The Milkweed Family Species List
Biota of North America Program
Araujia Brot. - BLADDER-FLOWER
sericifera Brot.
Asclepias L. - MILKWEED
albicans S. Wats.
amplexicaulis Sm. Found in Texas and known locally as: Bluntleaf milkweed
angustifolia Schweig.
arenaria Torr. Found in Texas and known locally as: Sand milkweed
asperula (Dcne.) Woods.
ssp. asperula Found in Texas, local name unknown.
ssp. capricornu (Woods.) Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Trailing milkweed Synonymy: Asclepias asperula var. decumbens (Nutt.) Shinners , Asclepias capricornu Woods. , Asclepias capricornu ssp. occidentalis Woods. , Asclepias decumbens (Nutt.) Dcne. , Asclepiodora decumbens (Nutt.) Gray
brachystephana Engelm. ex Torr. Found in Texas and known locally as: Shortcrown milkweed
californica Greene
ssp. californica
ssp. greenei Woods.
cinerea Walt.
connivens Baldw. Synonymy: Anantherix connivens (Baldw.) Feay
cordifolia (Benth.) Jepson Synonymy: Gomphocarpus cordifolius Benth.
cryptoceras S. Wats.
ssp. cryptoceras
ssp. davisii (Woods.) Woods. Synonymy: Asclepias cryptoceras var. davisii (Woods.) W.H. Baker , Asclepias davisii Woods.
curassavica L. Found in Texas and known locally as: Veintiunilla
curtissii Gray Synonymy: Asclepias aceratoides Nash , Oxypteryx curtissii (Gray) Small
cutleri Woods.
emoryi (Greene) Vail Found in Texas and known locally as: Emory milkweed
engelmanniana Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Engelmann milkweed Synonymy: Acerates auriculata Engelm. ex Torr. , Asclepias auriculata (Engelm. ex Torr.) Holz.
eriocarpa Benth. Synonymy: Asclepias eriocarpa var. microcarpa Munz & Johnston , Asclepias fremontii Torr. ex Gray
erosa Torr.
exaltata L. Synonymy: Asclepias bicknellii Vail , Asclepias phytolaccoides Pursh
fascicularis Dcne. Synonymy: Asclepias mexicana auct. non Cav.
feayi Chapman ex Gray Synonymy: Asclepiodella feayi (Chapman ex Gray) Small
glaucescens Kunth Found in Texas (treated as Asclepias elata Benth. by Hatch et al, 1990) Synonymy: Asclepias elata Benth.
hallii Gray
hirtella (Pennell) Woods. Synonymy: Acerates hirtella Pennell , Asclepias longifolia var. hirtella (Pennell) Farmer & Bell
humistrata Walt.
hypoleuca (Gray) Woods.
incarnata L. Found in Texas, local name unknown.
ssp. incarnata
ssp. pulchra (Ehrh. ex Willd.) Woods. Found in Texas (treated as Asclepias incarnata L. var. pulchra (Willd.) Pers. by Hatch et al, 1990) Synonymy: Asclepias incarnata var. neoscotica Fern. , Asclepias incarnata var. pulchra (Ehrh. ex Willd.) Pers. , Asclepias pulchra Ehrh. ex Willd.
involucrata Engelm. ex Torr. Found in Texas, local name unknown.
labriformis M.E. Jones
lanceolata Walt. Found in Texas and known locally as: Lanceleaf milkweed Synonymy: Asclepias lanceolata var. paupercula (Michx.) Fern.
lanuginosa Nutt. Synonymy: Acerates lanuginosa (Nutt.) Dcne. , Asclepias otarioides auct. non Fourn.
latifolia (Torr.) Raf. Found in Texas and known locally as: Broadleaf milkweed
lemmonii Gray
linaria Cav.
linearis Scheele Found in Texas and known locally as: Slim milkweed
longifolia Michx. Found in Texas and known locally as: Longleaf milkweed Synonymy: Acerates delticola Small , Acerates floridana (Lam.) A.S. Hitchc. , Acerates longifolia (Michx.) Ell.
macrosperma Eastw.
macrotis Torr. Found in Texas and known locally as: Longhood milkweed
meadii Torr. ex Gray Listed by the U.S. FWS as threatened - the FWS local name is Mead's milkweed and the FWS range is: U.S.A. (IA, IL, IN, KS, MO, WI).
michauxii Dcne.
nivea L.
