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Apocynaceae FAMILY

Asclepias ovalifolia

Asclepias ovalifolia

Edibility
1/5
Medicinal
1/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. They are only toxic if eaten in large quantities, causing vomiting, stupor, weakness and spasma[ 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. , 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ]. The plants are usually avoided by grazing animals[ 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. ].

Botanical Description

Asclepias ovalifolia is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of usually unbranched stems 100 - 200cm tall[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. (10 - 30cm tall in another report[ 908 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 41 Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis. Year 1954 ISBN Description A botanical publication, it contains an article on the genus Tachigali. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Like most, if not all Asclepias species, the plants are likely to have been utilized for foods and other materials by the native North American tribes. See Asclepias syriaca for some idea of these potential uses[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate
Native RangeCentral N. America - Saskatchewan to Manitoba, south to South Dakota and Illinois
HabitatSandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands[ 228 Title Flora of the Great Plains. Publication Author McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Publisher University Press of Kansas. Year 1986 ISBN 070060295x Description A useful source of habitats. ]. Sandy prairies and open woods, gravelly knolls, spreading to railways[ 908 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 41 Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis. Year 1954 ISBN Description A botanical publication, it contains an article on the genus Tachigali. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].