Little known facts about the Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed really lives up to its name. It attracts a wide range of butterflies to the abundant nectar that it produces. Butterfly weed belongs to the milkweed family. Unlike other members of its group it doesn’t ooze a sticky white sap if damaged. Today's photo is by WPC Land Steward Volunteer Richard Liberto.
- Butterfly weed stores food and water in a large taproot. This allows it to survive during the long dry summers.
- Because it is adapted to dry conditions butterfly weed is more likely to die from too much water than not enough. Too much water causes its roots to rot!
- Butterfly weed is occasionally used by Monarchs as a caterpillar food plant but is not preferred because it contains too little poison!
- Legend
has it that pioneers and native Americans used boiled butterfly weed
roots to treat diarrhea, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The
down from milkweed seeds was spun to make candlewicks. The young seed
pods were boiled with several changes of water and eaten like okra.
[source:
Texas Parks and Wildlife]
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