# Antelopehorn Milkweed

*Asclepias asperula*

The plant gets its name from its curved, horn-shaped seed pods which resemble the horns of a pronghorn antelope.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Gentianales › Apocynaceae › Asclepias
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Dry rocky prairies, desert scrub, and open hillsides.
- **Diet:** Photosynthetic (Autotroph)
- **Range:** Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico, Edwards Plateau, Mojave Desert
- **Size:** 30-60 cm tall with decumbent stems.
- **Lifespan:** 5-20 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, widespread herbicide use, and intensive cattle overgrazing.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to observe, but contains toxic cardiac glycosides. Do not ingest any part of the plant. The milky sap can cause skin and eye irritation; if contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water. If ingested, seek medical attention immediately.

## About

Asclepias asperula is a species of milkweed native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its common names include antelope horns , green-flowered milkweed , and spider antelope horns .

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/8c257a2f-f33d-4293-bf0e-db496b7cf707
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62298
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias asperula
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/121777929/medium.jpg (Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.