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Asclepias glaucescens
Asclepias glaucescens Kunth
Nodding Milkweed, Bluestem Milkweed
Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)
Synonym(s): Asclepias elata
USDA Symbol: ASGL5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The nodding, or bluestem, milkweed is 8 inches to 4 feet tall with a stout, hairless stem and perennial, fleshy rootstock. The leaves are broadly oval to lanceolate, opposite and sessile, 2 to 6.4 inches long and 0.4 to 2.4 inches wide. Flower clusters occur on stalks that are 0.8 to 8 inches long. Individual flowers (usually 8 to 25) are on flower stalks that are 0.6 to 1.3 inches tall and are pale green or glaucous. Petals are greenish or yellowish with a purple tinge and are flexed away from the center. The species name glaucescens comes from the word glaucous which means "bluish gray". (Bibref 824) (Webref 24)
"Asclepias glaucescens is similar to A. amplexicaulis. "Asclepias glaucescens has a gynostegium that is sessile or essentially so and has a distribution restricted to far west Texas. The gynostegium of "Asclepias glaucescens is stipulate (stalked) and the distribution is limited to the eastern part of Texas." (Webref 24)
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Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Pink , GreenBloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AZ , NM , TXNative Habitat: "Along stream beds and dry rocky slopes in open pine, juniper, or oak woodland canyons in the Chisos, Davis, and Guadalupe Mountains in the Trans Pecos Ecoregion." (Webref 24)
Bibliography
Bibref 824 - Useful Wild Plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains, and Northern Mexico (Volume 2: Asclepias-Canavalia) (2000) Cheatham, S. ; M. C. Johnston; L. MarshallSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 24 - Identification of Milkweeds in Texas (2015) Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentAdditional resources
USDA: Find Asclepias glaucescens in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Asclepias glaucescens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Asclepias glaucescens
Metadata
Record Modified: 2017-08-20Research By: DEW, NH