Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Asclepias syriaca
Broadleaf milkweed, Common milkweed
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Asclepias syriaca kansana, Asclepias syriaca var. kansana, Asclepias syriaca var. syrica

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-herb, perennial

Roots: adventitious, rhizomes

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation

Inflorescence: umbel

Flowers: perfect; 5 merous; complete, regular; green, violet; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: follicle

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed along prairie edges, unshaded areas, roadsides. Species is distributed in waste grounds; along railroads, roadsides.

ILPIN Notes: Young shoots and firm pods cooked as a vegetable; doesn't cause hayfever. Willson, M. F., and R. I. Bertin. 1979. Flower-visitors, nectar production, and inflorescence size of Asclepias syriaca. Canadian Journal of Botany 57(12): 1380-1388. Plant has follicle with spiny processes; fragrant flowers. Concerning weediness, species is sometimes economic and sometimes colonizing. Plant has follicle with long spiny processes; fragrant flowers. Young stems, leaves, and fruits can be eaten as cooked vegetables.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: insect, bee, wasp, fly, beetle, moth, butterfly
  • Dispersal: wind
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: medium

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 0
  • Chicago Area: 0

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