Asclepias fruticosa (African milkweed)
Easy identified by its sharply pointed fruit covered in purplish bristles.
- With milk secretion from either leaves or fruits parts when bruised ( Damage) is another way of identifying it.
Uses:
- Plant is Toxic in large quantities but when used in proper amount, it helps with stomach complaints, Diarrhea and cough
- The latex of this plant is used to remove wart (Mole)
- Silky seed threads are used to staff mattresses.
- Africa monarch butterflies is closely associated with this Plant as their lavas feed on it.
- These butterflies and Lava are thus poisonous and ignored by most insect feeders ( Predators )
- Many Butterflies and lavae which are not poisonous mimic the Monarch colors to prevent predation ( eg. female Dianders butterfly.
That is Asclepias fruticosa (African milkweed), I recommend not to try this weed’s uses unless you have a local user with you that they can show how to use it and in what Amount , and my last point is, Lets Keep the Wildlife Alive and it will keep as Alive as well.
