What Flower, Plant, Weed is this?

[GuglioLS]

Hi all you plant experts. Any idea what this plant / flower / weed is? I stumbled across it driving my ATV collecting firewood. It's located on my property in the mountains of central New Mexico about 7000' elevation. Never seen anything like it around here or anywhere else for that matter.

It really stands out and seems to be a one of a kind for this neck of the woods. It's in an area of very old growth forest with mostly Pinion, Juniper some scrub Oak, Yucca plants and the occasional Barrel Cactus. Dry as bone around here so it was surprising to me to see something like this.

My guess is someone out there has these by the millions and knows exactly what it is. The clusters of flowers? are very round and are about the size of a large orange.



Check out the last pick on the right, notice anything unusual? My wife picked it out right away. Can it be transplanted? It would be nice to have these growing around the house to enjoy. Please excuse my ignorance as to what this is but I've never seen anything like it and are curious.

Larry

 

[jlrsn]

At first I thought I had seen it in the Chama Area but after looking close it is similar but different. I'm in CA for the next couple of weeks but I'll look when I get back. It is very pretty!!

Jim

 

[Carykong]

wish I could help you. high desert plants do not necessarily bloom or become visible every year. weather,rain,temp has to be right,otherwise,some plants will stay dorment for years.

 

[ToadHill]

That is a great looking plant, I'd keep my eye on it and collect seeds when they are set and try to plant them at home.

 

[jinman]

That is a milkweek called "antelope horns." it will mature and produce a pod full of seeds that have cotton like dandelion seeds. When the pod dries, it splits open and the seeds burst forth to be carried by the wind.

I've attached a photo I took many years ago of an antelope horns plant with American Painted Lady butterflies on it as well as a bee. I have bunches of these plants on my place. If you cut a stem, you will see the sticky milk ooze out. Don't forget that the plant is considered poisonous, so don't be tempted to taste the "milk."

Edit: Larry, it is unusual for a blossom to only have 4 horns instead of 5. I'm pretty sure that is the odd thing you noted in the last photo.

Edit some more: Here is a link to seed pod bursting open.

 

[weldingisfun]

How many do you want? There are thousands growing on our place.

 

[jinman]

How many do you want? There are thousands growing on our place.

Lee, do your goats ever try to eat them? In general, I think livestock won't mess with milkweed, but butterflies and bees sure love them. I don't know which I have more of, milkweed or thistle.

 

[GuglioLS]

That is a milkweek called "antelope horns." it will mature and produce a pod full of seeds that have cotton like dandelion seeds. When the pod dries, it splits open and the seeds burst forth to be carried by the wind.

I've attached a photo I took many years ago of an antelope horns plant with American Painted Lady butterflies on it as well as a bee. I have bunches of these plants on my place. If you cut a stem, you will see the sticky milk ooze out. Don't forget that the plant is considered poisonous, so don't be tempted to taste the "milk."

Edit: Larry, it is unusual for a blossom to only have 4 horns instead of 5. I'm pretty sure that is the odd thing you noted in the last photo.

Edit some more: Here is a link to seed pod bursting open.

PlantFiles: Picture #2 of Spider Milkweed, Antelope Horns (Asclepias asperula)

Jim THANKS!

Odd I've never seen anything like it in my 33 years here on the property. Conditions must have been just right for it to grow this year. Some seeds from Lee's place must have blown all the way over here.

"Edit: Larry, it is unusual for a blossom to only have 4 horns instead of 5. I'm pretty sure that is the odd thing you noted in the last photo."

Right you are - very unusual to have one flower pedal have 4 leaves whereas all the others are 5. I didn't notice that till I looked at the pictures and my wife Esther pointed it out.

Anyway mystery solved. Thanks for checking it out.

Larry

 

[charlz]

but butterflies and bees sure love them.

I don't know if it includes all varieties of milkweed but milkweed is an important item in the reproduction cycle of Monarch butterflies. It is the only think the larvae can/will eat.

 

[sld]

I don't know if it includes all varieties of milkweed but milkweed is an important item in the reproduction cycle of Monarch butterflies. It is the only think the larvae can/will eat.

Thank you Cliff Clavin!:laughing:

Just kidding, interesting factoid. We get tons of monarchs thru Kansas on their migration.