Asclepias curassavica, commonly known as tropical milkweed,[3] is a flowering plant species of the milkweed genus, Asclepias.[4] It is native to the American tropics[5] and has a pantropical distribution as an introduced species. Other common names include bloodflower or blood flower,[3]cotton bush,[6]hierba de la cucaracha,[3]Mexican butterfly weed, redhead,[6]scarlet milkweed,[3] and wild ipecacuanha.[3]
It is grown as an ornamental garden plant and as a food source for some butterflies, however it may be harmful to the migration patterns of monarch butterflies when used in gardens outside of its native tropical range.[7] Though public concern for the rapidly declining monarch population increased the demand and commercial availability of milkweed among nurseries in the US, the results have been mixed. While tropical milkweed may effectively sustain monarch larvae, the perennial growth of the plant takes ill effect on the monarchs' migratory patterns and may have other physiological effects.[8] Use of the tropical milkweed in gardens has disrupted monarch migrations notably in California, Texas, Florida, and South Carolina.[9] Unlike the milkweed species native to these locations, the tropical milkweed does not go dormant in the winter causing non-migratory groups of butterflies to form. Planting Asclepias curassavica in nonnative regions therefore remains controversial and criticized. Alternatively, native milkweed species (such as showy milkweed, narrowleaf milkweed, and desert milkweed for California[10]) are suggested for butterfly gardens.[11]
It also attracts other members of the Danainae subfamily, such as the queen.
Collage of arthropods using tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) for nectar or as a hunting ground
^Cite error: The named reference natureserve was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Synonyms of Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
^ abcde"Common Names for Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
^"ITIS Standard Report Page: Asclepias curassavica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
^Cite error: The named reference efloras was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ab"Asclepias curassavica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
^Howard, Elizabeth; Aschen, Harlen; Davis, Andrew K. (2010). "Citizen Science Observations of Monarch Butterfly Overwintering in the Southern United States". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 2010: 1–6. doi:10.1155/2010/689301.
^Majewska, Ania A.; Altizer, Sonia (16 August 2019). "Exposure to Non-Native Tropical Milkweed Promotes Reproductive Development in Migratory Monarch Butterflies". Insects. 10 (8): 253. doi:10.3390/insects10080253. PMC 6724006. PMID 31426310.
^"Can Milkweed be Bad for Monarchs". 12 January 2013.
^Fahy, Claire (2021-06-01). "California's Monarch Butterflies Are Down 99%. Can This Plant Help?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
^Clarke, Chris (9 January 2015). "Gardening to Help Monarch Butterflies? Plant Natives". KCET.
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Asclepiascurassavica, commonly known as tropical milkweed, is a flowering plant species of the milkweed genus, Asclepias. It is native to the American...
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ibaguense (Orchidaceae) resembles flowers of Lantana camara and Asclepiascurassavica, and is pollinated by monarch butterflies and perhaps hummingbirds...
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bird droppings. The larvae feed on Carica papaya, Ficus carica, Asclepiascurassavica and Jacaratia. L. h. halia (Suriname, French Guiana) L. h. cleobaea...
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oleander Colony on Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Colony on Asclepiascurassavica Colony on Asclepias oenotheroides Colony on Asclepias syriaca inflorescence...
pollinator behavior in the apparent complex consisting of E. radicans, Asclepiascurassavica, and Lantana camara, but could not find clear evidence that floral...
plants. If there is a hard frost in these areas they do not survive. Asclepiascurassavica, an introduced annual ornamental, provides larval food if native...
issued in the following April. Food plants: Marsdenia roylei, W Asclepiascurassavica, Cynanchum caudatum, C. grandifolium, C. sublanceolatum, Hoya carnosa...
Colombia, and northern Brazil, resembles flowers of Lantana camara and Asclepiascurassavica (commonly called Mexican butterfly weed, blood-flower, scarlet milkweed...
intense yellow labellum mimic the flowers of an asclepiadaceae, Asclepiascurassavica. There is a butterfly, Agraulis vanillae, which usually visits this...
southern and eastern Africa Plants known as blood flower, including: Asclepiascurassavica, an American tropical milkweed This page is an index of articles...
twiners and creepers from the family Asclepiadaceae, including: Asclepiascurassavica Ceropegia intermedia Cynanchum dalhousieae Raphistemma pulchellum...
contribute to the success of invasive species, such as the milkweeds Asclepiascurassavica and Gomphocarpus fruticosus. Wikispecies has information related...
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