Asclepiassläktet

Asclepias, commonly known as milkweed, is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. The genus is native to the Americas. These plants are characterized by their milky sap, which is a latex that can be irritating to skin and toxic if ingested. Asclepias species are ecologically important, particularly as the sole food source for the larvae of monarch butterflies. This obligate relationship has led to significant conservation efforts focused on protecting milkweed habitats.

The genus comprises a diverse range of species, varying in size, habit, and flower morphology. Flowers are typically small and arranged in umbels, displaying a range of colors from white and pink to purple and orange. Many species have a distinctive corona of hoods and horns that surround the stamens. Seed dispersal is often facilitated by wind, with seeds bearing silky hairs that aid in aerial transport. Asclepias species have a long history of use by indigenous peoples for medicinal and practical purposes, though toxicity concerns limit widespread modern medicinal application. Their ecological role and association with the monarch butterfly make them a subject of ongoing scientific research and public interest.