ASCLEPIADACE^— MILKWEED 

 FAMILY 



COMMON MILKWEED. SILKWEED 



AscUpias Syriaca 



A Latinized corruption of ^sculapius, to whom the plant 

 was dedicated. 



A native, perennial plant; the most familiar of the 

 Milkweeds, 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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