Fontem paginae Asclepias inspicere

{{Titulus italicus}}
{{taxobox
|name = ''Asclepias''
|image = Asclepiascommon.JPG
|image_caption = ''Asclepias syriaca,'' latice floribusque monstratis
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiospermae]]
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicotyledones]]
|unranked_ordo = [[Asteridae]]
|ordo = [[Gentianales]]
|familia = [[Apocynaceae]]
|subfamilia = [[Asclepiadoideae]]
|genus = '''''Asclepias'''''
|genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
|type_species = ''[[Asclepias syriaca]]'' L.
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision = Vide commentarium.
|}}

'''''Asclepias''''' [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] (1753) est [[genus (taxinomia)|genus]] [[planta]]rum herbacearum [[planta perennis|perennium]] [[dicotyledon]]um quod plus quam 140 [[species (taxinomia)|species]] notas includit. Ea in [[familia (taxinomia)|familia]] [[Asclepiadaceae|Asclepiadacearum]] olim fuit, sed illa familia nunc describitur [[subfamilia]] [[Asclepiadoideae|Asclepiadoidearum]] familiae [[Apocynaceae|Apocynacearum]].<!--

Milkweeds are an important nectar source for [[bee]]s and other nectar seeking insects, and a larval food source for [[Monarch butterfly|monarch butterflies]] and their relatives, as well as a variety of other herbivorous insects (including numerous [[beetle]]s, [[moth]]s, and [[true bug]]s) specialized to feed on the plants despite their chemical defenses.  Milkweed is named for its milky juice, which contains [[alkaloids]], [[latex]], and several other complex compounds including [[cardenolide]]s. Some species are known to be [[toxic]].

[[Carolus Linnaeus]] named the genus after [[Asclepius]], the Greek god of healing, because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants.

[[Pollination]] in this genus is accomplished in an unusual manner, as the [[pollen]] is grouped into complex structures called [[pollinia]] (or "pollen sacs"), rather than being individual grains or tetrads, as is typical for most plants. The feet or mouthparts of flower visiting insects such as [[bees]], [[wasp]]s and [[butterflies]], slip into one of the five slits in each flower formed by adjacent [[anther]]s.  The bases of the pollinia then mechanically attach to the insect, pulling a pair of pollen sacs free when the pollinator flies off.  Pollination is effected by the reverse procedure in which one of the pollinia becomes trapped within the anther slit.

Species in the ''Asclepias'' genus grow their [[seed]]s in [[Follicle (fruit)|follicles]]. These follicles contain soft filaments known as either ''silk'' or ''floss''. The filaments are attached to individual seeds. When the follicle ripens, the seeds are blown by the wind, each carried by several filaments.

Milkweeds use three primary defenses to limit damage caused by [[caterpillar]]s: hairs on the leaves, cardenolid toxins, and [[latex]] fluids.  Data from a DNA study indicates that more recently evolved milkweed species utilize less of these preventative strategies, but grow faster than older species; potentially regrowing faster than  caterpillars can consume them.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ramanujan |first=Krishna |date=Winter 2008|title=Discoveries: Milkweed evolves to shrug off predation |journal=Northern Woodlands |volume=15 |issue=4 |page=56 |publisher=Center for Northern Woodlands Education |url= |accessdate= }}</ref> -->

== Species ==
Nonnullae Asclepiadum species, cum nominibus [[Lingua Anglica|Anglicis]]:
{| class="wikitable"
| || ''[[Asclepias albicans]]'' || whitestem milkweed
|-
| || ''[[Asclepias amplexicaulis]]'' || blunt-leaved milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias asperula - Antelope Horns.jpg|120px|Ascleipas asperula]] ||  ''[[Asclepias asperula]]'' || [[Asclepias asperula|antelope horns]]
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias sp. flowers (Marshal Hedin).jpg|120px|Asclepias californica]] || ''[[Asclepias californica]]'' || California milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias cordifolia.JPG|120px|Asclepias cordifolia]] ||  ''[[Asclepias cordifolia]]'' || [[Asclepias cordifolia|heart-leaf milkweed]]
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepiascryptoceras.jpg|120px|Asclepias cryptoceras]]
|| ''[[Asclepias cryptoceras]]'' || pallid milkweed 
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias curassavica crop.jpg|120px|Asclepias curassavica]] ||  ''[[Asclepias curassavica]]'' || scarlet milkweed, tropical milkweed, bloodroot, bloodflower, bastard ipecacuanha
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepiaseriocarpa.jpg|120px|Asclepias eriocarpa]] || ''[[Asclepias eriocarpa]]'' || woollypod milkweed 
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias erosa 5.jpg|120px|Asclepias erosa]] || ''[[Asclepias erosa]]'' || desert milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias exaltata]]'' || poke milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias fascicularis flowers 2003-06-05.jpg|120px|Asclepias fascicularis]] ||  ''[[Asclepias fascicularis]]'' || narrow-leaf milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias fruticosa fruits.jpg|120px|Asclepias fruticosa]] || ''[[Asclepias fruticosa]]'' syn. ''Gomphocarpus fruticosus'' || swan plant, African milkweed
|-
| || ''[[Asclepias humistrata]]'' || sandhill milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Flowers Closeup 2800px.jpg|120px|Asclepias incarnata]]||  ''[[Asclepias incarnata]]'' || swamp milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias lanceolata]]'' || lanceolate milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias linaria2.jpg|120px|Asclepias liniaria]]||  ''[[Asclepias linaria]]'' || pine-needle milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias linearis]]'' || slim milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepiasmeadii.jpg|120px|Asclepias meadii]]||  ''[[Asclepias meadii]]'' || Mead's milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias nyctaginifolia.jpg|120px|Asclepias nyctaginifolia]] ||  ''[[Asclepias nyctaginifolia]]'' || Mojave milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias obovata]]'' || pineland milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Gomphocarpus physocarpus 1.jpg|120px|Asclepias physocarpa]]||  ''[[Asclepias physocarpa]]'' || balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush, giant swan plant, testicle tree, bishop's balls, or swan plant
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens Head.jpg|120px|Asclepias purpurascens]] ||  ''[[Asclepias purpurascens]]'' || purple milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias quadrifolia]]'' || four-leaved milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias rubra]]'' || red milkweed
|-
|  ||  ''[[Asclepias solanoana]]'' || serpentine milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:R27182818 milkweed img 0312.jpg|120px|Asclepias speciosa]] ||  ''[[Asclepias speciosa]]'' || showy milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias subulata flowers 2.jpg|120px|Asclepias subulata]] || ''[[Asclepias subulata]]'' || rush milkweed, leafless milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias sullivantii]]'' || Sullivant's milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Common milkweed-tracy.jpg|120px|Asclepias syriaca]] ||  ''[[Asclepias syriaca]]'' || common milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Umbel.jpg|120px|Asclepias tuberosa]] ||  ''[[Asclepias tuberosa]]'' || butterfly weed, pleurisy root
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias variegata]]'' || white milkweed
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias verticillata (3197723098).jpg|120px|Asclepias verticillata]] ||  ''[[Asclepias verticillata]]'' || whorled milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias vestita]]'' || woolly milkweed
|-
| ||  ''[[Asclepias vincetoxicum]]''
|-
| [[Fasciculus:Asclepias viridiflora NPS-1.jpg|120px|Asclepias viridiflora]] || ''[[Asclepias viridiflora]]'' ||
|-
|}

