Asclepias

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Milkweeds

Asclepias in bloom, showing pollinators
Conway, South Carolina

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Asteridae
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	*Asclepiadaceae*
Genus:	*Asclepias*
Species:	many

Asclepias, the milkweeds, is a genus of plants in the family Asclepiadaceae that contains many species, usually an important nectar source for bees and other nectar seeking insects, and a larval food source for monarch butterflies. Milkweed is known for its milky juice, usually somewhat toxic, which is used for herbal medicine.

Some Asclepias species:

A. acida -

A. amplexicaulis - Blunt-leaved milkweed.

A. curasavica - Scarlet milkweed, Bloodroot, Bastard Ipecacuanha.

A. exaltata - Poke milkweed.

A. incarnata - Swamp milkweed.

A. lanceolata - Lanceolate milkweed.

A. linearis -

A. obovata -

A. purpurasens - Purple milkweed.

A. quadrifolia - Four-leaved milkweed.

A. rubra - Red milkweed.

A. speciosa - Showy milkweed.

A. sullivantii - Sullivant's milkweed.

A. syriaca - Common milkweed.

A. tuberosa - Butterfly weed, Pleurisy root.

A. variegata - White milkweed.

A. verticillata Whorled milkweed.

A. vincetoxicum -

'The Asclepias Genus' is also being used in medical research. see http://www.terapeta.net/asclepias.pdf.

Asclepias syraica seed pods
Baldwinsville, New York

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