Practical
Plants

Asclepias eriocarpa

Woollypod Milkweed

a perennial member of the Asclepias genus in the family Asclepiadaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.9 m
Fertility
Bees, Insects, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Insects, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides[10]. They are usually avoided by grazing animals[10]. The plant is said to be poisonous to sheep[1].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A gum obtained from the latex in the stems can be used for chewing[11][12][14][4][6]. It is usually boiled in water first until it coagulates and is sometimes mixed with oil[9].

Product or use
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the plant, and a salve made from it, is used in the treatment of colds[9]. The milky sap is applied on a regular basis to corns in order to gradually remove them[9]. It is also applied to cuts, sores and warts[9]. The powdered dried roots are inhaled to cause sneezing[9]. Smoke from the burning dried plant is inhaled as a treatment for asthma[9].

Product or use
Antiasthmatic
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Sternutatory
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre from the stems is used for ropes, clothing etc[11][12][14][15][9]. The fresh stems are soaked in water, or the dried and decaying stems basted with boiling water, in order to remove the fibre[9]. Rubber can be made from latex in the stems and leaves[11][12][14][4][6]. The leaves contain up to 2.4% latex[2].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Latex

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California
Habitat
Dry barren places below 2000 metres[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in late winter[3][5]. We have also had good results from sowing the seed in the greenhouse in early spring[K], though stored seed might need 2 - 3 weeks cold stratification[3]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[3]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out when they are in active growth in late spring or early summer and give them some protection from slugs until they are growing away strongly. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and place them in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly, then plant them out in the summer, giving them some protection from slugs until they are established.. Basal cuttings in late spring. Use shoots about 10cm long with as much of their white underground stem as possible. Pot them up individually and place them in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are rooting and growing actively. If the plants grow sufficiently, they can be put into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in the greenhouse until the following spring and when they are in active growth plant them out into their permanent positions. Give them some protection from slugs until they are established.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained light rich or peaty soil in full sun[1][7]. Succeeds in poor soils. This species is not very hardy in Britain, the plants may need root protection in severe winters[1] but if this is applied as a mulch then it should be removed before new growth begins in the spring because plants are particularly at risk from slugs[K]. Many members of this genus seem to be particularly prone to damage by slugs. The young growth in spring is especially vulnerable, but older growth is also attacked and even well-established plants have been destroyed in wet years[K]. Plants resent root disturbance and are best planted into their final positions whilst small[3]. The flower of many members of this genus can trap insects between its anther cells, the struggles of the insect in escaping ensure the pollination of the plant[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Whiting. A. G. A Summary of the Literature on Milkweeds (Asclepias spp) and their utilization.

    ↩

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  8. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  10. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩1↩2

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

  14. Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-520-00072-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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