Scientific Name
Asclepias tuberosa
Common Name
Butterfly weed, milkweed, chigger-plant

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Asclepiadaceae
Plant Description
Erect, perennial herbs without milky juice; leaves simple, alternate or opposite; flowers 5-parted, in rounded or flat-topped clusters, yellow, orange or red; fruit dry and inflated, erect, and with many hair-tufted seeds.
Origin
USA, NC.
Distribution
Throughout.
Where Found
Landscape in flower garden as native, cultivated, herbaceous perennial.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Roots, plant sap from all parts.
Symptoms
Vomiting, stupor, weakness, spasms.
Edibility
NOT EDIBLE!
Toxic Principle
Resinoid, cardiac glycoside.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

Previous Species, Home, Next Species