Summary ⁴

Asclepias syriaca, otherwise known as common milkweed, is the most common species of milkweed on the Preserve. It is native throughout most of the eastern United States. Its large flower heads, which provide ample nectar, can vary from pure white to a dark pink.

Wildlife Interactions ⁴

Milkweeds act as a required host plant for the monarch butterfly and many other species like milkweed bugs, milkweed beetles, and milkweed tussock moths. They provide ample nectar for bees, wasps, butterflies and moths. Because of their popularity among insects, milkweeds also serve as important hunting grounds for predators like spiders and praying mantids.

Similar Species ⁴

Common milkweed looks similar to other milkweeds but it is the largest and most common of all milkweeds on the Preserve. It can be a very tall plant with large leaves and large round flower heads.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) The Preserve at Shaker Village, all rights reserved, uploaded by The Preserve at Shaker Village
2. (c) George F Mayfield, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/33397993@N05/3157431409
3. (c) BlueRidgeKitties, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/blueridgekitties/15157121624/
4. (c) The Preserve at Shaker Village, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• African Plants - a photo guide
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム
• 植物和名−学名インデックス YList

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