Asclepias curtissii

Asclepias curtissii
Photo taken by Michelle M. Smith
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Asclepiadaceae
Genus:	Asclepias
Species:	A. curtissii
Binomial name
Asclepias curtissii A. Gray
Natural range of Asclepias curtissii from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Curtiss' milkweed

Synonyms: Oxypteryx curtissii (A. Gray) Small

Description

Asclepias curtissii is a long-lived perennial that dies back in the fall and resprouts in the springs from an underground taproot (Mondo et al. 2010). Leaves are opposite and glaborous, with flowers arranged in dome-shaped umbels (Putz and Minno 1995).

Distribution

A. curtissii is an endangered perennial that is endemic to the Florida scrub in the central and southern peninsula (Mondo et al. 2010; Wunderlin and Hansen 2011).

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain in Florida, A. curtissii can be found in scrubs (FSU Herbarium; Weakley 2015; Wunderlin and Hansen 2011) with Quercus myrtifolia, Q. chapmanii, Lyonia, Ilex, Selaginella, Lechea, pines and palmettos (FSU Herbarium). It has also been found in recently bulldozed low ancient scrub. It has been observed to be concentrated along roadsides seven times more often than in surrounding undisturbed habitat (Putz and Minno 1995).

Phenology

It flowers from spring to summer (Wunderlin and Hansen 2011). Michelle Smith observed Asclepias curtissii flowering August 2015 at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (Nature Preserve) in Tequesta (Palm Beach County), FL.

Seed bank and germination

It has been observed to grow in close proximity to woody vegetation and unlikely to be found in open gaps due to seed germination being enhanced by shade and not leaf litter (Mondo et al. 2010). Seeds planted in shaded areas among other shrubs have a higher rate of germination compared to seeds planted in open gaps (Mondo et al. 2010).

Fire ecology

The Nature Preserve in which Michelle Smith observed this species flowering, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area in Tequesta (Palm Beach County), FL., has conducted prescribed burns in the past as part of the restoration project for this area, where the BLM and other organizations are part of PCB.gov

A prescribed fire study done on the Lake Wales ridge found that A. curtissii was a weak resprouter after fire (Weekley and Menges 2003).

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Asclepias curtissii at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):

Halictidae: Lasioglossum nymphalis

Use by animals

It is able to regenerate from an underground taproot following herbivory from animals such as deer (Putz and Minno 1995).

Conservation and Management

It is suggested that A. curtissii be managed in areas of soil disturbance and fire regime (Putz and Minno 1995).

References and notes

Deyrup, M.A. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran Anderson, Jim Buckner, Edwin L. Bridges, Angus Gholson, Robert K. Godfrey, D.W. Hall, Robert Kral, A.M. Laessle, O. Lakela, N. Lee, Steve L. Orzell, Robert W. Simons, D.B. Ward. States and Counties: Florida: Clay, Collier, Highlands, Indian River, Marion, Polk. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.

Weakley, Alan S. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States: Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU). PDF. 931.

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. 270. Print.