Asclepias connivens facts for kids

Asclepias connivens is a type of milkweed plant. People often call it Baldwin's milkweed or the largeflower milkweed. This plant loves wet places and is naturally found in the southeastern United States. You can spot it in states like Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Discovering Baldwin's Milkweed

This special milkweed was first found and described in 1817. An American plant expert named William Baldwin was the one who identified it. That's why one of its common names is "Baldwin's milkweed"!

The scientific name, connivens, has a cool meaning. It describes how parts of its flowers, called "hoods," come together or "converge" over the stigma (the part of the flower that receives pollen).

What Does It Look Like?

Baldwin's milkweed plants can grow quite tall, up to about 37 in (94 cm) (or 94 cm) high.

Flowers and Fruit

• Its flowers are a pretty greenish-yellow color.
• They are about 3⁄4 in (19 mm) (or 1.9 cm) across.
• You can usually see them blooming in the summer, from July to August.
• After the flowers, the plant grows seed pods called "follicles." These pods are long, about 5–7 in (130–180 mm) (or 13-18 cm) in length. They hold the seeds for new plants.

Leaves

• The leaves of Baldwin's milkweed are arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem.
• They are quite long, usually between 3.9–4.7 in (9.9–11.9 cm) (10-12 cm) in length.
• The leaves are also about 1.2–2.0 in (3.0–5.1 cm) (3-5 cm) wide.
• A cool fact about the leaves is that they are "sessile." This means they attach directly to the stem without a small stalk (called a petiole).

Where Does It Grow?

This milkweed is a "wetland species." This means it needs to grow in wet areas, like swamps, marshes, or along the edges of ponds and streams. It's native to the warm, humid climate of the southeastern United States.

Life Cycle

Like many plants, Baldwin's milkweed has a yearly cycle. When winter arrives, the plant's stalks and leaves die back down to the ground. But don't worry, the roots stay alive underground. When spring comes again, new shoots will grow from the roots, and the plant will start its life cycle all over!