Asclepias eriocarpa
Asclepias eriocarpa
Asclepias eriocarpa is a species of the genus milkweed ( Asclepias ) in the subfamily of the milkweed family ( Asclepiadoideae ) within the family of the dogbane family ( Apocynaceae ).
- 4.1 Literature
- 4.2 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Asclepias eriocarpa grows as a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the plant height of 40 to 100 cm. The simple, rarely verzweigeten stems have a surface that is densely hairy white in the upper parts and increasingly glabrous in the lower parts.
The opposite or irregularly alternate on the stem arranged leaves are short stalked ( stems 0.5 to 1 cm long). The thin but strong leaf blade is at a length of 8 to 20 cm and a width of 3 to 8 cm oblong to ovate with a rounded, blunt or even flat - heart-shaped Spreitenbasis and a pointed or truncated end. The upper leaf surface is densely hairy white and the lower leaf surface is usually somewhat hairy weaker. They are often bent at the midrib to the top. The leaf margins are often wavy.
Generative features
The flowering period extends from June to August. The inflorescence is formed at the side of one of the top nodes present. The densely white hairy inflorescence stem is from 1 to 10 cm would be better described as a long. The moderately large flowers are hermaphroditic, radial symmetry and fünfzählig. The five sepals are hairy ovate lanceolate and finely with a length of 4 to 5 mm. The greenish to yellowish- cream colored, sometimes roséfarben plated corolla is wheel-shaped and folded the edges outwards. The crown tip are 7-9 mm long. The short gestiele Gynostegium is cream colored, often with a slight rose tint. The stem is about 1 mm long and 2 mm wide. The corona lobes are very broad - ovate with a length of 3 to 4 mm. The horn-shaped secondary extension is above all the way to tight and wide crescent-shaped and slightly longer than the staminal corona lobes. The stylus head is conical, cut off the top and about 3 mm long and about 4 mm wide.
The upright on still upturned stems follicles are at a length of 5-9 cm and a width of 2 to 3 cm wide spindle -shaped and somewhat pointed above. Its surface is smooth and finely hairy, white. The width at a 8-9 mm wide, ovoid seeds have a 1.5 to 3 mm long, light brown hair.
Occurrence
Asclepias eriocarpa occurs only in the U.S. states of California and Nevada, and the Mexican state of Baja California. It grows on rocky, dry soils, often along roadsides and other Human-influenced areas. It grows at altitudes of over 1900 meters 200.
Toxicity
Asclepias eriocarpa is like most species of the genus Asclepias toxic. Normally grazing animals avoid these plants. However, the toxicity of the individual species is quite different. Asclepias eriocarpa is relatively very toxic. In animal experiments it was found that even 0.05 % to 0.25 % of the animal weight in Asclepias eriocarpa plant material sufficient to kill a sheep.