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Asclepias incarnata L.

Swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderGentianalesGentians, coffee, gardenias, frangipani, many others
FamilyAsclepiadaceaeIncludes some herbs, twining shrubs, lianas, leafless stem succulents, rarely trees
GenusAsclepiasFor Asklepios, the Greek god of healing
SpeciesincarnataLiterally, “in the flesh,” in this case meaning flesh-colored, for the flowers

About plant names...

Swamp milkweed is a North American native plant with a fondess for mucky soils.

Identification: Plants are erect, 3-5′ (1-1.5 m) in height, often occurring in clumps. Stems are usually branched, green or often purple in color. Like other milkweeds, stems and leaves emit a milky latex that contains a toxic brew that helps to protect the plant from predators. Swamp milkweeds produce less of this sap than the other species though. Leaves are opposite, lanceolate, 2½-6″ (7-15 cm) long, with smooth edges and pinnate, featherlike veins. They have sharp tips and rounded bases. Flowerheads are rounded umbels composed of many pink to mauve to dark purple (rarely white) flowers. Flowers are five-petaled, with a cinnamon-like fragrance, and appear from June to October. Seed pods are green, up to 4½″ (12 cm) long. They split open when dry, releasing large numbers of seeds, each on a silken parachute.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides and resinoids, making it moderately poisonous. Vomiting, stupor, weakness and spasms are among the symptoms.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Illinois Wildflowers

Discover Life

Wikipedia

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

The yellow bugs are Aphis nerii (yellow milkweed aphid). If you look closely, you can also make out monarch caterpillars, with their yellow, white, and black stripes. · 9/23/2017 · Summit of Mt. Agamenticus, York, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

9/22/2013 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, off route 119, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

9/23/2017 · Summit of Mt. Agamenticus, York, Maine · ≈ 10 × 7″ (26 × 17 cm)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

 

Asclepias incarnata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Sep 2021.

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Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

Seed pods. The yellow bugs are Aphis nerii (yellow milkweed aphid). · 9/23/2017 · Summit of Mt. Agamenticus, York, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 8 × 12″ (21 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

9/22/2013 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, off route 119, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

9/22/2013 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, off route 119, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, scarlet milkweed)

7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range: Zones 3-6:

About this map...