L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129944
Element CodePDASC020U0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderGentianales
FamilyApocynaceae
GenusAsclepias
Other Common NamesAsclépiade incarnate (FR) swamp milkweed (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-05-16
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2024-05-16
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsAsclepias incarnata is a wide-ranging perennial herb occurring throughout North America, from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba in Canada south to Florida and Arizona in the United States and Coahuila, Mexico. There are two subspecies, with the typic most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and ssp. pulchra most common on the coastal plain east of the Appalachian Mountains. Commonly cultivated, estimating the number of wild populations is challenging. Threats include development, roadside maintenance activities, and invasive species. With a large range extent and number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsAsclepias incarnata occurs throughout North America, from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba in Canada south to Florida and Arizona in the United States and Coahuila, Mexico (FNA 2023). There are two subspecies, with the typic "most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and is the only one commonly found in Florida" and ssp. pulchra "most common on the coastal plain east of the Appalachian Mountains" (FNA 2023). Range extent was estimated to be over 8.8 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are well over 5,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024). However, this taxon is commonly cultivated, and iNatualist observations (>28,000, mostly identified at the species-level) were not evaluated for evidence of cultivation (iNaturalist 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, wild collection, invasive species, and other threats in some places.