Asclepias subulata
Asclepias subulata, commonly known as the subulate milkweed, is a resilient perennial native to the Americas. Renowned for its lance-shaped leaves and delicate clusters of fragrant, star-shaped flowers, this plant serves as a vital nectar source for pollinators and plays a crucial role in supporting specialized monarch butterfly larvae.
- Scientific name: Asclepias subulata
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Gentianales, it is further categorized into the family Apocynaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Asclepia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Asclepias | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known by its various regional names, is referred to as اسكليبياس سوبولاتا in Arabic (arz), while in Chinese, it is commonly called 裸茎乳草 (zh), 裸茎乳草 (zh-cn), or 裸莖乳草 (zh-tw).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| arz | اسكليبياس سوبولاتا | Wikidata |
| zh | 裸茎乳草 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 裸茎乳草 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 裸莖乳草 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific range across the arid regions of North America. In the Southwestern United States, it can be found growing in Arizona. Its distribution also extends into the states of California and Nevada. Moving south, the species is prevalent throughout Northwest Mexico. These combined locations define the primary natural habitat for this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern U.S.A. | Arizona | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | California | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | Nevada | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
Chemicals
Asclepias subulata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include calotropin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| calotropin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Asclepias subulata has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colorectal cancer.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| colorectal cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |