Medicinal Monday - Milkweed, Monarchs and Medicine

Milkweed is the key to the life cycle of Monarch Butterflies.  In May and June, these glorious insects lay their eggs on milkweed leaves because it is the only thing that monarch caterpillars will eat. And, by July and August, adult Monarch Butterflies feast on the nectar of the flowers. Milkweed is not only useful to Monarch Butterflies, the Chippewa, Iroquois, and Meskwaki found many interesting uses for this plant ranging from pediatric aids to witchcraft.

About Swamp Milkweed
True to its name the upright Swamp Milkweed is commonly found in sunny openings in swamps, bogs, marshes, fens, and along river banks.  The leaves have a lance-like shape and are smooth and narrow with sharp tips.  Swamp milkweed is a tall herbaceous moisture-loving, perennial plant that, like its common cousin, the milkweed, it exudes a milky juice when broken. Sometimes the edges of the leaf turn upward and are reminiscent of a ship.  According to the USDA, Swamp Milkweeds are found in every state in the U.S. except Arizona, Mississippi, and states with a Pacific Coastline.

Swamp milkweeds produce large showy blossoms that are composed of many small, star-shaped rose-colored florets.  The flowers give off a scent similar to cinnamon and cluster at the top of a graceful, upright stem that can grow up to four feet tall.  Monarch, red admiral, American lady, painted lady, swallowtail, fritillary, and hairstreak butterflies; along with bumblebees, honeybees, and hummingbirds seek the floral nectar.  The blooming season is early to late summer in wild populations.  The stems and leaves contain a milky sap that drips when plants are damaged.

After Swamp Milkweeds blossom they produce elongated brown seed pods that are up to four inches long.  The seed pods split open when ripe releasing brown seeds that are attached to silver-white silky hair that allows them to be carried on the wind.

Medicinal Uses of Swamp Milkweed
The Chippewa and the Iroquois used this plant as a pediatric aid; both used a cold infusion of roots as a strengthening bath; the infusion was used to help heal the navel of a newborn. The Chippewa also used a decoction of this plant as a diuretic. The Iroquois would weave the stem of a swamp milkweed plant into a chord and use it to extract teeth.  They also used this plant in witchcraft, making a decoction that would increase physical strength in order to be strong enough to punish a witch.  The Meskwaki used an infusion of swamp milkweed roots to drive out tapeworms. Several Native American communities applied the milky white sap to the skin in order to remove warts.  The roots were chewed to cure dysentery. The fluffy white floss attached to the milkweed's flat brown seeds were used to stuff quilts and were sometimes carried as tinder to start fires.

Did You Know

Swamp milkweed attracts a profusion of butterflies and is a favorite of the Monarch Butterfly, who actually lays its eggs on the milkweeds.

The leaves of all milkweed species are the only food that caterpillars of the American Monarch butterflies can eat.

Not all Monarch Butterflies are the same. The eastern variety found in Connecticut is slightly larger and lighter colored than their western brethren. Each follows a unique migratory route - Eastern Monarchs fly from Mexico to New England and Southern Canada and Western Monarchs migrate from Southern California up to British Columbia.

If a bird or a small animal eats a Monarch caterpillar full of milkweed toxins, the bird runs the risk of fatal damage to the heart, muscles, and kidneys.

If you plan on growing milkweed for Monarch Butterflies you can get your garden certified by Monarch Watch. You can also get involved in the Monarch Waystation Program this fall that is organized by this organization.

Swamp Milkweed is also known as swamp silkweed, white Indian hemp, and rose milkweed.

The sticky white sap contains a mild poison, its bitter taste warns away many animals and people too.

During World War II, the regular material used to stuff life jackets was in short supply, so milkweed floss was called for as a substitute—it is about six times more buoyant than cork!

The Latin name for this plant is Asclepias incarnata and was named for the Greek God of Medicine, Asklepios. Incarnata, is from the Latin carn, meaning flesh and atus, like, because its hue is sometimes like flesh or dusty rose in color. 

Plant Swamp Milkweed in your garden to provide much-needed habitat and food source for butterflies.  Without milkweeds, Monarch butterflies cannot reproduce.