Green Comet Milkweed

Description

Asclepias viridiflora (synonyms:Acerates ivesii) is commonly known as green comet milkweed, green-flower milkweed, and green milkweed. It is a widely distributed species of milkweed (Asclepias), known from much of the eastern and central United States from Connecticut to Georgia to Arizona to Montana, as well as southern Canada. The Latin specific epithet viridiflora means green-flowered. Asclepias viridiflora is an erect to ascending herb up to 50 cm tall, with distinctive greenish-white flowers. The pods lack the warts and tubercules common on other species of Asclepias.It grows in moist to dry shaded roadsides, fields, and prairies It is listed as endangered in Florida, as threatened in New York (state), and as endangered in Connecticut. The Blackfoot apply a poultice of chewed roots to swellings, rashes, sore gums of nursing infants, and sore eyes. They also chew the root for sore throats, use the plant to spice soups, and use the fresh roots for food. The Brulé Lakota give pulverized roots to children with diarrhea, and an infusion of the whole plant is taken by mothers to increase their milk.