ASCLEPIADACE^— MILKWEED 



FAMILY 



COMMON MILKWEED. SILKWEED 



Asdepias Syriaca 



A Latinized corruption of ^Esculapius, to whom the plant 

 was dedicated. 



A native, perennial plant; the most familiar of the 

 Milkw^eeds, growing by roadsides, in waste places, along 

 fences. Flower clusters vary from green to dull, pale, 

 pinkish purple. From New Brunswick to Saskatchewan, 

 south to North Carolina and Kansas. July-August. 



Stem. — Stout, simple, three to five feet high, pubescent; 

 juice milky. 



Leaves. — Opposite, thick, oblong, entire at margin, 

 obtuse at apex, grayish green, densely downy below, 

 smooth above; veins noticeable, especially the midvein; 

 four to nine inches long. Petioles stout. 



Flowers. — Dull, pale, purplish pink borne in several 

 axillary umbels, thirty to sixty flowers in a cluster, 

 forming large, handsome, rounded heads; fragrant; 

 flower-stems drooping. Clusters at first green, then 

 whitish, then dull pink. Pedicels pubescent. 



Calyx. — Five-parted; segments reflexed, hairy. 



Corolla. — Dull greenish pink, deeply five-parted; seg- 

 ments reflexed. Corona of five concave hoods, each 

 having within a small incurved horn. These hoods rise 

 between the reflexed corolla and the united .filaments 

 of the stamens. 



Stamens. — Five, inserted on the corolla, the filaments 

 united in a tube around the pistil. The anther-sacs 



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