Common Milkweed
- Asclepias syriaca
As do most milkweeds,
this species features a distinctive flower with five petals bent
sharply backwards and supporting a crown with five "horns"
which curve inwards. Also typical of the family, the sap is somewhat
toxic. Monarch butterflies will only lay their eggs on milkweeds
such as this and the showy Butterfly
Weed, and it is the only food source their larvae can eat.
After transforming into mature butterflies, the Monarchs retain
the toxicity from the milkweed in their tissues. This acts as
a deterrent to predators who will not try to eat more than one
or two because of the unpleasant taste.
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