Flowers Growing at Our Home

Milkweed

Asclepiadaceae Usually has thick milky juice, opposite or whorled leaves. Flowers: radially symmetrical in flat or round clusters; sepals 5; corolla of 5 united petals with reflexed lobes; a 5-lobed crown between corolla and stamens; Stamens 5. There are about 250 genera and 2,000 species, widely distributed. The unusual structure of the flower regulates pollination. Sacs of pollen snag on insects' legs, are pulled from the stamens, and must be precisely inserted in slits behind the crown. If inserted backwards, pollen grains germinate in the wrong direction and are wasted. Insects too small to pull free die trapped on the flower.