Plant Name
Scientific Name: Asclepias angustifolia
Common Name: Arizona Milkweed
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Riparian. It grows in riparian woodlands and in low to mid-elevation mountain canyons.
Flower Color: Pure white or purplish white
Flowering Season: Spring (late), Summer
Height: To 28 inches (71 cm) tall
Description: The flowers are in umbels at the stem tips. Each flower is up to 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) across and has 5 reflexed petals and a hooded central column. The leaves are green, opposite, and linear to narrowly lance-shaped. The stems are erect.
The similar Horsetail Milkweed (Asclepias subverticillata) and Whorled Milkweed (A. verticillata) have narrower, whorled (not opposite) leaves.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Gentianales
Family: Asclepiadaceae – Milkweed family
Genus: Asclepias L. – milkweed
Species: Asclepias angustifolia Schweigg. – Arizona milkweed
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