ASCLEPIADACEAE. 



VOL. III. 



4. Asclepias rubra L. Red Milkweed. 

 Fig. 3386. 



Asclepias rubra L. Sp. PL 217. 1753. 



Nearly glabrous throughout ; stem usually sim- 

 ple, i-4 high. Leaves opposite, rather distant, 

 short-petioled, ovate, lanceolate or the lower some- 

 times oblong, rounded or subcordate at the base, 

 gradually acuminate, rather firm, 3'-8" long, i'-2^' 

 wide, the primary nerves wide-spreading ; umbels 

 1-4, many-flowered; peduncles shorter than or 

 equalling the upper leaves ; pedicels slender, downy, 

 i-l' long; corolla-segments and hoods lanceolate- 

 oblong, purplish red, or the hoods orange-red, 

 3"-4" long, or flowers sometimes greenish; horns 

 of the hoods very slender, nearly straight; fruiting 

 pedicels deflexed, the follicles erect, spindle-shaped, 

 glabrous, about 4' long. 



In moist soil, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Flor- 

 ida, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas. June-July. 



5 % Asclepias purpurascens L. Purple Milkweed. Fig. 3387. 



Asclepias purpurascens L. Sp. PI. 214. 1753. 

 ?Asclepias amoena L. Sp. PI. 214. 1753. 



Stem stout, puberulent or glabrous, usually sim- 

 ple, 2-4 high, leafy to the top. Leaves ovate, 

 elliptic or oblong, short-petioled, acute or obtuse 

 and mucronulate at the apex, narrowed or round- 

 ed at the base, nearly glabrous above, finely 

 tomentose beneath, 3'-o long, ii'-3' wide, the 

 primary nerves very wide-spreading; umbels 

 many-flowered, borne in several of the upper 

 axils, or sometimes solitary; peduncles stout; 

 pedicels slender, puberulent, I'-jf long; corolla 

 deep purple, its segments oblong to oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, about 3" long; column very short and 

 thick ; hoods oblong or ovate, nearly twice as 

 long as the anthers, pale red or purple, the horns 

 broad at the insertion, short-subulate and incurved 

 at the apex ; fruiting pedicels deflexed, the 

 downy follicles nearly erect, 4'-S' long. 



In dry fields and thickets, New Hampshire to 

 North Carolina, west to southern Ontario, Minne- 

 sota and Arkansas. Ascends to 2000 ft. in the Cats- 

 kills. June-Aug. 



6. Asclepias incarnata L. Swamp Milk- 

 weed. Fig. 3388. 



Asclepias incarnata L. Sp. PI. 215. 1753. 



Stem slender, glabrous, or puberulent in 2 lines 

 above, branched or rarely simple, 2-4 high, 

 leafy to the top. Leaves lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, narrowed, ob- 

 tuse or sometimes subcordate at the base, 3'-6' 

 long, i'-ii' wide, the primary nerves not wide- 

 spreading; petioles 3"-6" long; umbels usually 

 numerous, corymbed, many-flowered ; pedicels 

 pubescent, 5"-io" long; corolla red or rose- 

 purple, rarely white, its lobes oblong, about 2" 

 long; column more than one-half as long as the 

 obtuse pink or purplish hoods; horns slender, in- 

 curved, longer than the hoods ; anther-wings en- 

 tire, or obscurely notched at the base ; fruiting 

 pedicels erect or incurved; follicles erect, 2'-3i' 

 long, sparingly puberulent. 



In swamps, New Brunswick to Ontario, Saskatch- 

 ewan, Tennessee, Louisiana and Colorado. Ascends 

 to 3000 ft. in West Virginia. Rose- or swamp-silk- 

 weed. Water nerve-root. White Indian-hemp. July- Sept. 



