ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Asclepias syriaca kansana
 
 
 CLASS:    DICOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    GENTIANALES
 FAMILY:   ASCLEPIADACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Asclepias syriaca kansana
 AUTHORITY:  L.
 SUBSPECIFIC AUTHORITY: (Vail) Palmer & Steyerm.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    COMMON MILKWEED
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: ASSYK
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     FOREST
       THICKETS
     PRAIRIE
       TYPICAL PRAIRIE
         DRY
       SAND PRAIRIE
         DRY
     PRIMARY
       LAKE SHORE
         FOREDUNE
     CULTURAL
       AGRICULTURAL FIELD
         CROPLAND
         PASTURELAND
       SUCCESSIONAL FIELD
         ABANDONED CROPLAND
           EARLY
         ABANDONED FORAGELAND
           EARLY
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Dicot-herb
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (rhizomes)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:     Opposite
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Pinnate
    LEAF SHAPE:     Oblong     Oval
    INFLORESCENCE:   Umbel
    FLOWER MEROUS:  5
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   Green   Violet
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Follicle
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     Plant has follicle with long spiny processes; fragrant flowers.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Occasional
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      5         MONTH END-      8
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     C02 FIXATION:  C3
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in waste grounds; along railroads, roadsides.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     MAJOR DISPERSAL AGENTS:   WIND
     MAJOR POLLINATION AGENT:   INSECT   bee
 
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     EDIBLE:  Yes
     SHOWY FLOWERS:  YES      AMOUNT:  Medium
 
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Young stems, leaves, and fruits can be eaten as cooked vegetables.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:  No data entered
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  No data    PROTEIN VALUE: No data
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   Yes
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Leaves and skins are poisonous.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Jones, G. N.  1963.  Flora of Illinois.  Third ed.  American Midland Naturalist
     Monograph 7.  University of Notre Dame, Indiana.  401 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Fernald, M. L.  1950.  Gray's manual of botany.  8th ed.  American Book Co.,
     New York.  1632 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Downton, W. J. S.  1975.  The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants.
     Photosynthetica 9(1): 96-105.
Smith, J. P.  1977.  Vascular plant families.  Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka,
     California.  320 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Asclepias syriaca kansana
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015