What is a butterfly weed?
Butterfly Weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ) is a herbal permanent kind of milk eyelash originating in North America. It often occurs growing along roads and in naturalized areas throughout the Eastern United States. The plant is known for many other names including Canada root, chegger flower, fluxroot, windroot and Indian brush. The name "Butterfly Weed" comes from the attraction of the plant to butterflies that flock to colored nectar flowers in the spring.
Finally, up to 30 inches (76.2 centimeters) in height and 24 inches (60.96 centimeters) in width, slow -growing weeds can take up to four years to reach its mature size. Alternative, dark green leaves of the plant reach 2 to 6 inches (5.08 centimeters to 15.24 centimeters) and usually lack a significant color of autumn. Unlike all other milk algae, the stems of the plant do not produce a milk sap when they are broken, and sometimes referred to as "milk" Milkweed. Most suitable of all milk algae, butterflyWeeds produce live yellow, orange or red flowers that appear in spring and summer. Flowers appear in clusters of 20 or more, known as Umbels.
Long, fibrous taphroot allows weeds to withstand the butterfly to withstand dry better than other milk eyelashes and adapted well to drought conditions. Once the individual plant has been established, it can survive for decades if the conditions remain favorable for growth. The plant prefers dry, sandy or gravel, well -drained soil and full sunlight. If necessary, it can tolerate a light shade, but it may take longer to reach full size. Although it is easy to spread from seeds or cuttings, weeds are not doing well due to its long Taproot.
Like all kinds of milk algae, butterfly weeds contain cardiac glycosides, organic compounds that are extremely toxic and many insects for mammals. Boiling water exitMilk algae is safe for consumption, but leaves, stems and flowers asclepias tuberosa should not be consumed even after cooking. Despite the toxicity of the above -ground parts of the plant, native Americans and many pioneering doctors considered healing. They used teas and infusions made with root to treat pulmonary conditions such as pleurisy, asthma and bronchitis. This is probably the origin of another of the common names of the plant, pleurisy root.
The root of weeds of butterflies was also used externally for healing purposes. Poultices made of crushed root were applied to skin diseases such as cuts and bruises, and arthritic disease. Sioux Indians cooked roots for food and often served seed pods with buffalo meat. Other traditional uses include the production of flower dyes, often used by native Americans for dyeing baskets and making fibers and bowstring from stems of the plant.