Herb latin name: Asclepias ovalifolia,Asclepias ovalifolia Extract

Latin name: Asclepias ovalifolia

Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)

Habitat of the herb: the herb: Sandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands. Other uses of Asclepias ovalifolia: The following reports refer to t

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Habitat of the herb: the herb: Sandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands.

Other uses of Asclepias ovalifolia: The following reports refer to the closely related A. syriaca, and are probably also appropriate for this species. A good quality fibre is obtained from the bark and is used in making twine, cloth, paper etc. It is of poor quality in wet seasons. It is easily harvested in late autumn after the plant has died down by simply pulling the fibres off the dried stems. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth. It is a Kapok substitute, used in Life Jackets or as a stuffing material. Very water repellent, it can yield up to 550 kilos per hectare. The floss has also been used to mop up oil spills at sea. Candlewicks can be made from the seed floss. Rubber can be made from latex contained in the leaves and the stems. It is found mainly in the leaves and is destroyed by frost. Yields are higher on dry soils. Pods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance. The seed contains up to 20% of an edible semi-drying oil. It is also used in making liquid soap.

Propagation of the herb: Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in late winter. We have also had good results from sowing the seed in the greenhouse in early spring, though stored seed might need 2 - 3 weeks cold stratification. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 18℃. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out when they are in active growth in late spring or early summer and give them some protection from slugs until they are growing away strongly. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and place them in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly, then plant them out in the summer, giving them some protection from slugs until they are established. Basal cuttings in late spring. Use shoots about 10cm long with as much of their white underground stem as possible. Pot them up individually and place them in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are rooting and growing actively. If the plants grow sufficiently, they can be put into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in the greenhouse until the following spring and when they are in active growth plant them out into their permanent positions. Give them some protection from slugs until they are established.

Cultivation of Asclepias ovalifolia: Sandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands.

Medicinal use of the herb: None known

Known hazards of Asclepias ovalifolia: Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. They are usually avoided by grazing animals. The following report relates to the closely related A. syriaca and is probably also appropriate for this species. The older leaves are poisonous if eaten in large quantities.

Herb latin name: Asclepias ovalifolia,Asclepias ovalifolia Extract

Latin name: Asclepias ovalifolia

Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)

Habitat of the herb: the herb: Sandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands. Other uses of Asclepias ovalifolia: The following reports refer to t

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Habitat of the herb: the herb: Sandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands.

Other uses of Asclepias ovalifolia: The following reports refer to the closely related A. syriaca, and are probably also appropriate for this species. A good quality fibre is obtained from the bark and is used in making twine, cloth, paper etc. It is of poor quality in wet seasons. It is easily harvested in late autumn after the plant has died down by simply pulling the fibres off the dried stems. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth. It is a Kapok substitute, used in Life Jackets or as a stuffing material. Very water repellent, it can yield up to 550 kilos per hectare. The floss has also been used to mop up oil spills at sea. Candlewicks can be made from the seed floss. Rubber can be made from latex contained in the leaves and the stems. It is found mainly in the leaves and is destroyed by frost. Yields are higher on dry soils. Pods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance. The seed contains up to 20% of an edible semi-drying oil. It is also used in making liquid soap.

Propagation of the herb: Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in late winter. We have also had good results from sowing the seed in the greenhouse in early spring, though stored seed might need 2 - 3 weeks cold stratification. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 18℃. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out when they are in active growth in late spring or early summer and give them some protection from slugs until they are growing away strongly. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and place them in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly, then plant them out in the summer, giving them some protection from slugs until they are established. Basal cuttings in late spring. Use shoots about 10cm long with as much of their white underground stem as possible. Pot them up individually and place them in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are rooting and growing actively. If the plants grow sufficiently, they can be put into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in the greenhouse until the following spring and when they are in active growth plant them out into their permanent positions. Give them some protection from slugs until they are established.

Cultivation of Asclepias ovalifolia: Sandy, gravelly or clayey soils of prairies and woodlands.

Medicinal use of the herb: None known

Known hazards of Asclepias ovalifolia: Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. They are usually avoided by grazing animals. The following report relates to the closely related A. syriaca and is probably also appropriate for this species. The older leaves are poisonous if eaten in large quantities.