Asclepias cordifolia
Asclepias cordifolia
Asclepias cordifolia, rarely also called Nodding Pincushion silk flower, is a plant of the genus milkweed ( Asclepias ) from the subfamily of milkweed plants ( Asclepiadoideae ).
- 5.1 Literature
- 5.2 Notes and references
Description
Appearance and foliage leaf
Asclepias cordifolia grows as a perennial, herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth from 20 to 80 cm. The stiff, simple stems are often laterally slightly flattened, bluish- green and hairless.
The opposite, rarely in threes quirky, stems arranged leaves are sessile, so sitting. The festhäutige or slightly succulent leaf blade is ovate with a broad heart-shaped Spreitenbasis which encloses the stem and a sharpened or rather blunt end.
Inflorescence and flower
The flowering period extends from April to June. At the top node ( the shape of nodes ) of the stem and the terminally doldigen inflorescences are formed; they are repeated to many flowered and bare. The solid inflorescence stem is up to 7 cm long or missing. The filiform peduncle is 2-4 cm long.
The relatively small, hermaphrodite, radial symmetry, five petals are purple or violet. The five sepals are ovate - lanceolate, about 3 mm long and bare. The five petals are bent far back. The Kronblattzipfel 6 to 8 mm long. The white to pale pink Gynostegium sitting on a short, wide, tapered, approximately 1.5 mm high handle, which has a diameter of 2.5 mm. The staminal corona lobes are sac- shaped, about 3 mm long, but trimmed with distinct lateral auricles ( ears ). Interstaminale Nebenkrone corner missing.
Fruit and seeds
The upright to the upright or downwardly curved stems bare follicles are slender spindle shaped with a length of 7 to 12 cm and a diameter of 1.5 to 2 cm. The seeds are long broad ovoid, with a length of about 8 mm and have a 3 to 3.5 cm long, white hair.
Ecology
Asclepias cordifolia is an important food plant for the caterpillars of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
Occurrence
Asclepias cordifolia is in the United States in the states of California, Nevada and Oregon. It grows at the foot of slopes, on rocky slopes, in mountain forests and chaparral.
System
The first description of this kind took place in 1849 under the name Acerates cordifolia by George Bentham in Plantas Mexicanas Hartwegianas Imprimis, p 323 It was in 1901 under the name Asclepias cordifolia by Willis Linn Jepson, A Flora of Western Middle California, p 384 in the genus Asclepias provided. Other synonyms for Asclepias cordifolia ( Benth. ) Jeps. are: Acerates atropurpurea Kellogg, Asclepias acornuta Kellogg, Gomphocarpus cordifolius ( Benth. ) Benth. ex A. Gray.