Asclepias albicans
Asclepias albicans
Asclepias albicans is a species of the genus milkweed ( Asclepias ) from the subfamily of milkweed plants ( Asclepiadoideae ).
- 5.1 Literature
- 5.2 Notes and references
Features
Vegetative characteristics
Asclepias albicans is a saving -engined, one to three meters high, in exceptional cases. Well as up to four meters tall shrub with slender, simple or repeated branching, woody stem axis These are covered with a whitish film of thin flaky wax. Only very young shoots bear leaves that are arranged opposite or in groups of three leaves. The leaf blades are linear - filiform, 1-3 cm long and less than 1 mm wide. You already fall off before flowering.
Inflorescence and flowers
The many-flowered inflorescences are terminal and spring side of the uppermost nodes present. They are stalked, the stalks are hairy 1 to 3 cm long and fine fluffy. The fivefold hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic, and have a double perianth. The flower stalk is 1-2 cm long and hairy also fine fluffy. The bloom is rather unimpressive with ovoid, about 3 mm long sepals, which are densely covered with fine woolly hairs. The corolla has wheel-shaped, recurved, 6-7 mm long, pale yellow, greenish or slightly pink Kronblattzipfel. The greenish- cream-colored or white, rarely slightly rose-colored corona is short-stalked, the stem is narrow verkehrtkonisch, about 1.5 mm long and 2 mm wide. The tip of the staminal corona are saccular, in outline oblong- rectangular, 2-3 mm long, 1.6 to 2.4 mm wide and deeply incised at the upper end. They are about 1 mm shorter than the Gynostegium. In contrast, the horn-shaped secondary extension projects beyond the tip about 2 mm and is adherent to the corners. The free end projects beyond the Gynostegium also, however, is only slightly curved inwards. The stylus head is tapered with a flattened top about 2 mm long and 3.5 mm wide.
Fruit and seeds
Hanging follicles are small spindle-shaped, beaked long and 9 to 13 cm long with a diameter of 1 cm. They are smooth, very finely pubescent when young, later balding. The seed is ovoid, 6 mm long and provided with a pale brown head of hair of about 2 cm in length.
Similar Species
The species is related to Asclepias masonii and Asclepias subaphylla.
Geographical distribution and ecology
The range of the species is restricted to dry, desert -like regions in Southern California, Arizona and Baja California. It grows on sun-exposed, rocky slopes, cliffs, on granitic soils in 150 to 750 m (200 to 1100 m) above sea level. The flower is from March to June.
Taxonomy and systematics
The taxon was first classified by Sereno Watson, 1889. The Plant List accepted as a valid taxon Art
Medical importance
In folk medicine, Native American tribes in northern Mexico, a tea made from the roots of Asclepias albicans is used against intestinal parasites. The Seri tribe used the tea for headaches.