White MilkweedAsclepias variegata
From Illinois Wildflowers
This perennial wildflower is 1½-3' tall, consisting of an unbranched stem with several pairs of opposite leaves. The erect central stem is light green to purplish green and more or less pubescent in either patches or lines. The leaves are 3-6" long and 1-3" across; they are oblong-ovate to oblong-obovate in shape and smooth along their margins. The leaves taper abruptly to oblique tips, while their bases are either rounded or wedge-shaped. The petioles are ¼-1¼" long, light green to purplish green, and appressed-hairy.
In addition to the terminal umbels, 1-2 axillary umbels of flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves, although this is uncommon. The peduncles of these umbels are light green to purplish green and short-pubescent. Individual umbels of flowers span about 2-3" across, consisting of 15-35 flowers; the umbels are dome-shaped to nearly globoid. The flowers are usually densely arranged within the umbels, although in shaded situations the umbels can be more open.
