Over the course of this spring and summer however, I have become more familiar with all things milkweed. I documented four types and was feeling pretty pleased about it all, that is until I read that there are over 100 types in North America. At least they are not all in our little corner of Ontario, but I guess I will have to keep looking.
Common milkweed is well known as a primary host of the Monarch butterfly. The flower cluster is globe-shaped and the pale pink flowers are uniquely shaped with five "hoods" on the top and petals which bend backward. Hopefully you will see a monarch caterpillar on its leaves indicating a regrowth of our Monarch population.
Another frequent visitor is the milkweed tussock moth. The caterpillar sports colours predicting an unpleasant eating experience should you decide to put "Cousin It" on the menu. Oddly this flamboyant leaf-eating fellow becomes an unremarkable brown moth.
The Tetraopes tetrophthalmus, which basically means four eyes, four eyes, is more commonly known as the Red Milkweed Longhorn beetle. Common milkweed is its favorite entree which is not such a good thing for the milkweed population.
I looked for a term to describe the flower of the Swamp milkweed, and came up with "umbel". When I looked that up I got "inflorescence", which was defined as "a flower cluster". You know what I'm thinking!! Further scholarly pursuit determined that in this particular cluster all the flower stalks originate at a single point. So, apparently the Common milkweed is also an umbel, but spherical, and the Swamp milkweed is an umbel that resembles an umbrella blown inside out by the wind.
The species name is incarnata which means "flesh-coloured" but must refer to either fresh-cheeked milkmaids or the apoplectic. I think it sounds more "pious" which is borne out by its upraised leaves and "upright" seedpods. My opinion only.
The genus name for milkweeds is Asclepias based on Asklepios who was the Greek god of medicine. As the sap or latex of most of these plants is toxic, this is puzzling, so I consulted my Royal Botanical Society tome on herbs. The only type that made its pages is the Orange or Butterfly milkweed, which they also called pleurisy root. The only medicinal part of the plant is the tuberous root which can be taken internally for all lung related maladies, and externally for wounds and rheumatism.
Lastly we come to the Green milkweed, which does not even get a mention in my favorite plant guide. An interpretive sign beside the path denotes that the hillside is a Brant Prairie and among the wonders to be seen is the Green Milkweed. I have long felt this to be misleading advertising, but this spring, right beside the gravel path was an unassuming little plant which turned out to be the plant in question.
This modest milkweed is quite particular about where it sends down its roots and this sunny spot on the path is it. This sighting was indeed serendipitous, in my book anyway.
In flower genealogy, the milkweed is a member of the Dogbane Family. Other members are Indian Hemp and Spreading Dogbane, but also interestingly, the Dog-strangling Vine or Vincetoxicum rossicum. Sounds like a family member that you should leave off the guest list for the family reunion. Some bright soul brought a speciman from Russia , thus "rossicum", and introduced this vine to North America as an ornamental, and where it is now however, an invasive species.
Possibly the reason it is grouped with milkweed is the similar seed pods. All those wing-ed seeds wafting around to plant new vines that will strangle plants and dogs. I'm not actually sure about the dog part.
Thus endeth today's musings.
"Who could believe in prophecies of Daniel... that the world would end this summer, while one milkweed with faith matured its seeds?”
Henry David Thoreau
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