Milkweed

Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a tall plant with characteristic large oblong entire leaves. The umbel inflorescence consists of flowers with white to deep pink petals. The sap of milkweed is white, viscous, and poisonous.

Milkweed flowers have five pink corolla and reflexed corolla segments. The corolla structure called hood encloses a horn that curves inward. The photo shows follicles inside of the gynostegium.

Shown below is milkweed follicles. The photo on the right shows the longitudinal section of a follicle. The bottom image shows the seeds.

In fall, the follicle opens and the seeds emerge.