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climbing milkweed

climbing milkweed (Matelea gonocarpos)
Photo © Christopher David Benda

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
Climbing milkweed, also known as anglepod, grows up to 20 feet in length. Leaves are arranged opposite each other on the stem. Seedpods are up to five inches in length. Flowers are positioned in the leaf axils and are green with a purple center.

BEHAVIORS
Climbing milkweed flowers July through August. It is found in the southern one-sixth of the state and in Wabash County. This species grows in rocky woods. It is a vine.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae

Illinois Status: common, native