narrow-leaf milkweed

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Narrow-leaf milkweed habit

Narrow-leaf milkweed leaves and inflorescence

Narrow-leaf milkweed

Narrow-leaf milkweed flowers

Narrow-leaf milkweed flowers

Narrow-leaf milkweed inflorescence

Narrow-leaf milkweed inflorescence

Narrow-leaf milkweed

Narrow-leaf milkweed

Narrow-leaf milkweed

Narrow-leaf milkweed inflorescences

Narrow-leaf milkweed

Narrow-leaf milkweed inflorescence

Narrow-leaf milkweed

Morphology

Stem

Erect, solitary or occasionally paired, straight, slender, mostly simple, minutely pubescent above, nearly glabrous below.

Leaves

Alternate to nearly opposite, simple, nearly sessile, narrowly linear, 1.5 to 7 inches long, less than .25 inch wide, minutely pubescent; margins entire, often rolling under; tips pointed.

Inflorescence

Umbels, few to several, mostly sessile in upper leaf axils, 10-25-flowered.

Flower

5-parted, about 1/3 inch tall; calyx lobes lanceolate, green to purple-tinged, minutely pubescent; corolla lobes elliptic-lanceolate, pale greenish white to yellow, glabrous, bent abruptly downward; hoods narrowly oblong, white; tips appearing 3-lobed, middle lobe triangular, shorter than the 2 lateral lobes, representing horn.

Fruit

Pods, spindle-shaped, 4 to 5 inches long, 1/4 to 1/3 inch wide, minutely pubescent to nearly glabrous, erect on downward-curved stalks; seeds egg-shaped, tufted with tan hairs at tips.

Ecology

Habitat

Sandy or rocky limestone prairies.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

The Lakota gave their children the root of narrow-leaved milkweed to stimulate their appetite.

Additional Notes