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Asclepias (view source)

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'''''Asclepias''''' [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] (1753), the '''milkweeds''', is a [[genus]] of herbaceous [[perennial plant|perennial]], [[dicotyledon]]ous [[plant]]s  that contains over 140 known species. It previously belonged to the [[family (biology)|family]] Asclepiadaceae, but this is now classified as a [[subfamily]] [[Asclepiadoideae]] of the dogbane family [[Apocynaceae]].
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Milkweeds are an important nectar source for [[bee]]s and other nectar seeking insects, and a larval food source for [[Monarch butterfly|monarch butterflies]] and their relatives, as well as a variety of other herbivorous insects (including numerous [[beetle]]s, [[moth]]s, and [[true bug]]s) specialized to feed on the plants despite their chemical defenses.  Milkweed is named for its milky juice, which contains [[alkaloids]], [[latex]], and several other complex compounds including [[cardenolide]]s. Some species are known to be [[toxic]].
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[[Carolus Linnaeus]] named the genus after [[Asclepius]], the Greek god of healing, because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants.
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[[Pollination]] in this genus is accomplished in an unusual manner. [[Pollen]] is grouped into complex structures called [[pollinia]] (or "pollen sacs"), rather than being individual grains or tetrads, as is typical for most plants. The feet or mouthparts of flower visiting insects such as [[bees]], [[wasp]]s and [[butterflies]], slip into one of the five slits in each flower formed by adjacent [[anther]]s.  The bases of the pollinia then mechanically attach to the insect, pulling a pair of pollen sacs free when the pollinator flies off.  Pollination is effected by the reverse procedure in which one of the pollinia becomes trapped within the anther slit.
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''Asclepias'' species produce their [[seed]]s in [[Follicle (fruit)|follicles]]. The seeds, which are arranged if overlapping rows, have white silky filament-like hairs known as pappus, ''silk'', or ''floss''. The follicles ripen and split open and the seeds, each carried by several dried pappus, are blown by the wind.
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Milkweeds use three primary defenses to limit damage caused by [[caterpillar]]s: hairs on the leaves, cardenolid toxins, and [[latex]] fluids.  Data from a DNA study indicates that more recently evolved milkweed species utilize less of these preventative strategies, but grow faster than older species; potentially regrowing faster than  caterpillars can consume them.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ramanujan |first=Krishna |date=Winter 2008|title=Discoveries: Milkweed evolves to shrug off predation |journal=Northern Woodlands |volume=15 |issue=4 |page=56 |publisher=Center for Northern Woodlands Education |url= |accessdate= }}</ref>
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{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Asclepias (ancient Greek and Latinized name). Asclepiadaceae. Milkweed. Silkweed. Perennial milky-juiced herbs, sometimes used in the hardy border or wild garden.
 
Asclepias (ancient Greek and Latinized name). Asclepiadaceae. Milkweed. Silkweed. Perennial milky-juiced herbs, sometimes used in the hardy border or wild garden.
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The pollination of an asclepias fl. is shown in Fig. 398. The pollen-masses are usually twin (as at 6), and the handle or caudicle lies in a chink on the side of the stigma. The pollen-masses become attached to the legs or mouth parts of the insect, and are thereby transferred to another fl.—The milkweeds are common in waste places in N. Amer., and are rarely cult. About 80 species are known, mostly North American, but others in Cent, and S. Amer. and Afr. Several species (described below) have been offered by dealers in native plants. The butterfly-weed and some others are very showy and worthy of more general attention. The large-lvd. kinds are desirable when heavy foliage effects are wanted. They are all perennials of the easiest cult. Prop, by division, rarely by seeds.
 
