Identification
This native perennial has stout stems up to 5 feet tall, with thick oval leaves opposite on the stem (A). The unusual fragrant flowers have 5 sharply swept-back petals and 5 erect hoods each with a small curved horn; they are in dense, spherical clusters on short stalks in the axils of the upper leaf pairs (B,C). Prickly, spindle-shaped seed pods are 2-4 inches long; they hold tightly packed seeds on silky plumes (D,E). The stems and leaves exude a milky juice when cut.
Grows in fields, prairies, along road-sides, streams and forest edges, flowering from June to early August. It is common in prairies and other sunny, open areas at both Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods.
Dinsmore indicates the Omaha-Ponca used this plant for food at three stages of its growth: “the young sprouts in early spring, like asparagus sprouts; the clusters of floral buds; and the young fruits while firm and green”, which was boiled.
Common Milkweed is utilized by a wide variety of insects as either a food or nectar source. Most notably, it is a food source for the caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly.
Another common name is Silkweed.
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