Illustration of milkweed
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd 
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers
Examples of milkweed in a Sentence
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Research in California’s Central Valley by the Xerces Society and University of Nevada-Reno detected 64 different kinds of pesticides in milkweed leaves, the food source for monarch caterpillars.
—
Sharmeen Morrison, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
The listing would prohibit some activities that destroy milkweed at times when monarchs are present, including the destruction or conversion of wild meadows with milkweed plants on federal lands.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
In particular, herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup and the spread of agriculture have reduced populations of milkweed plants, the only food source for monarch caterpillars.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
Tips on milkweed handling, care Since the winter cold is vital for the successful germination of milkweed seeds, environmentamerica.org recommends planting in October or November.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2024
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Sharmeen Morrison, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
The listing would prohibit some activities that destroy milkweed at times when monarchs are present, including the destruction or conversion of wild meadows with milkweed plants on federal lands.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
In particular, herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup and the spread of agriculture have reduced populations of milkweed plants, the only food source for monarch caterpillars.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
Tips on milkweed handling, care Since the winter cold is vital for the successful germination of milkweed seeds, environmentamerica.org recommends planting in October or November.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for milkweed
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Cite this Entry
“Milkweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milkweed. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmil-ˌkwēd
: any of various herbs with milky juice and flowers usually in dense clusters
Medical Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any plant of the genus Asclepias (family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) including several whose dried roots were formerly used medicinally
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