Asclepias erosa Torr.

  • Family

    Apocynaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Asclepias erosa Torr.

  • Primary Citation

    Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound., Bot. 162. 1858

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Possible type -- C. Schott

  • Common Names

    desert milkweed

  • Description

    Latin diagnosis: Asclepias erosa (n. sp.): puberula deinde glabrata; caule erecto sirnplici; foliis oblongo-ovatis subcoriaceis acuminatis sessilibus margine eroso-denticulatis; umbellis multifloris; pendunculis folio duplo brevioribus; cucullis obovatis obtusis longioribus; gynostegio constricto, processu subulato arcuato longe horizontaliter exserto; folliculis ovatis, acuminatis levibus.

    Additional text from protologue: Valley of the Gila river, near Metate, May-June; Schott, Thurber. Stem apparently 2-3 feet high, stout. Lower leaves 5-7 inches long, and 21 broad with a long acute point, very rough on the margin, with irregular conspicuous cartilaginous serratures. Umbels 5 to 7, about half as long as the leaves; pedicels 1-1/2 inch long, pubescent. Flowers as large as in A. Cornuti. Corolla greenish white; segments at length reflexed. Hoods of the crown obliquely truncate at the summit, the subulate horn exserted horizontally. Pods (immature) about 2 inches long, and nearly an inch in diameter at the middle. Apparently allied to A. glaucescens, H. B. & K., but that species has obtuse leaves, much shorter pedicels, and a subsessile gynostegium, which is about the length of the hoods.

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.