Milkweed can be used to treat rattlesnake bites.
The plant family Asclepiadaceae, also known as the milkweed family, is thought to consist of around 280 genera and 2,000 species of flowering shrubs and herbs. Milkweed plants typically produce five-petaled flowers and white sap. The seeds of these plants normally form in pods, and most plants produce plumed seeds that are blown by the wind when the mature pods open. Members of the Asclepiadaceae family are often grown as ornamental plants and some may be known as weeds.
The plant family Asclepiadaceae has been used for the treatment of ringworm.
Plants in the Asclepiadaceae family are commonly known as milkweeds because they generally produce a white, sticky sap that resembles milk. Most species produce symmetrical, five-petaled flowers. In some species, the flowers can be quite colorful and attractive. Most plants in the Asclepiadaceae family produce pod fruits, filled with small seeds. The silky tufts of these seeds normally catch the wind when the mature pod opens, scattering the seeds in the breeze.
All types of milkweed are toxic and produce a sticky, milky sap on stems and leaves that can irritate skin.
Some species of this family of plants depend on flies to pollinate them. Species such as carrion flower, or Aclepias Huernia, and hoodia, or Asclepias stapelia, typically attract fly pollinators by excreting foul odors reminiscent of rotting meat. These aromatics can attract the flies that pollinate these plants. Other species, however, produce fragrances that are considered pleasant, such as Stephanotis floribunda or Madagascar jasmine.
Members of the Asclepiadaceae family may include the showy milkweed or Asclepias speciosa. The showy milkweed is considered a relatively common wildflower in North America. The fibrous stems of this plant are believed to have been used by Native Americans to produce rope, twine, and cloth. Parts of this plant may have been considered edible by native peoples, and it is believed that the sap of the showy milkweed was once used to make chewing gum. It was used medicinally to treat rattlesnake bites, cuts, burns, ringworm, and warts, among other conditions.
The showy milkmaid can be found growing wild in most of North America. Some gardeners also grow this wildflower as a garden feature. Gardeners generally appreciate the plant’s purple and pink flowers and find it hardy and easy to care for. The showy milkweed is known to attract butterflies and bees to the garden.
Other species of the Asclepiadaceae family, such as pitcher plant, or Dischidia rafflesiana, and waxflower, or Hoya carnosa, are also popular as outdoor garden plants and indoor potted plants. Many species are hardy and productive, colorful and fragrant flowers that attract butterflies, bees and birds to the garden.