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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Asclepias amplexicaulis (Clasping milkweed)
Cressler, Alan

Asclepias amplexicaulis

Asclepias amplexicaulis Sm.

Clasping Milkweed, Bluntleaf Milkweed

Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: asam

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

These milkweed plants are stout, glabrous (without hairs) and usually grow erect 80 to 100 cm tall with upper leaves sessile, clasping the stem. The sap is milky. Leaves (75-150 mm long and 50-75 mm wide) are opposite; blades are thick and firm, broadly lanceolate to oblong, broadly notched at the base, broadly rounded or blunt at the tip with margins usually conspicuously wavy. Several pedicelled flowers occur in a showy umbel; greenish, tinged with purple or rose. The leaves and stems are also often tinged with purple.

Milkweed species are the food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars.

 

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Inflorescence: Umbel
Fruit Type: Follicle
Size Notes: Follicles 10-16 cm long, 1-2 cm thick.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: pinkish tan to greenish-purple

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Native Distribution: Southeast and east TX and west to East Cross Timbers; north to eastern Nebraska; eastern half of United States.
Native Habitat: Prefers sandy soils in open woods, roadsides and old fields.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees
Special Value to Honey Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 1227 - Milkweed, Monarchs and More: A Field Guide to the Invertebrate Community in the Milkweed Patch (2003) Rea, B.; Oberhauser, K; Quinn, M.
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 1295 - Wild Flowers of the Big Thicket, East Texas and Western Louisiana (1979) Ajilvsgi

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Asclepias amplexicaulis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Asclepias amplexicaulis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Asclepias amplexicaulis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2017-05-10
Research By: TWC Staff, NH

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