nummularia Torr. Found in Texas and known locally as: Roundleaf milkweed, yerba de cuervo
nyctaginifolia Gray
obovata Ell. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Asclepias viridiflora var. obovata (Ell.) Torr.
oenotheroides Cham. & Schlecht. Found in Texas and known locally as: Hierba de zizotes Synonymy: Asclepias brevicornu Scheele
ovalifolia Dcne.
pedicellata Walt. Synonymy: Podostigma pedicellata (Walt.) Vail
perennis Walt. Found in Texas and known locally as: Shore milkweed, thinleaf milkweed
physocarpa (E. Mey.) Schlechter Synonymy: Gomphocarpus physocarpus E. Mey.
prostrata Blackwell Found in Texas, local name unknown.
pumila (Gray) Vail Found in Texas and known locally as: Plains milkweed, low milkweed
purpurascens L. Found in Texas and known locally as: Purple milkweed
quadrifolia Jacq.
quinquedentata Gray Found in Texas and known locally as: Slimpod milkweed
rubra L. Found in Texas and known locally as: Red milkweed Synonymy: Asclepias laurifolia Michx.
rusbyi (Vail) Woods. Synonymy: Asclepias engelmanniana var. rusbyi (Vail) Kearney
sanjuanensis Heil, J.M. Porter & Welsh
scaposa Vail Found in Texas, local name unknown.
solanoana Woods. Synonymy: Solanoa purpurascens (Gray) Greene
speciosa Torr. Found in Texas and known locally as: Showy milkweed Synonymy: Asclepias giffordii Eastw.
sperryi Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Sperry milkweed
stenophylla Gray Found in Texas and known locally as: Slimleaf milkweed, narrowleaf milkweed Synonymy: Acerates angustifolia (Nutt.) Dcne. , Polyotus angustifolius Nutt.
subulata Dcne.
subverticillata (Gray) Vail Found in Texas and known locally as: Poison milkweed, horsetail milkweed Synonymy: Asclepias galioides auct. non Kunth
sullivantii Engelm. ex Gray
syriaca L. Synonymy: Asclepias intermedia Vail , Asclepias kansana Vail , Asclepias syriaca var. kansana (Vail) Palmer & Steyermark
texana Heller Found in Texas and known locally as: Texas milkweed
tomentosa Ell. Found in Texas, local name unknown.
tuberosa L.
ssp. interior Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Asclepias tuberosa ssp. terminalis Woods. , Asclepias tuberosa var. interior (Woods.) Shinners
ssp. rolfsii (Britt. ex Vail) Woods. Synonymy: Asclepias rolfsii Britt. ex Vail
ssp. tuberosa
uncialis Greene
ssp. ruthiae (Maguire) Kartesz & Gandhi Synonymy: Asclepias eastwoodiana Barneby , Asclepias ruthiae Maguire , Asclepias uncialis var. ruthiae (Maguire) E. Sundell
ssp. uncialis
variegata L. Found in Texas and known locally as: White-flowered milkweed Synonymy: Biventraria variegata (L.) Small
verticillata L. Found in Texas and known locally as: Whorled milkweed, eastern whorled milkweed
vestita Hook. & Arn.
ssp. parishii (Jepson) Woods. Synonymy: Asclepias vestita var. parishii Jepson
ssp. vestita
viridiflora Raf. Found in Texas and known locally as: Green antelopehorn Synonymy: Acerates viridiflora (Raf.) Pursh ex Eat. , Acerates viridiflora var. ivesii Britt. , Acerates viridiflora var. linearis Gray , Asclepias viridiflora var. lanceolata Torr. , Asclepias viridiflora var. linearis (Gray) Fern.
viridis Walt. Found in Texas and known locally as: Antelopehorn Synonymy: Asclepiodora viridis (Walt.) Gray
viridula Chapman
welshii N.& P. Holmgren Listed by the U.S. FWS as threatened - the FWS local name is Welsh's milkweed and the FWS range is: U.S.A. (AZ, UT).
Calotropis R. Br. - ROOSTERTREE
gigantea (L.) Ait. f.
procera (Ait.) Ait. f. Synonymy: Asclepias procera Ait.
Cryptostegia R. Br. - RUBBERVINE
grandiflora (Roxb. ex R. Br.) R. Br. Synonymy: Nerium grandiflorum Roxb. ex R. Br.
madagascariensis Bojer ex Dcne.
