Whorled milkweed (
Asclepias verticillata) is an erect, single-stemmed, often unbranched perennial herb that is from the Milkweed (Asclepiadaceae) family. Whorled milkweed attributes:
- Height: 1 to 3 feet
- Leaves: Narrow, needlelike; set in whorls of 3 to 7 intervals, often are crowded close together on the tips of stems, giving a "horsetail" appearance.
- Flowers: Dense, flat-topped clusters of greenish-white flowers which bloom from late spring to the fall.
- Fruit: Narrow, spindle-shaped pods that are about 2 to 3 inches long.
- Roots: Slender, fibrous roots
Toxic components
All milkweed
Asclepias species are toxic to horses if ingested, as they contain cardiac glycosides. Whorled milkweed and other whorled-leaf types such as horsetail milkweed are even more toxic because they additionally contain a lethal neurotoxin.
