid, cardiac glycoside" Template:Cite web.
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Uses
[edit]Native Americans and European pioneers used the boiled roots to treat diarrhea and respiratory illnesses.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The young seed pods were used as food after being boiled in several changes of water.<ref name=":0" /> The seed pod down was spun and used to make candle wicks.<ref name=":0" />
The root was once used to treat pleurisy.<ref name="Audubon" />
Gallery
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Entire plant from the ground to the flower
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Young stems during spring
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A young leaf
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An emerging flower head
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Closeup of the hairy stems
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Closeup of unopened buds
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Flower head
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Closeup showing unopened, opening, and fully opened flower buds
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Orange flowers
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Red-striped orange flowers
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Yellow flowers
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Seedpod
