Asclepias viridiflora
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asclepias viridiflora; also known as green comet milkweed, green-flower milkweed, and green milkweed; is a species of milkweed (Asclepias). The plant is located in the eastern and central United States, ranging between Connecticut to Georgia and Arizona to Montana, and is also in southern Canada and northern Mexico.[1] The Latin epithet viridiflora translates as "green-flowered".[3]
| Green milkweed | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Asclepias |
| Species: | A. viridiflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Asclepias viridiflora | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Asclepias viridiflora is an erect to ascending herb up to 50 cm tall, with greenish-white flowers. The pods lack the warts and tubercules common on other species of Asclepias.[4][5][6] It grows in moist to dry shaded roadsides, fields, and prairies.[7]
Conservation status
It is listed as endangered in Florida, as threatened in New York, and as endangered in Connecticut.[8][9]
Native American ethnobotany
The Blackfoot apply a poultice of chewed roots to swellings, rashes, sore gums of nursing infants,[10] and sore eyes.[11] They also chew the root for sore throats,[12] use the plant to spice soups, and use the fresh roots for food.[13] The Brulé Lakota give pulverized roots to children with diarrhea, and an infusion of the whole plant is taken by mothers to increase their milk.[14]