Spider Milkweed (Antelope Horns)

Asclepias viridis
 
I had the good fortune to participate in a wildflower walk hosted by the Friends of Konza Prairie. I saw loads of beautiful flowers, but one stood out – the Spider Milkweed. It looked like something from another planet! The flowers were green, but they had a purple five-pointed star center. They are too cool!

Spider Milkweed possesses the same quality as other milkweeds where the sap is toxic. It is also a host plant for Monarch Butterflies. It is a true prairie plant, found in the Great Plains, no further north than Nebraska, and south to Texas and Florida. It is not a super showy plant, you almost need to look for it, but that’s what I think makes it so special.
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The Spider Milkweed is only one more example of all the magic nature has to offer if you look!

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