SHOWY MILKWEED 



Asclepias speciosa Torrey 



We are so accustomed to seeing the eastern milkweeds scattered 

 along the wayside or among the denizens of waste places, or in the 

 case of the butterflyweed in isolated clumps, that it was a surprise to 

 find a whole field of this beautiful milkweed in the Kootenay River 

 Valley. It seemed to have exactly the right soil as well as other condi- 

 tions suited to its needs, and the heavy, waxy, sweet-scented flowers 

 were attracting many bees and butterflies to the feast of nectar spread 

 for them. The plants were fully four feet tall. Most of the flowers 

 were of a delicate shade of pink, although the fresher blossoms and 

 buds were claret-colored, or almost maroon. When examined with a 

 glass, the highly complicated structure of the flowers can be seen plainly. 



This milkweed ranges from Kansas to California and north to Sas- 

 katchewan and British Columbia. 



The specimen painted was found in the Columbia River Valley in 

 British Columbia at Fairmount Hot Springs, at an altitude of 3 ,000 feet. 



PLATE 90 



