Difference between revisions of "Asclepias variegata"

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==Ecology==
 
==Ecology==
 
===Habitat===<!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->  
 
===Habitat===<!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->  
''Asclepias variegata'' is found in upland pine-oak forests and woodlands (Weakley 2015), and  in mesic hammocks (Wunderlin and Hansen 2011). Additionally, it occurs on bluffs and slopes, burned pinelands, and annually burned savannas (FSU Herbarium). It prefers higher light levels, growing mainly in sunny to semi-shaded environments, and is usually found in drying loamy sand or moist sandy loam (FSU Herbarium). It also appears in disturbed habitat such as park trails and the borders of clear-cuts (FSU Herbarium).
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''Asclepias variegata'' is found in upland pine-oak forests and woodlands<ref name="weakley">Weakley, Alan S. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States: Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU). PDF. 933.</ref>, and  in mesic hammocks<ref name="wunderlin">Wunderlin, Richard P. and Bruce F. Hansen. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. Third edition. 2011. University Press of Florida: Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton/Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers. 271. Print.</ref>. Additionally, it occurs on bluffs and slopes, burned pinelands, and annually burned savannas. It prefers higher light levels, growing mainly in sunny to semi-shaded environments, and is usually found in drying loamy sand or moist sandy loam. It also appears in disturbed habitat such as park trails and the borders of clear-cuts<ref name="fsu">Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Robert K. Godfrey, H. Kurz, K. Craddock Burks, James R. Burkhalter, L G Plank, Gary R. Knight, Andre F. Clewell, R. Kral, Richard S. Mitchell, Lisa Keppner, Ed Keppner, D.C. Hunt, R. Komarek, Wilson Baker, and R. F. Doren. States and Counties: Florida: Leon, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Jackson, Gadsden, Liberty, Jefferson, Wakulla, Walton, and Bay. Georgia: Grady and Thomas.</ref>.
  
Associated species include pine, oak, hickory, magnolia, maple, sweet gum, juniper, ''Rubus brambles, Vaccinium, Chionanthus'' and others (FSU Herbarium).
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Associated species include pine, oak, hickory, magnolia, maple, sweet gum, juniper, ''Rubus brambles, Vaccinium, Chionanthus'' and others<ref name="fsu"/>.
  
 
===Phenology===<!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->  
 
===Phenology===<!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->  

Revision as of 13:40, 30 March 2016

Asclepias variegata
Asclepias variegata Gil.jpg
photo by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order: Gentianales
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Genus: Asclepias
Species: A. variegata
Binomial name
Asclepias variegata
L.
ASCL VARI dist.jpg
Natural range of Asclepias variegata from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Redring Milkweed, White Milkweed

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Biventraria variegata (Linnaeus) Small

Description

In general, with the Asclepias genus, they are perennial herbs usually milky sap. The stems are erect, spreading or decumbent and usually are simple and often solitary. The leaves are opposite to subopposite, are sometimes whorled, and rarely alternate. The corolla lobes are reflexed and are rarely erect or spreading. The filaments are elaborate into five hood forming a corona around the gynosteguim. The corona horns are present in most species. (Radford 1964).

More specifically, for A. variegata, the stems are simple, solitary, weakly pubescent or glabrate, and are approximately 2-10 dm tall. The leaves are opposite, have 2-5 pairs, the lower leaves are usually quite reduced in size, suborbicular to ovate or widely elliptic-lanceolate, and are 5-14 cm long, 3-7 cm wide. The leaves are firm, glabrous or very weakly pubescent, especially above. There are 1-4 umbels,that are terminal or from upper nodes, are globose, and are 3-6cm broad. The pedicels are 1-2 cm long. The corolla is bright white in color. The lobes are reflexed, are 6-7 mm long. The corona is 4-7 mm in diameter. The horns are shorter than the hoods. The follicles are 10-14 cm long, 1.5-2 cm broad. Flowers May to June; July to September. (Radford 1964).

Distribution

It is found from Connecticut west to Ohio, south to eastern Texas, and east to Florida (Weakley 2015).

Ecology

Habitat

Asclepias variegata is found in upland pine-oak forests and woodlands[1], and in mesic hammocks[2]. Additionally, it occurs on bluffs and slopes, burned pinelands, and annually burned savannas. It prefers higher light levels, growing mainly in sunny to semi-shaded environments, and is usually found in drying loamy sand or moist sandy loam. It also appears in disturbed habitat such as park trails and the borders of clear-cuts[3].

Associated species include pine, oak, hickory, magnolia, maple, sweet gum, juniper, Rubus brambles, Vaccinium, Chionanthus and others[3].

Phenology

This species flowers from May to July (Weakley 2015), but it has also been observed flowering in April (FSU Herbarium). Fruiting has been observed in June, October, and November (FSU Herbarium).

Fire ecology

Asclepias variegata has been found in burned pine-oak-hickory stands and pinelands, as well as annually burned savannas (FSU Herbarium).

Conservation and Management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Robert K. Godfrey, H. Kurz, K. Craddock Burks, James R. Burkhalter, L G Plank, Gary R. Knight, Andre F. Clewell, R. Kral, Richard S. Mitchell, Lisa Keppner, Ed Keppner, D.C. Hunt, R. Komarek, Wilson Baker, and R. F. Doren. States and Counties: Florida: Leon, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Jackson, Gadsden, Liberty, Jefferson, Wakulla, Walton, and Bay. Georgia: Grady and Thomas.

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 848-852. Print.

Weakley, Alan S. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States: Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU). PDF. 933.

Wunderlin, Richard P. and Bruce F. Hansen. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. Third edition. 2011. University Press of Florida: Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton/Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers. 271. Print.

  1. Weakley, Alan S. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States: Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU). PDF. 933.
  2. Wunderlin, Richard P. and Bruce F. Hansen. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. Third edition. 2011. University Press of Florida: Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton/Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers. 271. Print.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Robert K. Godfrey, H. Kurz, K. Craddock Burks, James R. Burkhalter, L G Plank, Gary R. Knight, Andre F. Clewell, R. Kral, Richard S. Mitchell, Lisa Keppner, Ed Keppner, D.C. Hunt, R. Komarek, Wilson Baker, and R. F. Doren. States and Counties: Florida: Leon, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Jackson, Gadsden, Liberty, Jefferson, Wakulla, Walton, and Bay. Georgia: Grady and Thomas.