ASCLEPIADACEAE
Asclepias asperula
Common Names: Antelope Horns, Trailing Milkweed
habit | inflorescences (umbels) |
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dehiscing fruits - each seed has long silky hairs to aid in dispersal | leaves |
fruit (follicle)--the seeds are visible as brown structures in the center of the open pod. They are attached to long hairs to aid in dispersal. | fruits that have already split open and shed their seeds--if you use your imagination, you may be able to see the "antelope horns" made by the pair of fruits |
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seeds before they are shed--the seeds are arranged spirally around a central axis | same group of seeds as at left, shown from the other side--the coma of hairs is the white mass at the top. Each seed is attached to its own set of hairs |
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inflorescence closeup--the 5 white "balls" that are in each flower are called hoods. Look at the size of this bee! This species of milkweed attracts huge bees as pollinators. | habit in late summer with dehiscing fruits |