silkweed

silk·weed

S0407900 (sĭlk′wēd′)n. A milkweed.

silkweed

(ˈsɪlkˌwiːd) n (Plants) another name for milkweed¹[C19: so called because the pods contain a silklike down]

milk•weed

(ˈmɪlkˌwid)

n. 1. any of several plants of the genus Asclepias, characterized by a milky juice, clusters of white-to-purple flowers, and pods filled with silky tufted seeds. 2. any of various other plants having a milky juice, as certain spurges. [1590–1600]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

silkweed - any of numerous plants of the genus Asclepias having milky juice and pods that split open releasing seeds with downy tuftsmilkweedherb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pestsAsclepias, genus Asclepias - genus of chiefly North American perennial herbs: silkweed; milkweedAsclepias albicans, white milkweed - tall herb with leafless white waxy stems and whitish starlike flowers; southwestern United StatesAsclepias curassavica, blood flower, swallowwort - tropical herb having orange-red flowers followed by pods suggesting a swallow with outspread wings; a weed throughout the tropicsAsclepias exaltata, poke milkweed - milkweed of the eastern United States with leaves resembling those of pokeweedAsclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed - densely branching perennial of the eastern United States with white to crimson or purple flowersAsclepia meadii, Asclepias meadii, Mead's milkweed - milkweed of central North America; a threatened speciesAsclepias purpurascens, purple silkweed - perennial of eastern North America having pink-purple flowersAsclepias speciosa, showy milkweed - milkweed of southern North America having large starry purple and pink flowersAsclepias subverticillata, horsetail milkweed, poison milkweed - milkweed of southwestern United States and Mexico; poisonous to livestockAsclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed, chigger flower, chiggerflower, Indian paintbrush, orange milkweed, pleurisy root, tuber root - erect perennial of eastern and southern United States having showy orange flowersAsclepias verticillata, whorled milkweed - milkweed of the eastern United States with narrow leaves in whorls and greenish-white flowers