09
Jan
Jan
Asclepias – Rubber And Leather Industry Chemicals – Pigments
Species
Some Asclepias species:
Asclepias albicans
Whitestem milkweed
Asclepias amplexicaulis
Blunt-leaved milkweed
Asclepias asperula
Antelope horns
Asclepias californica
California milkweed
Asclepias cordifolia
Heart-leaf milkweed
Asclepias cryptoceras
Pallid milkweed
Asclepias curassavica
Scarlet milkweed, Tropical milkweed, Bloodroot, Bloodflower, Bastard Ipecacuanha
Asclepias eriocarpa
Woollypod milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Desert milkweed
Asclepias exaltata
Poke milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Narrow leaf milkweed
Asclepias fruticosa syn. Gomphocarpus fruticosus
swan plant, African milkweed
Asclepias humistrata
Sandhill milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp milkweed
Asclepias lanceolata
Lanceolate milkweed
Asclepias linaria
Pine needle milkweed
Asclepias linearis
Slim milkweed
Asclepias meadii
Mead’s milkweed
Asclepias nyctaginifolia
Mojave milkweed
Asclepias obovata
Pineland milkweed
Asclepias physocarpa
Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush, giant swan plant, testicle tree, bishop’s balls or swan plant
Asclepias purpurascens
Purple milkweed
Asclepias quadrifolia
Four-leaved milkweed
Asclepias rubra
Red milkweed
Asclepias solanoana
Serpentine milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Showy milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Rush milkweed(Leafless milkweed)
Asclepias sullivantii
Sullivant’s milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Common milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed, Pleurisy root
Asclepias variegata
White milkweed
Asclepias verticillata
Whorled milkweed
Asclepias vestita
Woolly milkweed
Asclepias vincetoxicum
Asclepias viridiflora
Uses
Asclepias syriaca seed pods
Baldwinsville, New York
A species of Mexican milkweed – note the specialized flower structure
Example of the chemical structure of one of the cardiac glycosides.
The milkweed filaments from the follicles are hollow and coated with wax, and have good insulation qualities. Tests have shown them to be superior to down feathers for insulation. During World War II, over 11 million pounds (5000 t) of milkweed floss were collected in the United States as a substitute for kapok. As of 2007, milkweed is grown commercially as a hypoallergenic filling for pillows.
Seeds.
In the past, the high dextrose content of the nectar led to milkweed’s use as a source of sweetener for Native Americans and voyageurs.
The bast fibers of some species were also used for cordage.
Milkweed latex contains about 1 to 2% caoutchouc, and was attempted as a natural source for rubber by both Germany and the United States during World War II. No record has been found of large-scale success.
Milkweed is a common folk remedy used for removing warts. Milkweed sap is applied directly to the wart several times daily until the wart falls off. Dandelion sap is often used in the same manner.
Milkweed is beneficial to nearby plants, repelling some pests, especially wireworms.
Milkweed also contains cardiac glycoside poisons which inhibit animal cells from maintaining a proper K+, Ca+ concentration gradient. As a result many natives of South America and Africa used arrows poisoned with these glycosides to fight and hunt more effectively. Milkweed is toxic and may cause death when animals consume 1/10 its body weight in any part of the plant. Milkweed also causes mild dermatitis in some who come in contact with it.
Milkweed sap is also externally used as a natural remedy for Poison Ivy.
Being the sole food source of Monarch Butterfly larva, the plant is often used in Butterfly gardening.
See also
List of beneficial weeds
List of companion plants
References
Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
^ Ramanujan, Krishna (Winter 2008). “Discoveries: Milkweed evolves to shrug off predation”. Northern Woodlands (Center for Northern Woodlands Education) 15 (4): 56.
