Asclepias amplexicaulis J.E. Smith. Common name: Clasping Milkweed, Sand Milkweed. Phenology: Mar-Sep; (Apr-) May-Sep. Habitat: Longleaf pine sandhills, barrens, sandy prairies, other dry woodlands of various types. Distribution: NH and NY west to MN, IA, and KS, south to c. peninsular. FL, west to e. TX.
ID notes: The flowers have a fragrance of cloves and roses.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl5, FNA14, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Ok, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Woodson (1954). Basionym: Asclepias amplexicaulis Sm. 1797
Links to other floras: = Asclepias amplexicaulis - FNA14
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of sandhills and other dry woodlands.
Stems: Stems stout, usually unbranched, smooth with a white-waxy coating; leaks milky sap when bruised.
Leaves: Leaves opposite (2-6 pairs), sessile and clasping, oblong or widely oval to elliptic, 3-5 in. long, with a pink midrib, wavy-margined, smooth and with a white-waxy coating.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers (15-80) in a rounded, terminal umbel; smoky purple, about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed pinkish-green corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding a complex structure of fused anthers and style.
Fruits: Fruit an erect, spindle-shaped pod containing many tufted brown seeds.
Comments:
Height: 2-3 ft.
plant sale text: The flower clusters of the clasping, or sand milkweed are like those Styrofoam atomic model kits you might have put together for a school science project. Each pinkish purple tubular crown juts out from the reflexed green petals, all sit in a spherical orbit about a central point at the top of the stem. The large leaves are wavy with a pink midrib and clasp the stem. The fruit is a 4" long pod that will dry on the stem to release the tufted windblown seeds. This plant inhabits open woods, enjoys a sunny location with sandy, freely draining soil.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of sandhills and other dry woodlands.
stems: Stems stout, usually unbranched, smooth with a white-waxy coating; leaks milky sap when bruised.
leaves: Leaves opposite (2-6 pairs), sessile and clasping, oblong or widely oval to elliptic, 3-5 in. long, with a pink midrib, wavy-margined, smooth and with a white-waxy coating.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers (15-80) in a rounded, terminal umbel; smoky purple, about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed pinkish-green corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding a complex structure of fused anthers and style.
fruits: Fruit an erect, spindle-shaped pod containing many tufted brown seeds.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern United States
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