The pollination of an asclepias fl. is shown in Fig. 398. The pollen-masses are usually twin (as at 6), and the handle or caudicle lies in a chink on the side of the stigma. The pollen-masses become attached to the legs or mouth parts of the insect, and are thereby transferred to another fl.—The milkweeds are common in waste places in N. Amer., and are rarely cult. About 80 species are known, mostly North American, but others in Cent, and S. Amer. and Afr. Several species (described below) have been offered by dealers in native plants. The butterfly-weed and some others are very showy and worthy of more general attention. The large-lvd. kinds are desirable when heavy foliage effects are wanted. They are all perennials of the easiest cult. Prop, by division, rarely by seeds.
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}}Describe the plant here...
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{{redirect|Milkweed}}
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==Cultivation==
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{{Taxobox
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| color = lightgreen
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| name = Milkweeds
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| image = Asclepias1810.JPG
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| image_width = 200px
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| image_caption = ''Asclepias tuberosa'' in bloom, showing [[pollinator]]s
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| regnum = [[Plantae]]
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Gentianales]]
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| familia = [[Apocynaceae]]
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| subfamilia = [[Asclepiadoideae]]
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| genus = '''''Asclepias'''''
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
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| subdivision =
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See text.
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}}
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'''''Asclepias''''' [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] (1753), the '''milkweeds''', is a [[genus]] of herbaceous [[perennial]], [[dicotyledon]]ous [[plant]]s  that contains over 140 known species. It used to belong to the [[family (biology)|family]] Asclepiadaceae, but this is now classified as a [[subfamily]] [[Asclepiadoideae]] of the dogbane family [[Apocynaceae]].
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Milkweeds are an important nectar source for [[bee]]s and other nectar seeking insects, and a larval food source for [[Monarch butterfly|monarch butterflies]] and their relatives, as well as a variety of other herbivorous insects (including numerous [[beetle]]s, [[moth]]s, and [[true bug]]s) specialized to feed on the plants despite their chemical defenses.  Milkweed is named for its milky juice, which contains [[alkaloids]], [[caoutchouc]], and several other complex compounds including [[cardenolide]]s. Some species are known to be [[toxic]].
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===Propagation===
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[[Carolus Linnaeus]] named the genus after [[Asclepius]], the Greek god of healing, because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants.
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[[Pollination]] in this genus is accomplished in an unusual manner, as the [[pollen]] is grouped into complex structures called [[pollinia]] (or &quot;pollen sacs&quot;), rather than being individual grains, as is typical for plant pollen. The flower petals are smooth and rigid, and the feet of visiting insects (predominantly large [[wasp]]s, such as [[spider wasp]]s, which visit the plants for nectar) slip into notches in the flowers, where the sticky bases of the pollinia attach to the feet, pulling the pollen sacs free when the pollinator flies off. [[Bee]]s, including [[Western honey bee|honey bees]] only gather nectar from milkweed flowers, and are generally not effective pollinators despite the frequency of visitation.
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===Pests and diseases===
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Species in the ''Asclepias'' genus grow their [[seed]]s in [[pod]]s. These seed pods contain soft filaments known as either ''silk'' or ''floss''. The filaments are attached to individual seeds. When the seed pod ripens, the seeds are blown by the wind, each carried by several filaments.
      
==Species==
 
==Species==
 
Some '''''Asclepias''''' species:
 
Some '''''Asclepias''''' species:
 
{| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;
 
{| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;
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| || ''[[Asclepias acida]]'' || Possibly used to create [[Soma]].
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| || ''[[Asclepias albicans]]'' || Whitestem milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
 
| || ''[[Asclepias amplexicaulis]]'' || Blunt-leaved milkweed
 
| || ''[[Asclepias amplexicaulis]]'' || Blunt-leaved milkweed
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| [[Image:Asclepias asperula - Antelope Horns.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias asperula]]'' || [[Asclepias asperula|Antelope horns]]
 
| [[Image:Asclepias asperula - Antelope Horns.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias asperula]]'' || [[Asclepias asperula|Antelope horns]]
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias curassavica crop.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias curassavica]]'' || Scarlet milkweed, Bloodroot, Bastard Ipecacuanha
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| [[Image:Asclepias sp. flowers (Marshal Hedin).jpg|120px]] || ''[[Asclepias californica]]'' || California milkweed
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|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias cordifolia.JPG|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias cordifolia]]'' || [[Asclepias cordifolia|Heart-leaf milkweed]]
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|-
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| || ''[[Asclepias cryptoceras]]'' || Pallid milkweed
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|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias curassavica crop.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias curassavica]]'' || Scarlet milkweed, Tropical milkweed, Bloodroot, Bloodflower, Bastard Ipecacuanha
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|-
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| || ''[[Asclepias eriocarpa]]'' || Woollypod milkweed
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|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias erosa 5.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Asclepias erosa]]'' || Desert milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias exaltata]]'' || Poke milkweed
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias exaltata]]'' || Poke milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Image:Asclepias fascicularis flowers 2003-06-05.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias fascicularis]]'' || Narrow leaf milkweed
 
| [[Image:Asclepias fascicularis flowers 2003-06-05.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias fascicularis]]'' || Narrow leaf milkweed
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|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias fruticosa fruits.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Asclepias fruticosa]]'' syn. ''Gomphocarpus fruticosus'' || swan plant, African milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
 
