milkweed

English

Tropical milkweed (plant), Asclepias curassavica L.

Etymology

milk + weed

Noun

milkweed (plural milkweeds)

  1. Any of several plants that have a milky sap and have pods that split to release seeds with silky tufts.
    1. Principally of the genus Asclepias in order Gentianales, family Apocynaceae
    2. Also of the genus Calotropis in order Gentianales, family Apocynaceae
    3. Euphorbia peplus and Euphorbia heterophylla, in order Malpighiales.
  2. A monarch butterfly (Danaus spp).

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Hyponyms

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References

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