Practical
Plants

Asclepias hallii

Purple Silkweed

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, 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[13]. They are usually avoided by grazing animals[13].

Edible uses

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

The following uses have been recorded for A. speciosa, it is fairly safe to assume they can also be applied to this closely related species[K]. Flower buds - raw or cooked[16][19]. Tasting somewhat like peas[18]. Young shoots and leaves - cooked[14][16][17][19][20]. An asparagus substitute[18][7]. They should not be eaten raw[18]. Tips of older shoots are cooked like spinach[18][7]. Young seed pods, 3 - 4 cm long, cooked. Very appetizing[18]. Flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup[18] or they can be eaten raw[4][7]. Seed - raw[4]. A chewing gum can be made from the latex contained in the stem and leaves[14][16][19][7]. Root[7]. No further details.

Plant part
Flowers
Product or use
Gum
Product or use
Sweetener
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Seedpod

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.

The following uses have been recorded for A. speciosa, it is fairly safe to assume they can also be applied to this closely related species[K]. The latex is used as a cure for warts[5]. A tea made from the whole plant has been used as a contraceptive after childbirth[11].

Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

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

The following uses have been recorded for A. speciosa, it is fairly safe to assume they can also be applied to this closely related species[K]. A good quality tough fibre is obtained from the bark[19][21]. It is used in twine, coarse cloth, paper etc[19][21]. The fibre is 10 - 45mm long[8]. It is easily harvested in late autumn, after the plants have died down, by simply pulling it off the dead stems[5][6]. When making paper, the stems can be retted by leaving them in the ground until they are dry in the winter or they can be harvested in late summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed to remove the fibre[8]. The stems are then cooked for two hours with lye and pounded with mallets[8]. The paper colour varies from white to creamy green depending on how the paper is made[8]. If the stems are used in the summer the latex will often find its way onto the fibres and is hard to remove[8]. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth[5][6]. It is a Kapok substitute, used in Life Jackets or as a stuffing material[6]. It is very water repellent. The floss has also been used to mop up oil spills at sea. Rubber can be made from latex contained in the leaves and the stems[15][19][2]. The yield is up to 3%[2]. Pods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance. A green dye is obtained from the flowers and leaves combined[5].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Latex
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Pollution
Product or use
Stuffing

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Wyoming to Colorado, south to Nevada and S. Arizona.
Habitat
Sandy soils of prairies and roadsides[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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][6]. 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 and a sunny position[1][3][9]. This species is closely related to A. purpurascens[9]. 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[10].

References

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  11. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

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  12. McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1986-00-00 ISBN 070060295x

    ↩

  13. 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

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

    ↩1↩2

  15. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  18. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩

  21. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2

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