Member of Milkweed Family
Blooms: April -August
This is one of the most unique wildflowers. The Monarch butterfly lays it's eggs on the foliage , which becomes it's food source. The milkweeds have a sticky, milky sap inside which is poisonous. When butterflies feed upon them, birds and other preditors will not bother them.
Early settlers and Indians used the seeds and roots to make a gentle laxative, and a root tea was used for heart trouble. It's common name is "Pleurisy Root".
This particular plant has been in my back yard at woodline for the 30 years that we have lived here. It grows about 3 ft. tall and is very beautiful. The seed pods, burts open and have white feathery seeds that are scattered by the wind.
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