ASCLEPIADACEAE MILKWEED FAMILY 
SWAMP MILKWEED 
Asclepias incarnata L. 
The Swamp Milkweed is a most common species in low wet 
places, being found from New Brunswick to Saskatchewan, 
south to Tennessee, Louisiana and Colorado. It blooms from 
July to September 
and during August 
especially its masses 
of red or rose-purple 
flowers make a bril- 
liant display. 
The slender, 
nearly or entirely 
smooth stem, 2-4 
feet high, is very 
leafy and branched 
or rarely simple. 
Two downy lines oc- 
cur near the top and 
on the branches of 
the peduncles. 
Leaves are lanceo- 
late or oblong-lanceo- 
late,acuminateatthe 
tip and narrowed or 
obscurely heart | | 
shaped at the base. \ € 
ae ea.n y= 
flowered umbels are usually quite numerous. Pedicels of the 
flowers are hairy. In fruit they are erect or curved. The collars 
within the corollas are more than half the length of the pink or 
purplish hoods, and the slender incurved horns are longer. The 
pods are erect when mature, 2-3% inches long and are only 
slightly roughened with very short hairs. 
ty 
Me op 
9) 4 
WS \ | / eg 
= SS AHS 
QA <a = 
The Prairie Milkweed, Asclepias Sullivantii Engelm., suggests the 
Common Milkweed but is entirely smooth and grows instead in 
moist prairies. The very smooth stem is 2-4 feet tall and bears 
numerous oblong, nearly sessile leaves and 1 or more clusters of 
rose-purple flowers which have no fragrance. The pod is nearly 
smooth and is obscurely spiny on the beak. 
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