| Botanical name: |
Apios americana |
| Common
name: |
Butterfly milkweed
|
| Synonomy: |
|
| Group: |
Dicot
|
| Family: |
Asclepiadaceae |
| Growth
Type: |
Forb/herb
|
| Duration: |
Perennial
|
| Plant
height: |
1-2 feet
|
| Foliage: |
Stem is hairy; leaves are alternate, up
to 5 inches in length, stiff, narrow, and often wider at the base.
Sometimes the leaves are opposite near the inflorescense.
|
| Flower
color: |
orange
|
| Flower
size: |
1/2". Inflorescense is terminal and axillary umbellate cymes with approximately 25 flowers.
|
| Flowering/fruiting time |
Flowers June to September. Fruit is a pod with tiny seeds, each attached to a tuff of silky hairs. Wind-dispersed.
|
| Habitat: |
Dry fields
|
| Range
in
New Jersey: |
Throughout the state.
|
| Heritage ranking if any: |
n/a
|
| Distribution |
|
| Misc.: |
USDA
lists as UPL, usually occurs in uplands.
This is the only milkweed with alternate leaves.
Medicinal Uses:
Root was used in 19th century for lung problems, as a purgative,
and was applied to sores. Asclepias tuberosa contains cardiac
glycosides which are toxic in large amounts.
USDA Plant Guide
|
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