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Apocynaceae
Asclepias

not marked as a favorite taxon Asclepias quadrifolia Jacquin. Common name: Fourleaf Milkweed, Whorled Milkweed. Phenology: (Mar-) Apr-Aug (-Sep); May-Nov. Habitat: Moist to dryish forests and forest margins, most common on mafic and calcareous substrates. Distribution: NH and NY west to IN, south to NC, n. GA, n. AL, and c. TN; also from w. IL west to MO, south to AR and OK.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, FNA14, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo2, NE, NY, Ok, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, Woodson (1954). Basionym: Asclepias quadrifolia Jacq. 1767

Links to other floras: = Asclepias quadrifolia - FNA14

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Heliophily ⓘ: 3

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image #1 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Asclepias quadrifolia© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of moist to dryish forests and forest margins, most common on mafic and calcareous substrates.

Stems: Stems solitary, slender, unbranched, typically with only 3 leaf-bearing nodes and hairy in lines between nodes; leaks milky sap when bruised.

Leaves: Leaves opposite above and below and in a whorl of 4 at the middle node, petiolate, oval or lance-shaped, to 5 in. long, thin-textured, sparingly hairy on veins beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in a small, domed terminal umbel and often several upper axillary umbels; pale pink to greenish (rarely white), about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 spreading or reflexed 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 a smooth, narrow, erect follicle containing tufted seeds.

Comments:

Height: 8-20 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of moist to dryish forests and forest margins, most common on mafic and calcareous substrates.

stems: Stems solitary, slender, unbranched, typically with only 3 leaf-bearing nodes and hairy in lines between nodes; leaks milky sap when bruised.

leaves: Leaves opposite above and below and in a whorl of 4 at the middle node, petiolate, oval or lance-shaped, to 5 in. long, thin-textured, sparingly hairy on veins beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in a small, domed terminal umbel and often several upper axillary umbels; pale pink to greenish (rarely white), about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 spreading or reflexed 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 a smooth, narrow, erect follicle containing tufted seeds.

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