Asclepias subverticillata is a plant found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Common names include horsetail milkweed, poison milkweed and whorled milkweed.
Description
Growing to in height, short branches support leaves ranging from in length. Blooming from May to September, the umbel is wide, with individual flowers up to across; each has five petals and five sepals. The fruit pod is smooth and long; the seeds inside have long hairs.
Distribution and habitat It is indigenous to New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah and parts of some nearby states, in addition to Mexico.
Toxicity The species is unpalatable and very toxic to livestock.
Uses Among the Zuni people the buds are eaten by young boys.Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 p.65 The pods are also gathered when two-thirds ripe and the fibers are used for weaving clothing.Stevenson p.77 The coma is made into cords and used for fastening plumes to the prayer sticks.Stevenson p.85
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