Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed
a perennial member of the Asclepias genus in the family Asclepiadaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Asclepiadaceae
- Genus
- Asclepias
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1.2 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[16]. They are usually avoided by grazing animals[16]. The leaves and the stems might be poisonous[11].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Unopened flower buds - cooked[19][21][6]. Tasting somewhat like peas[22]. They can also be dried and stored for later use[9]. Young shoots - cooked. An asparagus substitute[22][2]. Tips of older shoots are cooked like spinach[22]. Young seed pods, harvested when 3 - 4 cm long - cooked. A pea-like flavour, they are very appetizing[22]. The flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup[22].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seedpod
- Product or use
- Sweetener
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 tea made from the roots is anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, emetic, strongly laxative and stomachic[17][21][14][15]. The tea is said to remove tapeworms from the body in one hour[15]. It has also been used in the treatment of asthma, rheumatism, syphilis, worms and as a heart tonic[17][13][14]. An infusion of the roots is used as a strengthening bath for children and adults[15].
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Stomachic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A good quality fibre is obtained from the bark[19][20][21][23][4][7]. It is used in twine, cloth etc[4]. It is easily harvested in late autumn, after the plants have died down, by simply pulling it off the dead stems[4]. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth[20][8]. It is a Kapok substitute, it is used in Life Jackets or as a stuffing material[7][8]. 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 stems[20]. Pods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance[8].
- Product or use
- Fibre
- Product or use
- Latex
- Product or use
- Oil
- Product or use
- Pollution
- Product or use
- Stuffing
- Product or use
- Wax
Environment
- Range
- N. America - Quebec to Manitoba and Wyoming, south to Texas and New Mexico.
- Habitat
- Swamps, wet thickets and shores[18].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- 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[5][7]. 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[5]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[5]. 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[1][12]. Requires a moist soil and a sunny position, doing well by water[3][5]. Succeeds on dry soils and on all soil types[4]. Plants are hardy to at least -25°c[10]. A very ornamental plant[1], the flowers are very attractive to butterflies[7]. 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[13]. 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[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
Whiting. A. G. A Summary of the Literature on Milkweeds (Asclepias spp) and their utilization.
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
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
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9
Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3