Asclepias humistrata Walter

Pinewoods Milkweed; Fleshy Milkweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Pinewoods Milkweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is native to the southern half of Alabama. Pinewoods Milkweed occurs in sand hills, on dunes, in scrub oak woods, and in xeric longleaf pine forests. It is a perennial with a stout taproot. One or more stout stems are produced from each root crown. The stems are erect, ascending, or decumbent, round in cross section, green or pinkish in color, glabrous and often glaucous. All portions of the plant release a white milky latex sap when injured. The leaves are opposite, sessile and often auriculate, ovate in outline, with entire margins. The leaves are glabrous and glaucous with prominent light-colored veins. The leaves are angled with the narrow edge of the leaf almost vertical. Flowers are produced in umbels from the axils of the upper leaves. The corolla is pale pink or lavender in color with reflexed lobes. The horns are about the same height as the hoods. The fruit is an erect follicle. The seed are flat and disc shaped with a tuff of white hair that aids in wind dispersal. Because of its long taproot, Pinewoods Milkweed is not often available for sale. Plants can be grown from seed. The seed should be planted where they will grow in the garden or in deep pots. Take care not to break the taproot when transplanting seedlings.--A. Diamond

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Native

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