Cynanchum L. - SWALLOW-WORT
anegadense (Britt.) Alain Synonymy: Metastelma anegadense Britt.
angustifolium Pers. Found in Texas and known locally as: Marsh swallow-wort Synonymy: Cynanchum palustre (Pursh) Heller , Lyonia palustris (Pursh) Small
arizonicum (Gray) Shinners Synonymy: Metastelma arizonicum Gray
barbigerum (Scheele) Shinners Found in Texas and known locally as: Bearded swallow-wort, thicket threadvine Synonymy: Metastelma barbigerum Scheele
blodgettii (Gray) Shinners Synonymy: Metastelma blodgettii Gray
cheesmanii Woods. Synonymy: Metastelma decipiens Schlechter
cubense (A. Rich.) Woods. Synonymy: Cynanchum peraffine Woods. , Gonolobus cubensis A. Rich. , Metalepis cubensis (A. Rich.) Griseb.
ephedroides (Griseb.) Alain Synonymy: Metastelma ephedroides (Griseb.) Schlechter
grisebachianum (Schlechter) Alain Synonymy: Metastelma decaisneanum Schlechter
laeve (Michx.) Pers. Found in Texas and known locally as: Smooth swallow-wort, smooth anglepod, bluevine, sandvine Synonymy: Ampelamus albidus (Nutt.) Britt. , Gonolobus laevis Michx.
ligulatum (Benth.) Woods. Synonymy: Cynanchum sinaloense (Brandeg.) Woods. , Mellichampia sinaloensis (Brandeg.) Kearney & Peebles
lineare (Bello) Alain Synonymy: Metastelma lineare Bello
louiseae Kartesz & Gandhi Synonymy: Cynanchum nigrum (L.) Pers., non Cav. , Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench
maccartii Shinners Found in Texas and known locally as: Palmer swallow-wort Synonymy: Cynanchum palmeri (S. Wats.) Shinners, non Blake , Metastelma palmeri S. Wats.
monense (Britt.) Alain Synonymy: Metastelma monense Britt.
northropiae (Schlechter) Alain Synonymy: Epicion northropiae (Schlechter) Small
parviflorum Sw. Synonymy: Metastelma parviflorum (Sw.) R. Br. ex J.A. Schultes
pringlei (Gray) Henrickson Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Cynanchum barbigerum var. breviflorum Shinners , Metastelma pringlei Gray
racemosum (Jacq.) Jacq.
var. unifarium (Scheele) E. Sundell Found in Texas, local name unknown. No Texas distribution data available Synonymy: Cynanchum palmeri (S. Wats.) Blake , Cynanchum unifarium (Scheele) Woods.
rossicum (Kleopov) Borhidi Synonymy: Cynanchum medium auct. non R. Br. , Vincetoxicum medium auct. non (R. Br.) Dcne. , Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopov) Barbarich
scoparium Nutt. Synonymy: Amphistelma scoparia (Nutt.) Small , Metastelma scoparium (Nutt.) Vail
utahense (Engelm.) Woods. Synonymy: Astephanus utahensis Engelm.
vincetoxicum (L.) Pers. Synonymy: Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Medik.
wigginsii Shinners Synonymy: Basistelma angustifolia (Torr.) Bartlett, non Cynanchum angustifolium Pers.
Gonolobus Michx. - ANGLEPOD
stephanotrichus Griseb. Synonymy: Vincetoxicum stephanotrichum (Griseb.) Britt.
Hoya R. Br. - PORCELAIN-FLOWER
carnosa (L. f.) R. Br. Synonymy: Asclepias carnosa L. f.
Marsdenia R. Br. - NETVINE
elliptica Dcne.
Matelea Aubl. - MILKVINE
alabamensis (Vail) Woods. Synonymy: Cyclodon alabamense (Vail) Small
arizonica (Gray) Shinners Synonymy: Gonolobus arizonicus (Gray) Woods. , Lachnostoma arizonicum Gray
balbisii (Dcne.) Woods. Synonymy: Pherotrichis balbisii (Dcne.) Gray
baldwyniana (Sweet) Woods. Synonymy: Gonolobus baldwynianus Sweet , Odontostephana baldwyniana (Sweet) Alexander , Vincetoxicum baldwynianum (Sweet) Britt.
biflora (Raf.) Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Twoflower milkvine Synonymy: Gonolobus biflorus Raf.
borinquensis Alain
brevicoronata (B.L. Robins.) Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus parviflorus var. brevicoronatus B.L. Robins.
carolinensis (Jacq.) Woods. Synonymy: Gonolobus carolinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. ex J.A. Schultes, non Nutt. , Odontostephana carolinensis (Jacq.) Alexander , Vincetoxicum carolinense (Jacq.) Britt. , Vincetoxicum hirsutum (Michx.) Britt.
