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Apocynaceae FAMILY

Asclepias syriaca

Asclepias syriaca

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
2/5

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 syriaca is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant producing a dense cluster of usually unbranched, stout stems 100 - 200cm tall from a rather deep, spreading root system. The plant can form extensive colonies in the wild[ 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. , 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. , 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. ]. This plant has a very wide range of uses and merits attention as a food, fibre and rubber crop[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ]. It was possibly cultivated at one time by the native North Americans for its many uses[ 159 Title Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Publication Author McPherson. A. and S. Publisher Indiana University Press Year 1977 ISBN 0-253-28925-4 Description A nice pocket guide to this region of America. ]. It is considered by some to be the greatest underachiever among plants. Its potential appears great, yet until now it has never been continuously processed for commercial purposes[ 269 Title Handbook of Energy Crops Publication Author Duke. J. Website https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/dukeindex.html Publisher - Year 1983 ISBN - Description Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants. ]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental, its seedpods are valued for dried flower arrangments[ 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]..

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate
Native RangeEastern N. America - Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south to Utah, Texas and Georgia
HabitatThickets, roadsides, dry fields and waste places[ 21 Title The Herb Book. Publication Author Lust. J. Publisher Bantam books Year 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2 Description Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book. , 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Prairies and alluvial bottoms, spreading to meadows, fields, roadsides, and 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. ].