Common Milkweed

asclepias syriaca was the first milkweed i noticed. we were living in iowa and i saw the silvery, shinny seed floating from their pods and launching into the wind. i found that you could take a seed pod that was ready to launch and send the thousands of tiny seed and their parachutes into the wind. i later learned about it's relationship to the beautiful monarch butterfly.

from wikipedia:
the milkweed filaments from the follicles are coated with wax, and have good insulation qualities. tests have shown them to be superior to down feathers for insulation. during world war II, over 11 million pounds (5000 t) of milkweed floss were collected in the united states as a substitute for kapok.

in the past, the high dextrose content of the nectar led to milkweed's use as a source of sweetener for native americans and voyageurs.
the bast fibers of some species were also used for cordage.
milkweed latex contains about 1 to 2% caoutchouc, and was attempted as a natural source for rubber by both germany and the united states during world war II. no record has been found of large-scale success.

milkweed is a common folk remedy used for removing warts. milkweed sap is applied directly to the wart several times daily until the wart falls off. milkweed sap is also externally used as a natural remedy for poison ivy.

milkweed is beneficial to nearby plants, repelling some pests, especially wireworms.

milkweed is toxic and may cause death when animals consume 1/10 its body weight in any part of the plant. milkweed also causes mild dermatitis in some who come in contact with it.

being the sole food source of monarch butterfly larva, the plant is often used in butterfly gardening.