XAsclepias viridis - Green AntelopehornsX
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Green Antelopehorns -or- Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis), family was Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) but is now reclassed into family Apocynaceae (Dogbane)
Thank you, AMY JO JONES, for sharing your images of Green Antelopehorns. This distinctive plant is a perennial forb/herb that is endangered in Indiana. Like many members of the milkweed family the species is somewhat toxic. Per Wildflowers.org is this: 'All plants in the genus Asclepias are probably somewhat toxic, some fatally so, to both humans and animals. The sap of some causes skin irritation in humans. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person's age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant's different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.' End quote. A positive benefit of this species is that it is an attractor of butterflies and so can be a valuable addition to yard garden - as long as the toxic nature of the plant is known. Some species in the milkweed family are the sole food of Monarch butterflies. It also is said to have a pleasant fragrance and is reasonably drought resistant.
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Plant location: Sighted by Amy Jo Jones on May 24, 2009 near a lake in Stillwater Oklahoma. Green Milkweed can be found growing in rich or poor soils and blooms off and on over the growing season through the end of summer. It wants full sun.Plant -
Bloom season: Long flowering season of April through September. See our photos of Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) here. WIKIPEDIA also has some very fine images of other Asclepias species here. There are about 140 members in the genus.Foliage -
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