Scientific Name: Asclepias hirtella (hirtellous = short haired)
Common Name: Tall Green Milkweed, Prairie milkweed
Origin: NATIVE
Notes: Asclepias hirtella [tall green milkweed] is one of the four narrow leaved milkweeds that have been reported in Iowa. The other three are Asclepias viridiflora [short leaved milkweed], Asclepias verticillata [whorled milkweed] and Asclepias stenophylla (Narrow-leaved Milkweed).
Additional references:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Field Marks for Identification:
The plants produce a white sap (latex) and stand about 3 feet high.Typically several spherical inflorescences occur along an upright unbranched stem. Each of the inflorescences is a rather dense umbel of flowers. Infrequently, an infertile umbel or individual flower is produced.
Flowers: Two convenient identification features are available from the floral structure. The hoods are noticeably shorter than the gynostegium and the hoods lack horns.
Leaves: The leaves are mostly alternate and sessile or short petiolate .
Glossaries of botanical terms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
