Common Milkweed

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Emerging shoot.

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Vegetative plants.  Key characteristics: opposite leaves with prominent white midveins.

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Flowering plant.  Key characteristics: stems are red and contain a white milky sap.  Leaves are opposite with entire margins.

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Flower.  Key characteristics: color ranges from white to purple; flowers occur in the terminal portion of the plant and upper leaf axils.

Immature fruit.

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Mature fruit and seed.  Key characteristics: long hairs attached to the flat seed are easily detached.  Seed are flattened, oval-shaped and have a length of approximately 7.0 to 8.0 mm.

Life cycle: perennial.