peren

Thanks. Not a genus I have ever run across before.

I suspected Zingiberaceae, based on the form, but the flowers, not a hope in hell.

First run through, of the genus, I see Asclepias syriaca as an potential candidate. More research needed, though.

Fof

That is what it looks like to me, and it is a common wild plant here.

sure reminds me of milkweed .... did you happen to take a sniff ... or smell the aroma wafting on the breeze ....

ken

NHBabs

Thanks. Further reading had solidified this ID.

ken

Sorry, mate, but didn't smell a thing. I tend not to smell things as I am often dissapointed. My nose and sense of smell ain't what they were.

Is this the species favoured by the Monarch butterfly?

Yes indeed, they lay their eggs on it and then the larvae eat the foliage. Other Asclepias sp. are utilized by them as well.

I often wondered what the foundation, of one of the world's greatest migrations, looked like.

When I lived in Australia, I was twice asked to identify Monarch caterpillers. I never saw what they were feeding on, but both were big and fat.

I think the milkweed is Asclepias sullivantii. It's very similar to A. syriaca, but has smaller flower clusters and more pronounced veining. The 2 species can hybridize. Prairie milkweed does have fragrant flowers. People brought milkweeds to Australia before they brought the Monarch around 1870. A couple species from Africa that are host plants for the Monarchs have been declared pests. Calotropis,(rubber bush) and Gomphocarpus, (cottonbush). They also brought new world Asclepias species there.

Thanks Jay

One learns something new every day.

Fof