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Glite Dictionary
Asclepias tuberosa

Asclepias tuberosa

9.6
A plant that lives for many years with bright orange flowers that attract butterflies
  • noun
  • /ˌæskəˈliːpɪəs ˌtjuːbəˈroʊzə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Asclepias tuberosa
  • The Asclepias tuberosa blooms beautifully in the summer.
  • Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)
  • Asclepias tuberosa (weed)

Examples

  • The garden was filled with Asclepias tuberosa, attracting dozens of Monarch butterflies.

  • Botanists recommend planting Asclepias tuberosa to support local pollinators.

  • She identified the vibrant orange flowers as Asclepias tuberosa during their nature walk.

  • Have you seen the Asclepias tuberosa in the garden?

  • Gardeners often choose the Asclepias tuberosa for its bright orange flowers, which attract many butterflies.

  • The Asclepias tuberosa is a popular plant in butterfly gardens due to its vibrant blooms and ability to host caterpillars.

  • This summer, I planted Asclepias tuberosa, and I've already noticed an increase in butterflies around my yard.

Synonyms

butterfly weed
vsAsclepias tuberosa
  • US
7.4

A plant with bright orange flowers that attract butterflies

is the botanical species name used in formal or scientific contexts
pleurisy root
vsAsclepias tuberosa
  • US
9.9

A North American plant with bright orange flowers used as a medicine

is the botanical species description focusing on flowers and pollinator appeal
orange milkweed
vsAsclepias tuberosa
  • US
7.9

A tall plant that lives for many years and has bright orange flowers that attract butterflies

is the same species but emphasizes bright color and pollinator attraction
chiggerflower
vsAsclepias tuberosa
  • US
9.9

A plant from the eastern and southern United States that has bright orange flowers and lives for several years

is the same plant but highlights bright color and pollinator appeal
chigger flower
vsAsclepias tuberosa
  • US
9.9

A plant that lives for many years with bright orange flowers in the eastern and southern United States

is the same species but described for its pollinator attraction

Surface Forms

Asclepias tuberosa singular
Asclepias tuberosas plural
Asclepias tuberosae singular

Morphology

Asclepias + tuberosa

The form is a Linnaean binomial (genus + species) so the meaning is compositionally a specific Asclepias plant; if a learner knew 'Asclepias' as the milkweed genus and understood the Latin epithet 'tuberosa' (tuberous), they could infer it denotes that particular tuberous Asclepias. However, the name is technical/Latin and the species epithet is not a common English word, making it unlikely to be immediately clear to an average B1 learner without botanical or Latin knowledge.

Etymology

Asclepias tuberosa is named with two parts: Asclepias honors Asclepius, the Greek god of healing because people once used the plant as medicine, and tuberosa means it has a thick, tuber-like root. Its bright orange flowers attract many butterflies, which is why people call it 'butterfly weed'.