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Botanical Name : Asclepies asperula
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Genus: Asclepias
Species: A. asperula
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Gentianales
Kingdom: Plantae
Common Name :Antelope horns, green-flowered milkweed, and spider antelope horns.Spider milkweed, Green-flowered milkweed, Spider antelope-horns,Inmortal
Habitat : Asclepies asperula is native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.Sandy or rocky calcareous soils.
Description:
It is a perennial plant growing to 0.6–2 m (1–2 feet) tall, with clustered greenish-yellow flowers with maroon highlights. It blooms from April through June, and favors moist, sandy or rocky soil.
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Asclepies asperula is a clump-forming, 1-2 ft. perennial with an upright or sprawling habit. Stems are densely covered with minute hairs. The leaves are 4–8 inches long, narrow, and irregularly grouped. The long, thick, narrow leaves are often folded lengthwise. As the green seed pods grow in length and begin to curve, they resemble antelope horns. Its pale, greenish-yellow flowers, tinged maroon, are crowded in round, terminal clusters 3–4 inches across at the end of the flower stem and are intricately arranged. Inside the partially divided petals is a crown, out of which extend 5 white stamens with large, ball-like anthers, all symmetrically arranged.
Cultivation: Sandy or rocky calcareous soils.
Propagation: Seed – best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in late winter. We have also had good results from sowing the seed in the greenhouse in early spring, though stored seed might need 2 – 3 weeks cold stratification. Germination usually takes place in 1 – 3 months at 18?C. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out when they are in active growth in late spring or early summer and give them some protection from slugs until they are growing away strongly. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and place them in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly, then plant them out in the summer, giving them some protection from slugs until they are established. Basal cuttings in late spring. Use shoots about 10cm long with as much of their white underground stem as possible. Pot them up individually and place them in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are rooting and growing actively. If the plants grow sufficiently, they can be put into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in the greenhouse until the following spring and when they are in active growth plant them out into their permanent positions. Give them some protection from slugs until they are established.
Edible Uses:
The following reports refer to other members of this genus and are possibly also appropriate for this species. Unopened flower buds – cooked. They taste somewhat like peas. They are used like broccoli. Flowers and young flower buds – cooked. Used as a flavouring and a thickener in soups etc. The flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup. The flowers are harvested in the early morning with the dew still on them. When boiled up it makes a brown sugar. Young shoots – cooked. An asparagus substitute. They should be used when less than 20cm tall. A slightly bitter taste. Tips of older shoots are cooked like spinach. Young seed pods, 3 – 4 cm long, cooked. They are very appetizing. Best used when about 2 – 4cm long and before the seed floss forms, on older pods remove any seed floss before cooking them. If picked at the right time, the pods resemble okra. The sprouted seeds can be eaten. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. The latex in the stems is made into a chewing gum. It is found mainly in the leaves and is destroyed by frost. Yields are higher on dry soils.
Medicinal Uses:
The plant is used as a snuff in the treatment of catarrh.Outside the Spanish and Indian herbal tradition of the New Maxico, Asclepies asperula is virtually unknown.It is broncal dilator and stimulates lymph drainage from the lungs,consequently a medicine of asthma,pleurisy,bronchities,, and lung infections in general.. One-half teaspoonful of dried root is boiled and drunk every 3 to 4 hours as long as necessary. The root is mild and reliable cardiac tonic,particularly in congestive heart disorders.
Asclepies asperula is an effective manstrual stimulatent, either for tardiness or for stimulating a scanty, painful period.Half to one teaspoon , once or twice. It has been used as an antibactrial up to the sixth week of pregnancy, but is not very reliable as it may likely cause nuasea than miscarriage. The tea drunk after childbirth or during labor will aid in shortening the utrine contractions afterwards and decrease the time necessary for vaginal discharge or lochia. A small amount of root taken several times during the day stimulate to chargeover the clostrums to milk production. The plant is used as a snuff in the treatment of catarrh.
Other Uses:
The following reports refer to other members of this genus and are possibly also appropriate for this species. A good quality fibre is obtained from the bark, used in making twine, cloth, paper etc. It is of poor quality in wet seasons. It is easily harvested in late autumn after the plant has died down by simply pulling the fibres off the dried stems. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth. It is a Kapok substitute, used in Life Jackets or as a stuffing material. Very water repellent, it can yield up to 550 kilos per hectare. The floss has also been used to mop up oil spills at sea. Candlewicks can be made from the seed floss. Rubber can be made from latex contained in the leaves and the stems. It is found mainly in the leaves and is destroyed by frost. Yields are higher on dry soils. Pods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance. The seed contains up to 20% of an edible semi-drying oil. It is also used in making liquid soap.
Monarch butterflies:
Like several other species of milkweed, A. asperula is a food for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Along with being a source of nutrition for monarchs, the plants also contain alkaloids that the monarchs retain, making them unpalatable and poisonous to predators. For the same reason, A. asperula can be poisonous to livestock and other animals, including humans.
Known Hazards:
Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. They are usually avoided by grazing animals. This species is said to be poisonous to livestock
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_asperula
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=11625
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASAS
http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/asclepias-asperula=antelope-horns.php
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_IJK.htm
- Agastache mexicana (findmeacure.com)