| || ''[[Asclepias humistrata]]'' || Sandhill milkweed
 
| || ''[[Asclepias humistrata]]'' || Sandhill milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Image:Ascelpias incarnata.jpg|120px]]||  ''[[Asclepias incarnata]]'' || [[Swamp Milkweed|Swamp milkweed]]
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| [[Image:Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Flowers Closeup 2800px.jpg|120px]]||  ''[[Asclepias incarnata]]'' || [[Swamp Milkweed|Swamp milkweed]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias lanceolata]]'' || Lanceolate milkweed
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias lanceolata]]'' || Lanceolate milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias linearis]]''
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias linaria]]'' || Pine needle milkweed
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|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias linearis]]'' || Slim milkweed
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|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias meadii]]'' || Mead's milkweed
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|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias nyctaginifolia.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias nyctaginifolia]]'' || Mojave milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias obovata]]''
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias obovata]]'' || Pineland milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Image:Gomphocarpus physocarpus 1.jpg|120px]]||  ''[[Asclepias physocarpa]]'' || Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush or swan plant
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| [[Image:Gomphocarpus physocarpus 1.jpg|120px]]||  ''[[Asclepias physocarpa]]'' || Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush, giant swan plant, testicle tree, bishop's balls or swan plant
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias purpurascens1.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias purpurascens]]'' || Purple milkweed
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| [[File:Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens Head.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias purpurascens]]'' || Purple milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias quadrifolia]]'' || Four-leaved milkweed
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias quadrifolia]]'' || Four-leaved milkweed
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias rubra]]'' || Red milkweed
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias rubra]]'' || Red milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias speciosa]]'' || Showy milkweed
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| [[File:Asclepiassolanoana.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias solanoana]]'' || Serpentine milkweed
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|-
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| [[Image:R27182818 milkweed img 0312.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias speciosa]]'' || Showy milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Image:Asclepias subulata flowers 2.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Asclepias subulata]]'' || Rush milkweed(Leafles
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| [[Image:Asclepias subulata flowers 2.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Asclepias subulata]]'' || Rush milkweed(Leafless milkweed)
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s milkweed)
   
|-
 
|-
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias sullivantii]]'' || Sullivant's milkweed
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias sullivantii]]'' || Sullivant's milkweed
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| [[Image:Common milkweed-tracy.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias syriaca]]'' || [[Common Milkweed|Common milkweed]]
 
| [[Image:Common milkweed-tracy.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias syriaca]]'' || [[Common Milkweed|Common milkweed]]
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Image:Butterfly Weed Entire Flower Head 2608px.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias tuberosa]]'' || [[Butterfly weed]], Pleurisy root
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| [[File:Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Umbel.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias tuberosa]]'' || [[Butterfly weed]], Pleurisy root
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias variegata]]'' || White milkweed
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias variegata]]'' || White milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias verticillata]]'' || Whorled milkweed
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| [[File:Asclepias verticillata.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias verticillata]]'' || Whorled milkweed
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|-
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| ||  ''[[Asclepias vestita]]'' || Woolly milkweed
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias vincetoxicum]]''
 
| ||  ''[[Asclepias vincetoxicum]]''
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|-
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| [[File:Asclepiasviridiflora.jpg|120px]] ||  ''[[Asclepias viridiflora]]'' ||
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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[[Image:Milkweed4043.JPG|thumb|200px|''Asclepias syriaca'' seed pods<br>[[Baldwinsville, New York]]]]
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==Gallery==
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[[Image:milkweed-in-seed2.jpg|thumb|200px|left| Seeds.]]
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==Uses==
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These milkweed filaments or ''floss'' are coated with [[wax]], and have good [[Thermal insulation|insulation]] qualities. Tests have shown them to be superior to [[down feathers]] for insulation. During [[World War II]], over 11 million [[pound (mass)|pounds]] (5000 t) of milkweed floss were collected in the [[United States]] as a substitute for [[kapok]].
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In the past, the high dextrose content of the nectar led to milkweed's use as a source of sweetener for [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] and [[Coureur des bois | voyageur]]s.
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The [[bast (biology)|bast]] fibers of some species were also used for cordage.
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Milkweed latex contains about 1 to 2% [[caoutchouc]], and was attempted as a natural source for rubber by both [[Germany]] and the United States during World War II. No record has been found of large-scale success.
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Milkweed is a common folk remedy used for removing [[wart]]s.  Milkweed sap is applied directly to the wart several times daily until the wart falls off.  [[Dandelion]] sap is often used in the same manner.
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Milkweed is [[beneficial weed|beneficial]] to nearby plants, repelling some pests, especially [[wireworm]]s.
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Milkweed also contains cardiac glycoside poisons which inhibit animal cells from maintaining a proper K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>+</sup> concentration gradient. As a result many natives of South America and Africa used arrows poisoned with these glycosides to fight and hunt more effectively.
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==See also==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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* [[List of beneficial weeds]]
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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* [[List of companion plants]]
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
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== External links ==
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==References==
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* [http://www.terapeta.net/asclepias.pdf Medical research]
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<references/>
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* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-428.html Milkweed test-cultivated for the insulation value of floss]
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Asclepias_syriaca.html Milkweed in ''Handbook of Energy Crops'']
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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* [http://www.wiu.edu/AltCrops/milkweed.htm Common milkweed production research at Western Illinois University]
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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*[http://herbarium.uvsc.edu/Virtual/search.asp?s=genus&p=1&n=1386&t=Asclepias UVSC Herbarium - Asclepias]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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{{commonscat|Apocynaceae}}
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
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[[Category:Apocynaceae]]
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{{stub}}
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