Milkweed Plant Leaf. Its ramets grow from rhizomes all parts of common milkweed plants produce white latex when broken. The simple leaves are opposite or sometimes whorled.
The leaves of all milkweed species are the host plant for the caterpillars of beautiful american monarch butterflies meaning milkweed leaves are the only food that they can eat to survive. Up to 25 cm 9 8 in long and 12 cm 4 7 in broad usually with entire undulate margins and reddish main veins. The corona circle of petals around the center of the flower contains 5 hooded forms facing inwards.
Common milkweed is a clonal perennial herb growing up to 2 6 m 8 5 ft tall.
Fourleaf milkweed has 3 or 4 sets of leaves of which 1 or 2 of the upper sets has 4 leaves in a whorl the other sets with 2 leaves. The corona circle of petals around the center of the flower contains 5 hooded forms facing inwards. Occurs in open dry or rocky woods usually on upland slopes. There are 5 separate sepals petal like leaves and 5 fused petals.