tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059095776066394557.post111730015372119711..comments2023-10-25T03:22:30.728-06:00Comments on Ragamuffin Studies: A Very Cool Milkweed . . .Elisheva Hannah Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061377724926154037noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059095776066394557.post-25803814869159856222010-07-19T18:19:23.684-06:002010-07-19T18:19:23.684-06:00Briana,
Since I have a doctorate in plant biology...Briana,<br /><br />Since I have a doctorate in plant biology but I am not a physician, I would be remiss to recommend anyone ingesting the latex in Asclepius for medicinal purposes because I know a lot about the plant and the particular toxins in the latex, but I know only enough about the physiological effects on humans to be dangerous. I know that the effects vary from person to person, and also vary with the different species in question, as well as the individual plant. That this genus has been used in herbal medicine is clear from its name, but I would be remiss if I recommended it on that basis, and someone was harmed by it. So I don't recommend ingesting the latex under any circumstances, and I don't recommend the use of the plant to anyone. People should know their own bodies and they should know the plant, and biochemical effects of the toxins in it, and then use it at their own risk for their own purposes. <br /><br />Personally, I have never been partial to ingesting the particular toxins in this genus. But then I've had modern medicine at my beck and call. I might think about it differently, should doctors and medicines become unavailable. ;) <br />I am sure that in our litigious age, your field guide has a disclaimer in it somewhere as well.Elisheva Hannah Levinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16061377724926154037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059095776066394557.post-60005323554044956972010-07-18T23:58:43.864-06:002010-07-18T23:58:43.864-06:00I've meant to post this for a while, but I was...I've meant to post this for a while, but I was never at home and I didn't want to post until I had my field guide on me for reference. But what I wanted to say was, while some varieties of milkweed are poisonous (undoubtedly including the one in your example), according to my edible plants field guide, practically ever part of common milkweed <i>asclepius syriaca</i> is edible. It claims that the plant is mildly toxic, but that this can be fixed by boiling. To quote<br /><br />"cover the young shoots in boiling water and cook for 15 min, using several changes of water. The first few changes should be fairly rapid, with just over a minute between each change, as covering the plants with cold water and bringing them to a boil tends to fix their bitter flavor. The tender young <i>top leaves</i>, the <i>flower buds</i>, and the small <i>young pods</i> are all prepared in much the same way as the <i>shoots</i>. The <i>flowers</i> can be dipped into boiling water for 1 min, covered in batter, and fried to make fritters. Do not confuse young shoots with dogbane or butterfly weed." According to the guid, milkweed is actually quite tasty when properly cooked.<br /><br />I've also come across resources that suggest using several changes of water is unnecessary, and that one is enough. But better safe than sorry, yes?Briannahttp://www.opinion-forum.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059095776066394557.post-79722780329608296112010-07-17T16:02:05.385-06:002010-07-17T16:02:05.385-06:00That doesn't look like our central IL milkweed...That doesn't look like our central IL milkweed, for sure. I would have had to consider taking that out of the beanfield when we were walking beans. It's beautiful. <br />We keep our milkweed around our yard for the monarch, but I didn't realize the milky stuff was what made the butterfly so bad tasting. Interesting.Susan Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00115267098264011303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059095776066394557.post-49144535168127241782010-07-15T22:19:46.484-06:002010-07-15T22:19:46.484-06:00Christine--this is a member of the same genus as t...Christine--this is a member of the same genus as the regular milkweed. We have that, too. In fact, I did not know about this one until last year!Elisheva Hannah Levinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16061377724926154037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059095776066394557.post-80707495008310529392010-07-14T17:30:55.680-06:002010-07-14T17:30:55.680-06:00Wow the milkweed in the Northeast is so different!...Wow the milkweed in the Northeast is so different!ChristineMMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17388497877158577422noreply@blogger.com