Asclepias syriaca

In the fall, milkweed pods split to reveal rows of seeds tucked inside. The seeds are arranged so that only a few are released at a time. Each seed is attached to a small "parachute" made of silken threads. These threads remain attached at the tip of the pod, until a breeze dislodges them and carries them away from the adult plant. If the parachute becomes tangled in a thicket of grasses, the seeds fall off and drop to the ground.

Cool Link:

Milkweed - natural history information and historical/cultural lore and uses. Part of the class lesson/activity Medicinal Plants in Your Backyard: Exploring Biodiversity Through Ethnobotany from the Leadership Program for Teachers.

back to Nature Notebook