How many pistils does a milkweed flower have?
two pistils
It grows out of two pistils which have been fused (not discernable with the naked eye) and bear a large 5-lobed stigma. It looks like a five-pointed star, where the points have been rounded off.
What does flowering milkweed look like?
Showy Milkweed- Asclepias speciosa Stem: 45 to 200 cm tall, velvety or pubescent (hairy). Flowers: Pale pink, arranged in umbels. The corona hoods are long (9 to 13 mm) and lance-shaped, making the flowers look like stars. Leaves: Opposite, 10 to 25 cm long, smooth or slightly downy.
What are the parts of a milkweed plant?
Milkweed flowers are arranged in clusters. Depending on the species, the stalk that bears the flowers can be either erect or drooping. The showy, upper part of each flower, called the corona, consists of five hoods, where nectar is stored. The shape of the hood varies across species.
Is there a male and female milkweed plants?
Male monarch butterflies are distinguished from the females by a black spot that the males have on each hindwing.
Do milkweed flowers smell?
If you have ever walked along a quiet country road in the Northeast in late July or early August, you have probably caught a whiff of milkweed in bloom. To me, that intoxicating scent — sweet, spicy and ripe with an overtone of honey — is the embodiment of high summer.
Do milkweed plants spread?
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a perennial plant that can be found in a wide range of habitats including roadsides, fields, and gardens. It is native to North America and reproduces primarily from seed. Once it is established it can spread from its rhizomatous root system.
Can milkweed spread?
“Common milkweed spreads by rhizomes (underground runners or roots) which is why it can be such an aggressive spreader. By planting it within a fairly dense planting of other native species, you leave minimal room for the rhizomes to travel.”
Is wild lettuce and milkweed the same thing?
The lookalikes of wild lettuce include dandelion, and milkweed, although both of these plants are edible. The flowers, fruits and seeds are very different; however the leaves have the long, lobed and serrated appearance of wild lettuce.
Where do milkweed flowers bloom on the plant?
Milkweed flowers bloom in umbels (Figure 1), which are clusters of individual flowers on stems that emerge from a common point (Young-Mathews and Eldredge, 2012).
What kind of insects are on common milkweed?
Common milkweed is Nature’s mega food market for insects. Over 450 insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant. Numerous insects are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers and it is not at all uncommon to see flies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, and butterflies on the flowers at the same time.
What happens in the third year of a milkweed plant?
Flowers at last! The third year a mature milkweed plant has developed, it produces large lush foliage, ample flowers, and will serve as a nectar source for adult butterflies and bees, and there is plenty of leaves for the caterpillars.
How many seeds does a common milkweed plant have?
They split open revealing 50-100 seeds each with a white, fluffy coma (“parachute”) that allows wind dispersal. Common milkweed is Nature’s mega food market for insects. Over 450 insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant.