322 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



Rare. Dry open places : East Lyme (Graves), East Haven 

 and Southington (Bissell), Huntington (Harger), Bridgeport 

 (Eames). July. 



ASCLEPIADACEAE. MILKWEED FAMILY. 

 ASCLEPIAS L. Milkweed. Silkweed. 



Asclepias tuberosa L. (tuberous). 



Asclcpias tuberosa L., var. decumhens Pursh. 

 Asclepias decumhens L. 

 Butterfly-weed. Pleurisy-root. 



Dry fields and roadsides. Rare in Litchfield County, occa- 

 sional to frequent in other sections. July — Aug. 



The root was formerly officinal and is used medicinally. 



Asclepias purpurascens L. (purplish). 

 Purple Milkweed. 



Occasional or frequent. Moist fields and open pastures. 

 June — July. 



Asclepias incarnata L. (flesh-colored). 

 Swamp Milkweed. 



Borders of ponds and streams. Occasional along the 

 Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers and in the northwestern 

 part of the state ; rare elsewhere. July — Aug. 

 Asclepias incarnata L., var. pulchra (Ehrh.) Pers. (beautiful). 

 Asclepias pulchra Ehrh. 

 Swamp Milkweed. 



Swamps and wet places. Frequent except in Litchfield 

 County where it is occasional or rare. July — Aug. 



The root is medicinal. 



Asclepias syriaca L. 



Asclepias Cornuti Dene. 

 Common Milkweed or Silkweed. 



Common. Roadsides, pastures and waste places. July — 

 Aug. 



The root is medicinal. The young shoots are used as 

 Asparagus. Sometimes troublesome as a weed. 



