asclepias

British  

/ əˈskliːpɪəs /

noun

1. Sometimes called: milkweed.  any plant of the perennial mostly tuberous genus Asclepias; some are grown as garden or greenhouse plants for their showy orange-scarlet or purple flowers: family Asclepiadaceae

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Etymology

Origin of asclepias

Greek asklēpias swallowwort

Example Sentences

They include various asclepias, tithonia, giant coneflower and the Maryland wild senna, the last a native plant deserving much more garden use.

From Washington Post • May 28, 2019

Burman relates that, in the latter country, when cow's milk is wanting, the milk of this asclepias is used; and that the ailments commonly prepared with animal milk are boiled with its leaves.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Humboldt, Alexander von

The short streets, after rain, are almost impassable on account of the many puddles, and are choked up with weeds—leguminous shrubs, and scarlet-flowered asclepias.

From The Naturalist on the River Amazons by Bates, Henry Walter

This part had been covered with beautiful flowers, such as sunflowers, red and orange-coloured poppies, and asclepias.

From The Desert Home The Adventures of a Lost Family in the Wilderness by Reid, Mayne

As we advanced our escort took care to fire every large dry asclepias, to disperse the shades which buried us.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 7 by Warner, Charles Dudley