Asclepias curassavica flower2

Introduced, warm-season, perennial, erect, woody herb; with milky sap and 60-90 cm tall. Leaves are 6-12 cm long, narrowly elliptic, and pointed at both ends. Flowerheads are clusters of orange and red flowers. Fruits are 7-10 cm long, spindle-shaped pods, which split open to release seeds that float on silky parachutes. Flowering is from spring to autumn. A native of Central America, it is a weed of pastures and disturbed areas; more common in the north of the coast. A host of the native wanderer butterfly (Danaus

plexippus). Poisonous to cattle, horses, goats and sheep, but it is rarely eaten due to its bitter taste; ruminants are more tolerant than horses. Only likely to be a problem during extreme feed shortages. Poisoning is due to cardiac glycosides (as for digitalis), which cause death from heart muscle paralysis; symptoms include loss of appetite, bloating, swelling under the jaw and diarrhoea. Seedlings can be hand pulled if the soil is moist. Older plants can be killed using the cut and paint method

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