== Usus ==
[[Fasciculus:Milkweed4043.JPG|thumb|200px|Legumina ''Asclepiadis syriacae'' (apud [[Baldwinsvillia]]m [[Novum Eboracum|Novi Eboraci]])]]<!--

The milkweed filaments from the follicles are coated with [[wax]], and have good [[Thermal insulation|insulation]] qualities. Tests have shown them to be superior to [[down feathers]] for insulation. During [[World War II]], over 11 million [[pound (mass)|pounds]] (5000 t) of milkweed floss were collected in the [[United States]] as a substitute for [[kapok]]. 

[[Fasciculus:milkweed-in-seed2.jpg|thumb|200px|left| Seeds.]]

In the past, the high dextrose content of the nectar led to milkweed's use as a source of sweetener for [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] and [[Coureur des bois|voyageur]]s.

The [[bast fiber]]s of some species were also used for [[cordage]].

Milkweed latex contains about 1 to 2% [[caoutchouc]], and was attempted as a natural source for rubber by both [[Germany]] and the United States during World War II. No record has been found of large-scale success.

Milkweed is a common folk remedy used for removing [[wart]]s.  Milkweed sap is applied directly to the wart several times daily until the wart falls off.  [[Dandelion]] sap is often used in the same manner.

Milkweed is [[beneficial weed|beneficial]] to nearby plants, repelling some pests, especially [[wireworm]]s.

Milkweed also contains cardiac glycoside poisons which inhibit animal cells from maintaining a proper K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>+</sup> concentration gradient. As a result many natives of South America and Africa used arrows poisoned with these glycosides to fight and hunt more effectively. Milkweed is toxic and may cause death when animals consume 1/10 its body weight in any part of the plant. Milkweed also causes mild [[dermatitis]] in some who come in contact with it.

Milkweed sap is also externally used as a natural remedy for Poison Ivy.

Being the sole food source of [[Monarch Butterfly]] larva, the plant is often used in [[Butterfly gardening]]. -->

{{NexInt}}
* [[Index utilium herbarum inutilium]]<!--List of beneficial weeds = oxymoron, sed sic in en:!-->
* [[Index plantarum adfabilium]]<!--List of companion plants-->

== Bibliographia ==
* Everitt, J. H., R. L. Lonard, et C. R. Little. [[2007]]. ''Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico.'' Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2.

== Nexus externi ==
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Asclepias_syriaca.html ''Asclepias'' in ''Handbook of Energy Crops,''] apud situm hort.purdue.edu
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120420181550/http://www.terapeta.net/asclepias.pdf Investigationes medicae,] apud situm terapeta.net
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-428.html "Milkweed test-cultivated for the insulation value of floss,"] apud situm hort.purdue.edu
* [http://www.wiu.edu/AltCrops/milkweed.htm "Common milkweed production research at Western Illinois University,"] apud situm wiu.edu
* [http://herbarium.uvsc.edu/Virtual/search.asp?s=genus&p=1&n=1386&t=Asclepias UVSC Herbarium: Asclepias,] apud situm herbarium.uvsc.edu
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090908161126/http://www.butterflyencounters.com/milkweedphotos/ Pinacotheca Asclepiadum,] apud situm butterflyencounters.com

{{gentianales-stipula}}

[[Categoria:Asclepias| ]]
[[Categoria:Taxa Linnaei]]
[[Categoria:Genera plantarum]]

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