Flower ID: IMG_0748.JPG-08-05-2018 Flower name (scientific): Asclepias incarnata Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) as-KLEE-pee-as in-kar-NAH-tuh Flower name (common): Swamp Milkweed Family name (common): Milkweed Family name (scientific): Apocynaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Ancient Greek Ásklēpiós (Asklepios), God of healing (medicine). Specific epithet: From the Latin for flesh-colored, referring to the flower color. Common name origin: From the habitat and the ample milky sap arising from damaged stems or leaves. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: red Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-umbel Plant description: Size: 12 to 60 inches (30 to 152 cm) Stem hairy: Mostly glabrous, some scattered hairs present. Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves are typially about 8 cm long and about 1.3 cm wide, but can range up to about 15 cm long and about 4 cm wide. Color: Medium green. Hairy: Upper surface glaabrous, lower surface may be sparsely hairy. Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Swamps, marshes, streambanks, wet fields, sun or part shade, moist to wet. Fruit: Green-colored follicles up to about 9 to 10 cm in length, typically erect, and lanceolate in shape. Seed: Seeds about 7 to 9 mm long, tan-colored wing, darker brown center, and a tuft of white hairs to aid in seed dispersal in the wind. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Asclepias incarnata can be distinguished from other similar Asclepias species by its narrowly lanceolate leaves, with a length to width ratio of around 4 to 6. The species Asclepias sullivantii (Sullivant's Milkweed) and Asclepias purpurascens are both restricted to southern counties in Wisconsin, the former has a lack of hairs and is a threatened species, the latter has darker purple to red flowers and is an endangered species in Wisconsin. Asclepias syriaca has hairy stems and broadly oblong hairy leaves. Ethnobotany: The Chippewa used the root of this plant as a pediatric aid. The Meskwaki used the root to prepare an anthelmintic (taenifuge) and as an emetic and a diuretic (Smith, p. 205, 1928). The Menominee employed the plant as a food source, the heads used to prepare a soup (Smith, p. 62, 1923). The Chippewa used the plant for cordage (Moerman, p. 107, 1998; Gilmore, p. 140, 1933). Latitude: 44.795930 Longitude: -91.484912 Altitude: 242.20 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym: POWO lists 1 homotypic synonym for this species. Heterotypic Synonym: na Autonym:Asclepias incarnata Linnaeus subsp. incarnata (The other subspecies is Asclepias incarnata subsp.pulchra (Ehrhart ex Willdenow) Woodson. This infraspecific is recorded from Texas and mostly the eastern US states.)