Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Photographed in Phoenix, Arizona, USA in 21 October 2007. This photo is hosted at Wikimedia where there are additional images of Milkweed species.
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RANGE: Far
western portions of the Sonoran Desert - ranging into the Mojave Desert of
California. Ranges also into the Sonoran Desert regions of Baja California,
Mexico.
LEAVES: Opposite leaves are nearly joined at their stem base.
Broad, succulent leaves are whitish-green. Underside veins conspicuous. White
latex from tears or breaks.
FLOWERS: Five-pointed, purplish-white flowers are arrayed in umbels.
SEEDS: Seeds covered with long silky hairs inside globose capsule.
SHRUB: Long-lived plants may approach tree size of 2 to 3 m.
UNARMED.
The trunk of desert milkweed can reach tree-diameter and has deeply ridged, corky bark. This specimen found cultivated in Phoenix, Arizona.