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Wind Cave National ParkFalse Gromwell Seedling
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Wind Cave National Park
Seed Study - Asclepias speciosa
Asclepias speciosa - Showy Milkweed

NPS Photo

Asclepias speciosa - Showy Milkweed

Species: Asclepias speciosa
Common name: showy milkweed

Seedling Identification: Shiny, bright green cotyledons are oblong and rounded. Cotyledons elongate with growth. The first true leaves are very long and narrow, rounded at the tip and stand upright.

 

Asclepias speciosa – showy milkweed
Average number of good seeds per gram bulk matter: n.m.
Average number of good seeds per gram cleaned: 153 (64)
Commercial estimates of seeds per gram: n.a.
Percent seed: n.m.
Percent live: 72
Collection dates: September 16 and 20; October 7 and 11
Collection effort: 56 grams in one person hour
Collection notes: Seed disperse soon after maturation, so watch closely. Collecting when the pods are still slightly green is okay, as the seed inside is hard. Many pods had fungus or insect damage.
Cleaning notes: Cleaned seed had fluff removed and was hard seed only. One original count on uncleaned (in pod with some stem) weighed 359 g, and only 34.2 clean.
fire on the prairie  

Did You Know?
Fire is an important factor in protecting the prairie. Historically, fires burned across the prairie every 4 to 7 years. Fires burn the small trees that would otherwise march across the prairie and turn the grasslands to forest.

Last Updated: September 14, 2007 at 10:55 EST