Asclepias linaria
Cav.
Pine-needle milkweed
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Juan Carlos López Domínguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Juan Carlos López Domínguez
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Luis Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Luis Rodriguez
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Juan Carlos López Domínguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Juan Carlos López Domínguez
Summary
Source: WikipediaAsclepias linaria is a species of milkweed known by the common name pineneedle milkweed. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of Northwestern Mexico and Arizona. This is a large erect perennial herb or shrub coated in hairs and many narrow, green leaves which resemble pine needles. The inflorescence is an umbel-like cluster of flowers, each with pink-tinted rounded hoods at the center and greenish reflexed corollas. The fruit is a follicle. Asclepias linaria is a larval host for the monarch butterfly. Research indicates that the very high cardenolide content of this species reduces the impact of the OE parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, on the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. By contrast, some species of Asclepias are extremely poor sources of cardenolides.
Description
A small shrub. It grows 60-150 cm tall. The stems have narrow needle-like leaves. They are 2-5 cm long. The flowers are in mall clusters at the tip of the stems. The fruit are tear-shaped follicles. The seeds are white.
Known Hazards
The plant is poisonous.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It can grow in deserts.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
Cultivation
Plants are grown by seeds.
Synonyms
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
