silkweed
Học thuậtThân thiện
The silkweed pods have burst open, releasing their fluffy seeds into the air.
Definition
Noun: 1. A common name for plants of the genus Asclepias: Any of numerous perennial plants characterized by containing a milky, latex-like sap (juice) and producing seed pods that, when mature, split open to release seeds attached to long, silky, downy tufts of hair that aid in wind dispersal.
Usage Notes
- "Silkweed" is a common name primarily used for plants in the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae, now often included in Apocynaceae). The name directly references the silky, hair-like filaments (coma) attached to the seeds.
- The term is largely synonymous with the more common name "milkweed," which refers to the same milky sap. "Silkweed" emphasizes the seed structure, while "milkweed" emphasizes the plant's sap.
Examples
- The fields were dotted with orange-flowered silkweed, attracting monarch butterflies.
- Children love to open the dry pods of silkweed and watch the silky seeds float away on the breeze.
- Botanists study silkweed species for their unique pollination mechanisms and their role as host plants for certain insects.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe specific features, e.g., "silkweed seeds" or "silkweed pods."
Variants and Related Words
- Milkweed (n.): The most frequently used common name for the same group of plants, focusing on the milky latex.
- Asclepias (n.): The scientific genus name for these plants.
- Butterfly weed (n.): A specific common name for , a type of silkweed/milkweed with bright orange flowers.
Synonyms
- Milkweed
- Butterfly flower (for some species)
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Silkweed floss: Refers specifically to the silky, downy tufts (the coma) attached to the seeds, which has been historically used as a stuffing material.
- Silkweed pod: The follicle (seed pod) of the plant that contains the seeds.
The silkweed pods have burst open, releasing their fluffy seeds into the air.
Noun
- any of numerous plants of the genus Asclepias having milky juice and pods that split open releasing seeds with downy tufts