Description

General: Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae). Asclepias flowers look like crowns, with the corolla reflexed and hoods elevated above the corolla. Purple milkweed is a glabrous perennial with ascending stems. Leaves are opposite, oval, cordate and clasping at base, smooth, bluish green with purplish tints. The corolla is spreading to reflexed, dark red-purple; the pales pinkish to purplish hoods are slightly elevated above the corolla base, with no horns. Fruits are large, oblong, pointed follicles tightly packed with flat, circular seeds.