cordifolia (Gray) Woods. Synonymy: Rothrockia cordifolia Gray
cynanchoides (Engelm.) Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus cynanchoides Engelm.
decipiens (Alexander) Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus decipiens (Alexander) Perry , Odontostephana decipiens Alexander
edwardsensis Correll Found in Texas and known locally as: Plateau milkvine
flavidula (Chapman) Woods. Synonymy: Odontostephana flavidula (Chapman) Alexander
floridana (Vail) Woods. Synonymy: Odontostephana floridana (Vail) Alexander
gonocarpos (Walt.) Shinners Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus gonocarpos (Walt.) Perry , Gonolobus suberosus auct. non (L.) R. Br. , Matelea suberosus auct. non (L.) Shinners , Vincetoxicum gonocarpos Walt. , Vincetoxicum suberosum auct. non (L.) Britt.
maritima (Jacq.) Woods. Synonymy: Cynanchum maritimum (Jacq.) Jacq. , Ibatia maritima (Jacq.) Dcne.
obliqua (Jacq.) Woods. Synonymy: Gonolobus obliquus (Jacq.) R. Br. ex J.A. Schultes , Gonolobus shortii Gray , Matelea shortii (Gray) Woods. , Odontostephana obliqua (Jacq.) Alexander , Odontostephana shortii (Gray) Alexander , Vincetoxicum obliquum (Jacq.) Britt. , Vincetoxicum shortii (Gray) Britt.
parviflora (Torr.) Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Littleleaf milkvine
parvifolia (Torr.) Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus californicus Jepson , Gonolobus parvifolius Torr.
pringlei (Gray) Woods. Synonymy: Himantostemma pringlei Gray
producta (Torr.) Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus productus Torr.
pubiflora (Dcne.) Woods. Synonymy: Edisonia pubiflora (Dcne.) Small
radiata Correll Found in Texas, local name unknown.
reticulata (Engelm. ex Gray) Woods. Found in Texas, local name unknown. Synonymy: Gonolobus reticulatus Engelm. ex Gray
sagittifolia (Gray) Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Arrowleaf milkvine Synonymy: Gonolobus sagittifolius Gray
sintenisii (Schlechter) Woods. Synonymy: Gonolobus sintenisii Schlechter , Vincetoxicum sintenisii (Schlechter) Britt.
texensis Correll Found in Texas, local name unknown.
variifolia (Schlechter) Woods. Synonymy: Gonolobus variifolius Schlechter , Vincetoxicum variifolium (Schlechter) Britt.
woodsonii Shinners
Metaplexis R. Br. - ROUGH-POTATO
japonica (Thunb.) Makino
Morrenia Lindl. - LATEXPLANT
odorata (Hook. & Arn.) Lindl.
Oxypetalum R. Br. - WHITEHEART
cordifolium (Vent.) Schlechter
Periploca L. - SILKVINE
graeca L. Found in Texas, local name unknown.
Sarcostemma R. Br. - TWINEVINE
clausum (Jacq.) J.A. Schultes Synonymy: Funastrum clausum (Jacq.) Schlechter
crispum Benth. Found in Texas and known locally as: Wavyleaf twinevine Synonymy: Funastrum crispum (Benth.) Schlechter , Sarcostemma lobata Waterfall
cynanchoides Dcne. Found in Texas, local name unknown.
ssp. cynanchoides Synonymy: Funastrum cynanchoides (Dcne.) Schlechter , Funastrum cynanchoides var. subtruncatum (B.L. Robins. & Fern.) J.F. Macbr.
ssp. hartwegii (Vail) R. Holm Found in Texas (treated as Sarcostemma cynanchoides Dcne. var. hartwegii (Vail) Shinners by Hatch et al, 1990) Synonymy: Funastrum heterophyllum (Engelm. ex Torr.) Standl. , Funastrum lineare (Dcne.) J.F. Macbr. , Philibertia heterophylla (Engelm. ex Torr.) Jepson , Sarcostemma cynanchoides var. hartwegii (Vail) Shinners
hirtellum (Gray) R. Holm Synonymy: Funastrum hirtellum (Gray) Schlechter , Philibertia hirtella (Gray) Parish
torreyi (Gray) Woods. Found in Texas and known locally as: Soft twinevine
Stapelia L. - ZULU-GIANT
gigantea N.E. Br. Synonymy: Stapelia nobilis N.E. Br.