Clasping Milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis Smith    Synonyms: Asclepias obtusifolia, Blunt-leaved Milkweed.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Gentianales   >   Family Apocynaceae   >   Genus Asclepias   

Status:

Clasping Milkweed “seems to occur in both deep sandy soils and heavy clays. This habit can be indicative of a species that tolerates droughty conditions. More than that, Clasping Milkweed is relatively intolerant of disturbances, so its ecology is more complex than simply drought-tolerant (Flora of Virginia Project).

Description:

The leaf bases clasp the stem in this species. Less common than Common Milkweed, Clasping Milkweed can take years to flower and can even remain vegetative, especially if not in full sun or if only a few years old. In contrast to Common Milkweed, it is not rhizomatous or at least is not aggressively so (Flora of Virginia Project).

There are 147 records in the project database.

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Clasping Milkweed blooming in Wicomico Co., Maryland (6/15/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/2/2011). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/11/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/2/2011). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed blooming in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/10/2015). Photo by Dan Small. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (6/14/2013). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

A Clasping Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (6/14/2013). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed blooming in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/23/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/26/2018). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/18/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/5/1996). Photo by Bob Ringler. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed blooming in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/9/1982). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed blooming in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/10/2013). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/10/2014). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/19/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Wicomico Co., Maryland (8/3/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Wicomico Co., Maryland (8/3/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Wicomico Co., Maryland (8/3/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed pods in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/30/2012). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Charles Co., Maryland (5/27/2021). (c) itsthequietones, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by itsthequietones via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Clasping Milkweed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (6/29/2019). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)


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