TROPICAL MILKWEED FRUITS
SCATTERING SEEDS
The slender pods of our
orange-and-yellow-flowered Tropical Milkweeds, ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA, are opening now
dispersing their seeds. This is a noteworthy event for two reasons.
First, this is our main milkweed species, and thus is the chief host plant for the
larvae of Monarch Butterflies, who also are common here, thanks to this milkweed.
Second, milkweed seeds are equipped with fuzzy, white parachutes that are wonderful to
see floating on breezes across hot fields and pastures.
Above you can see a plant beside the trail through town, the top pod heavily infested
with orangish aphids, a lower pod having just disgorged a number of parachuted seeds now
awaiting a breeze to carry them off.
Like most other milkweeds, or members of the genus Asclepias, Tropical
Milkweeds produce a dense, white latex from any part when injured. |