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Weed Gallery

Milkweed Family

Milkweeds are one of the coolest groups of "weeds".  They attract many kinds of butterflies.  Monarch butterfly larva only eat milkweed.  Milkweeds have unique flowers grouped clusters.  Each cluster produces one pod filled with "silk" and seeds.

Asclepias - When an insect lands on the flower, it touches trigger hairs that releases a squirt of glue then pollinia (capsules of pollen).  The stigma is covered to prevent self-pollination.

Asclepiadaceae (Asclepiodora) - Milkweed family

Antelope Horns (Spider Antelope Horns Milkweed) Asclepias asperula

Individual flower about 1/2" wide with clusters about 4" wide.  Someplant's clusters are not as densely packed.  Seed pod about 2 1/2" long with one face missing.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004, pod in June 2004

(Native of Texas)

Similar Species

Green Antelope Horns (Spider Milkweed) Asclepias viridis

Horns" are redder.  Hood petals are twice as long and greener.  Leaves are rounder and less hairy.

(Native of the eastern half of Texas)

Asclepiadaceae (Asclepiodora) - Milkweed family

Zizotes (Hierba de Zizotes) Asclepias oenotheroides

Each green flower about 3/4" wide and tall in clusters.  Plant shown about 12"tall.  Leaves are 4-6" long.  Sometimes leaf edges are reddish.  2" long pod grows upright.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004

(Native of Texas)

Asclepiadaceae (Asclepiodora) - Milkweed family

Green Comet Milkweed Asclepias viridiflora

Each green flower about 3/16" wide in clusters 1"-3" wide.  Plant shown about 24"tall.  Leaves are thick and hairy.  Single stem has reddish tint.  Pods are are about 4" long.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June & September 2004

(Native of Texas)

Asclepiadaceae (Asclepiodora) - Milkweed family

Broadleaf Milkweed (Green Milkweed) Asclepias latifolia

Flower clusters about 2"-4" wide.  Flowers are about 1/4" wide and 1/2" long.  Plant shown about 14" tall.  Thick leaves spiral up the central stem and are about 4" wide.  Flat, 2" long pod has two halves with seed fluff inside.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2004, flowers June 2005

(Native of Texas)

Asclepiadaceae (Asclepiodora) - Milkweed family

Slimleaf Milkweed Asclepias stenophylla

Flower clusters about 2" wide.  Flowers are about 3/8" wide.  Plant shown about 14" tall.  Two, 2" long, very narrow leaves at nodes up the central stem.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2005

(Native of Texas)

Similar Species

Whorled Milkweed (Eastern Whorled Milkweed) Asclepias verticillata

Similar but with 4 leaves at the nodes

(Native of east & central Texas)

Other Species in the Area

Shortcrown milkweed Asclepias brachystephana

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(Native of Texas)

Engelmann's milkweed Asclepias engelmanniana

xxx

(Native of Texas, Taylor)

Texas milkweed Asclepias texana

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(Native of central & west Texas)

Butterfly milkweed (orange milkweed, chiggerflower) Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior

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(Native of central & east Texas, Taylor)

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