asclepias
|as-cle-pi-as|
🇺🇸
/əˈskliːpiəs/
🇬🇧
/əˈskliːpɪəs/
milkweed genus
Etymology
'asclepias' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Asclepias,' which was the name of a plant, and from Greek 'Asklēpias,' named after the god Asclepius.
'Asclepias' was borrowed directly from Latin 'Asclepias,' which itself came from Greek 'Asklēpias,' and has remained the same in modern English as the name for the genus.
Initially, it referred to a specific plant associated with the god Asclepius, but over time it became the scientific name for the entire genus of milkweeds.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of perennial herbs known as milkweeds, native to North America, with milky sap and clusters of small flowers.
Asclepias is important for monarch butterflies, which use it as a host plant.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/27 17:32