Vegetation Around Las Vegas, Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa)

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Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa)
Perennial Forbs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas

General: Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) is a tall, perennial forb with large, clasping leaves, globular flower clusters, and large seed pods.

Desert Milkweed is an uncommon component of desert and upland vegetation communities during the spring. It can be found on flats, in and along washes, and on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zones. The species also occurs in disturbed areas, such as along roads.

Family: Milkweed (Asclepiadaceae)

Other Names:

Plant Form: Upright, perennial forb

Height: To about 3 feet.

Stems:

Leaves: Long, gray, folded along the midline

Flowers:

Seeds:

Habitat: Dry soils on flats, in and along washes, and on bajadas into the lower mountains.

Elevation: To about 6,000 feet

Distribution: California to Arizona, and south into Mexico.

Comments:

Desert Milkweed in Gold Butte National Monument	Desert Milkweed in Gold Butte National Monument (close up view)
Desert Milkweed on roadside at Red Rock Canyon NCA	Desert Milkweed on roadside at Red Rock Canyon NCA
Desert Milkweed in desert wash in Gold Butte National Monument	Desert Milkweed growing in wash in Gold Butte National Monument
Desert Milkweed in Gold Butte National Monument	Desert Milkweed on road edge in Grand Canyon-Parashant NM
Desert Milkweed in Basin and Range NM	Desert Milkweed in Basin and Range NM
Young Desert Milkweed in Mojave National Preserve	Young Desert Milkweed in Mojave National Preserve
Young Desert Milkweed with developing flowerheads	Young Desert Milkweed with developing flowerheads
Desert Milkweed developing flowerheads	Desert Milkweed developing flowerheads
Desert Milkweed developing flowerheads	Desert Milkweed with mix of developing flowerheads and fruits
Desert Milkweed flowerhead with buds	Desert Milkweed flowerhead with open flowers
Desert Milkweed flowerhead with open flowers and wasp pollinator	Desert Milkweed flowerhead with spent and open flowers
Single Desert Milkweed flower (side view)	Single Desert Milkweed flower (side view)
Single Desert Milkweed flower (oblique top view)	Single Desert Milkweed flower (top view)
Desert Milkweed flower showing one pollinia	Flower with one hood removed showing pollinia in stamen chamber
Two Desert Milkweed seedpods	Cluster of three Desert Milkweed seedpods
Desert Milkweed seedpod	Desert Milkweed seedpod
Developing Desert Milkweed seedpods	Developing Desert Milkweed seedpods
Developing Desert Milkweed seedpod releasing seeds	Seeds and interior of ripe seedpod husk
Desert Milkweed seed with feathery plume	Desert Milkweed seed with feathery plume
Desert Milkweed seedpod: empty husk with core	Desert Milkweed seedpod: empty husk
Flower buds and flowers with butterfly pollinator	Flower buds and open flower with butterfly pollinator
Flower buds and open flowers with Tarantula Hawk pollinators	Flower buds and open flowers with wasp pollinator
Developing seedpods with aphids	Tarantula Hawk wasp pollinators

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
; Last updated 220816

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