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Asclepias lanuginosa

Asclepias lanuginosa Nutt.

Sidecluster Milkweed, Woolly Milkweed

Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)

Synonym(s): Acerates lanuginosa, Asclepias otarioides

USDA Symbol: ASLA3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Stems, 2 to 3 per plant, are weakly erect and 6 to 12 inches tall with long soft hairs. Leaves are alternate with variable shape, typically narrow and long with a semi-pointed tip to occasionally broadly long with a blunt tip; 1/3 to 1 1/4 inches wide and 1 to 4 inches long; hairy on both surfaces. Florescences are solitary, terminal umbels 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches wide on end of main stem. Individual flowers, 1/4 to 1/3 inch long are 5-parted; greenish to cream with some purple at tip of petals. The 5 hoods surrounding the center do not extend above the flower center. There are no horns. The fruits are pods with many seeds on silky hairs. (Webref 25) (Webref 26)

"This milkweed is not common. It is listed as Special Concern in Minnesota, Threatened in Wisconsin and Iowa, Endangered in Illinois, with these four states comprising nearly half of its range. This is a difficult plant to locate even when you know it is there." (Webref 26)

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Follicle

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: IA , IL , KS , MN , ND , NE , SD , WI
Canada: MB
Native Habitat: "Sun; dry prairies, open woods, rocky soil." (Webref 26)

Web Reference

Webref 25 - Flora of Wisconsin: Consortium of Wisconsin Herbaria (2015) Wisconsin State Herbarium, UW-Madison
Webref 26 - Minnesota Wildflowers: a field guide to the flora of Minnesota (2009)

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2017-08-26
Research By: DEW, NH

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