^ Evangelista, R.L. (2007), “Milkweed seed wing removal to improve oil extraction”, Industrial Crops and Products 25 (2): 210217, doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2006.10.002
External links
Media related to Asclepias at Wikimedia Commons
Medical research
Milkweed test-cultivated for the insulation value of floss
Milkweed in Handbook of Energy Crops
Common milkweed production research at Western Illinois University
UVSC Herbarium – Asclepias
Milkweed Photo Gallery
Categories: Asclepias
Some Asclepias species:
Asclepias albicans
Whitestem milkweed
Asclepias amplexicaulis
Blunt-leaved milkweed
Asclepias asperula
Antelope horns
Asclepias californica
California milkweed
Asclepias cordifolia
Heart-leaf milkweed
Asclepias cryptoceras
Pallid milkweed
Asclepias curassavica
Scarlet milkweed, Tropical milkweed, Bloodroot, Bloodflower, Bastard Ipecacuanha
Asclepias eriocarpa
Woollypod milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Desert milkweed
Asclepias exaltata
Poke milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Narrow leaf milkweed
Asclepias fruticosa syn. Gomphocarpus fruticosus
swan plant, African milkweed
Asclepias humistrata
Sandhill milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp milkweed
Asclepias lanceolata
Lanceolate milkweed
Asclepias linaria
Pine needle milkweed
Asclepias linearis
Slim milkweed
Asclepias meadii
Mead’s milkweed
Asclepias nyctaginifolia
Mojave milkweed
Asclepias obovata
Pineland milkweed
Asclepias physocarpa
Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush, giant swan plant, testicle tree, bishop’s balls or swan plant
Asclepias purpurascens
Purple milkweed
Asclepias quadrifolia
Four-leaved milkweed
Asclepias rubra
Red milkweed
Asclepias solanoana
Serpentine milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Showy milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Rush milkweed(Leafless milkweed)
Asclepias sullivantii
Sullivant’s milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Common milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed, Pleurisy root
Asclepias variegata
White milkweed
Asclepias verticillata
Whorled milkweed
Asclepias vestita
Woolly milkweed
Asclepias vincetoxicum
Asclepias viridiflora
Uses
Asclepias syriaca seed pods
Baldwinsville, New York
A species of Mexican milkweed – note the specialized flower structure
Example of the chemical structure of one of the cardiac glycosides.
The milkweed filaments from the follicles are hollow and coated with wax, and have good insulation qualities. Tests have shown them to be superior to down feathers for insulation. During World War II, over 11 million pounds (5000 t) of milkweed floss were collected in the United States as a substitute for kapok. As of 2007, milkweed is grown commercially as a hypoallergenic filling for pillows.
Seeds.
In the past, the high dextrose content of the nectar led to milkweed’s use as a source of sweetener for Native Americans and voyageurs.
The bast fibers of some species were also used for cordage.
Milkweed latex contains about 1 to 2% caoutchouc, and was attempted as a natural source for rubber by both Germany and the United States during World War II. No record has been found of large-scale success.
Milkweed is a common folk remedy used for removing warts. Milkweed sap is applied directly to the wart several times daily until the wart falls off. Dandelion sap is often used in the same manner.
Milkweed is beneficial to nearby plants, repelling some pests, especially wireworms.
Milkweed also contains cardiac glycoside poisons which inhibit animal cells from maintaining a proper K+, Ca+ concentration gradient. As a result many natives of South America and Africa used arrows poisoned with these glycosides to fight and hunt more effectively. Milkweed is toxic and may cause death when animals consume 1/10 its body weight in any part of the plant. Milkweed also causes mild dermatitis in some who come in contact with it.
Milkweed sap is also externally used as a natural remedy for Poison Ivy.
Being the sole food source of Monarch Butterfly larva, the plant is often used in Butterfly gardening.
See also
List of beneficial weeds
List of companion plants
References
Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
^ Ramanujan, Krishna (Winter 2008). “Discoveries: Milkweed evolves to shrug off predation”. Northern Woodlands (Center for Northern Woodlands Education) 15 (4): 56.
^ Evangelista, R.L. (2007), “Milkweed seed wing removal to improve oil extraction”, Industrial Crops and Products 25 (2): 210217, doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2006.10.002
External links
Media related to Asclepias at Wikimedia Commons
Medical research
Milkweed test-cultivated for the insulation value of floss
Milkweed in Handbook of Energy Crops
Common milkweed production research at Western Illinois University
UVSC Herbarium – Asclepias
Milkweed Photo Gallery
Categories: Asclepias