Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_8008.JPG-08-01-2023
Flower name (scientific): Asclepias exaltata Linnaeus PY: 1756. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) as-KLEE-pee-as eks-all-TAY-tuh
Flower name (common): Poke Milkweed
Family name (common): Dogbane
Family name (scientific): Apocynaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Ancient Greek Ásklēpiós (Asklepios), God of healing (medicine).
    Specific epithet: Latin for very tall, which refers to the plant height.
Common name origin: A former name for this plant was Asclepias phytolaccoides, which supposedly had leaves resembling Phytolacca americana, commonly called pokeweed. Milkweed comes from the ample milky sap arising from damaged stems or leaves.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.3 to 0.5 inches (8 to 13 mm). About 6 to 9 mm wide and about 13 mm long.
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-spherical
Plant description:
     Size: 36 to 60 inches (91 to 152 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate-elliptic to ovate (IL), ovate or broadly elliptic (MP)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): June to July
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Woods, woodland margins, moist, semi shade to shade.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes when in bloom.
Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconin. The roots employed by the Omaha and the Ponca to treat stomach issues (Moerman, p. 107, 1998).
Latitude: 44.694180
Longitude: -91.579172
Altitude: 323.30
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (ON, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): UPL
Wetland Status (MW): UPL