Asclepias quadrifolia Jacq.

Slender, usually simple, 2–5 dm, with 1 or 2(3) terminal and subterminal umbels, normally with 3 lf-bearing nodes, the lower and upper each with a pair of small lvs, the middle with a whorl of 4 much larger ones, or the lvs rarely all opposite in 4 pairs; lvs thin, lanceolate or lance-ovate, the larger 6–12 cm, acuminate, cuneate to a conspicuous petiole; peduncles 1–4 cm; cor pink to white; its lobes 4.5–6 mm; hoods 4–5 mm, much exceeding the gynostegium, the lateral margins bearing a prominent, sharp, inflexed tooth near or below the middle; horn flattened, sword-shaped, falcately incurved; fr erect on erect pedicels, very slender, 8–12 cm. Dry upland woods; Vt. to Va. and in the mts. to n. Ga., w. to s. Ont., Ill., s. Io., and Okla., with a minor disjunction e. of the Mississippi R. May, June.

Open deciduous woods and forest margins. Woods and thickets, usually rather dry and rocky.

The unopened flower buds are eaten cooked. The flowers are used as flavouring and as a thickener in soup. The flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.