Difference between revisions of "Asclepias variegata"
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
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| + | 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). | ||
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| + | 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 2-5pairs, 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, terminal or form upper nodes, are globose, and are 3-6cm broad. The pedicels are 1-2 cm long. The corolla is bright white. The lobes are flexed, 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== | ==Distribution== | ||
Revision as of 14:27, 16 December 2015
| Asclepias variegata | |
|---|---|
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| 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. | |
| |
| Natural range of Asclepias variegata from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common names: Redring Milkweed, White Milkweed
Synonyms: Biventraria variegata (L.) Small
Contents
Taxonomic notes
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 2-5pairs, 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, terminal or form upper nodes, are globose, and are 3-6cm broad. The pedicels are 1-2 cm long. The corolla is bright white. The lobes are flexed, 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 (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).
Associated species include pine, oak, hickory, magnolia, maple, sweet gum, juniper, Rubus brambles, Vaccinium, Chionanthus and others (FSU Herbarium).
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).
Seed dispersal
Seed bank and germination
Fire ecology
Asclepias variegata has been found in burned pine-oak-hickory stands and pinelands, as well as annually burned savannas (FSU Herbarium).
Pollination
Use by animals
Diseases and parasites
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.
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.
