Kingdom Plantae Family Apocynaceae Genus Asclepias Higher classification Milkweed | Order Gentianales Subfamily Asclepiadoideae Scientific name Asclepias asperula Rank Species | |
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Similar Milkweed, Asclepias viridis, Asclepias subverticillata, Asclepias erosa, Asclepias speciosa | ||
Medicinal minute antelope horns or inmortal asclepias asperula
Asclepias asperula is a species of milkweed native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its common names include antelope horns, green-flowered milkweed, and spider antelope horns.
Contents
- Medicinal minute antelope horns or inmortal asclepias asperula
- Description
- Monarch butterflies
- References
Description
It is a perennial plant growing to 0.6–2 m (1–2 feet) tall, with clustered greenish-yellow flowers with maroon highlights. It blooms from April through June, and favors moist, sandy or rocky soil.
Monarch butterflies
Like several other species of milkweed, A. asperula is a food for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Along with being a source of nutrition for monarchs, the plants also contain toxic cardiac glycosides (Cardenolides) that the monarchs retain, making them unpalatable and poisonous to predators. For the same reason, A. asperula can be poisonous to livestock and other animals, including humans.
