Asclepias viridiflora


Asclepias viridiflora, common names green milkweed, green comet milkweed, and green-flower milkweed is a widely distributed species of milkweed known from much of the eastern and central United States from Connecticut to Georgia to Arizona to Montana, as well as southern Canada.
Asclepias viridiflora is an erect to ascending herb up to 50 cm tall, with distinctive greenish-white flowers. The pods lack the warts and tubercules common on other species of Asclepias.

Conservation status

It is listed as endangered in Florida, as threatened in New York, and as endangered in Connecticut.

Native American [Ethnobotany]

The Blackfoot apply a poultice of chewed roots to swellings, to "diarrhea rash", to rashes, to the sore gums of nursing infants and to sore eyes. They also chew the root for sore throats, and use the plant to spice soups, and use the fresh roots for food. The Brulé Lakota give pulverized roots to children with diarrhea, and an infusion of the whole plant is taken by mothers to increase their milk.