Asclepias syriaca
Silk Weed
Identification
Asclepias syriaca is more commonly known as silk weed. It is a Perenniel herb with simple stems ranging from one to two meters in length [2]. Silk weed has leaves that are oblong and downy on the underside and that typically range from 7.25 to 25.0 centimeters in length [3]. The flowers are solitary, axillary, or in nodding cymes toward the branch end of the plant [2], and they range in color from pink to mauve, dull purple to white.
Geography
Silk weed is most commonly found in the Eastern portions of North America, however, it was naturalized in Europe [2]. It tends to be most prevalent in July and August, but, like most things, there is a little bit of laxity in the dates in which it blooms.
According to Robert Wyatt, silk weed has been spotted and collected in the following places.
- Lincoln, Morehouse, and Ouachita Parishes in Louisiana
- southern Tennessee
- much of North Carolina
- Cherokee County in South Carolina
- Clarke County in Georgia
Over the past forty years, it has been steadily migrating south [5].
A. syriaca is a plant of disturbed sites occurring in prairies, alluvial bottoms, pastures, fields, roadsides, and railways [6]. Contrary to popular belief, the plant is a native of North America, but its early introduction into Europe led Linnaeus to ascribe its origin to Syria [6]. Since then, it has spread across much of the Americas to become a common milkweed.
References
- [2] The New Royal Horticultural Society's Dictionary of Gardening. V1. Edited by Huxley, Anthony. The Stockton Press, New York. 1992. p. 252-253.
- [3] The Royal Horticultural Society's Dictionary of Gardening: A Practical and Scientific Encyclopedia of Horticulture. Edited by Chittenden, Fred J. V1. Oxford University Press, Amen House, London. 1951. p.189-191.
- [5] More on the southward spread of common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca L. Wyatt, Robert. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 123(1). 1996. p.68-69.
- [6] Range extension southward in common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca L. Wyatt, Robert, et al. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 120(2). 1993. p.177-179.
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