February 9, 2010
All you field botanists out there will recognize this seed pod and instantly identify it. A few people have told me it's milkweed, one has said brushweed (which I've never heard of) and more than a couple have offered, um, sexual allusions that can't be repeated here.
This common weed probably grows anywhere, but it seems most prolific near the shoulders of country roads, where water runoff might keep a patch of dirt damp. In autumn, its large seed pods burst open and scatter dandelion-like tufts of seeds.
Anyone know this plant's name and life cycle?
Comments
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jnelson (Jen Nelson) says...
I would say this is Showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa Torr.
It is a perennial, 2 to 5 feet tall.
February 9, 2010 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbadge320 (Frank Cone) says...
Feed Me Seymour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnJxvb...
February 9, 2010 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
douglas (Doug Shirk) says...
That was my first thought too, Frank. That Levi Stubbs sang a nasty plant, what?
February 9, 2010 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mistypaw (jan theriault) says...
If it has large leaves & the sap is a sticky milk color my guess is milkweed. Stick around in late summer & see if it attracts the Monach butterfly. They are attracted to milkweed on their way to California.
February 9, 2010 at 7:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irwin (Mike Irwin) says...
Ha! what a great name for a weed! (Thanks, Jen.) And it does look like the Little Shop of Horrors plant. I've never seen butterflies flitting about it, but I'll pay more attention this summer.
February 9, 2010 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eastwenatchee (concerned citizen) says...
http://www.oakridgeprep.com/media/blo...
this pic shows the downy (dandelion like) seed from the milkweed pods
February 10, 2010 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irwin (Mike Irwin) says...
Hubba hubba! Those ARE downy seeds. Thanks for the seed-pod photo.
February 10, 2010 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )